FAQ & How-To Video Guides
This page is dedicated to frequently asked questions and provides users with quick navigation tools for the Office of the State Engineer's webpage as well as New Mexico Courts webpage, provided by the Director of the Utton Center's Ombudsman Program, Stephanie Russo Baca. Please stay tuned as we create and upload new videos. To submit a question contact Stephanie Russo Baca.
FAQs:
What are Adjudications?
Adjudications - wherein a legal figure reviews two opposing cases based on evidence - are complex, expensive and lengthy proceedings. The adjudication of water rights, however, is required under the 1907 New Mexico Water Code and gives the New Mexico State Engineer the information necessary to meet his statutory obligations; that is, to administer the existing water uses, preserve the aquifer, make informed decisions about the future water development in the area, be ready to administer in times of storage, and meet New Mexico's Compact obligations.
How-To Video Guides
Navigating the Office of the State Engineer Website
New Mexico Adjudication Information
For information on the New Mexico adjudication process, click below to view the Ombudsman Program's step-by-step video guide.
Información sobre adjudicaciónes en Nuevo México
Para información sobre el proceso de juicio de derechos de agua en Nuevo Mexico, haga clic en el video de abajo.
Ombudsman Contact Information
Stephanie Russo Baca, Director
russobaca@law.unm.edu
(505) 916-8681
If you would like to arrange a time to speak to our Ombudsman, Stephanie Russo Baca, please fill out this form.
The Ombudsman Program does not offer legal advice. Claimants who believe they need legal advice are encouraged to consult with an attorney. The Ombudsman Program is an independent program and is not associated with any court, the federal government, or the Office of the State Engineer.