THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT LEGACY FUND:
FOR OUR LAND, WATER, ECONOMY & CULTURE
The Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund is New Mexico's first dedicated source of recurring state funding for land and water conservation, outdoor recreation, agriculture and working lands, historic preservation and wildlife species protection. It provides funding for ten existing programs across six state agencies, unlocking millions of federal matching dollars each year.
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AGENCY
PROGRAM
PURPOSE
ENERGY, MINERALS & NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT
Natural Heritage Conservation Act
Conserve and restore open space, private working lands, cultural sites and wildlife habitat; leverage federal LWCF dollars
Forest and Watershed Restoration Act; Forest Conservation Act and Prescribed Burning Act
Protect community water supplies; help communities restore forest and watershed health to guard against and recover from the effects of wildfire, flood and drought
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Healthy Soil Act
Soil and Water Conservation Districts
Promote farming/ranching practices that improve soil health, including for acequia communities
Improve grassland and rangeland ecosystems, leverage federal Farm Bill dollars; support farmers, ranchers, and working lands; also supports acequia restoration projects
Noxious Weeds Management Act
Coordinate weed management best practices among local, state, and federal land managers, as well as private landowners
DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE
Game & Fish Outdoor Recreation Act/ Wildlife Conservation Act
Conserve species of wildlife that are threatened, endangered, or in decline and sustainably manage the state’s game species
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Outdoor Equity Fund
Outdoor Recreation
Trails+ Grant
Get underserved NM youth outside to connect with the land; teach them how to hunt, fish, camp, and overall foster land and water stewardship to help pass down cultural legacies
Fund infrastructure projects to improve NM’s hiking/biking/walking/horseback riding trails, parks/river systems; improve visitor experience for residents & tourists
River Stewardship Program
ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT
Keep NM rivers safe and healthy by improving water quality and restoring riparian habitat
DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS
Cultural Properties Restoration Fund
Fund public-private partnerships to preserve prehistoric and historic sites in NM communities
Background
The Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund was established by the passage of Senate Bill 9, which was sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, retired Senator Steven Neville and House Appropriations Chairman Nathan Small. It was created and championed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham who signed the bill into law on March 23, 2023. The effort was the result of more than five years of negotiations among a broad, bipartisan coalition of New Mexicans.
In the 2023 session, legislators appropriated $50 million to establish the Legacy Fund and $50 million to establish the Legacy Permanent Fund. In the 2024 session, legislators appropriated an additional $300 million to the Legacy Permanent Fund to ensure the funds can produce enough annual returns to be self-sustaining, weather economic downturns, access federal matching dollars and meet the high demand from New Mexico communities.
In the first fiscal year that began on July 1, 2024 and ended June 30, 2025, the Legacy Fund distributed approximately $12.5 million to ten existing programs across six state agencies. Interest gained from the Legacy Permanent Fund is expected to increase annual distributions to all programs in FY26 and beyond.
WHO WE ARE
The Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund was created by a broad coalition of conservationists, wildlife advocates, agricultural and farming associations, private landowners, tribal members, hunters and anglers, outdoor recreation enthusiasts, and community groups across New Mexico who are dedicated to protecting our state’s natural resources. After five years of negotiations, we found common ground and came together in the 2023 legislative session to help pass SB9, which established the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund. It’s a truly bipartisan effort that all New Mexicans can be proud of, and every community can benefit from.
