Join Sarah Stevenson and Lisa Henne for a deep dive into the law governing abandonment and forfeiture of water rights in New Mexico - a topic gaining urgency amid ongoing drought and recent legal developments. This session will provide a review of key statutes, cases, and administrative decisions, along with practical considerations for protecting, defending, or challenging water rights where historic non-use is at issue. Attendees will gain valuable, up-to-date information on one of the most consequential—and contested—areas of New Mexico water law.
Instructors: Sarah Stevenson & Lisa Henne
New Mexico
Water Rights Fundamentals
On-Demand Replay
of Live Webstream
August 22, 2025
$299
MCLE Approved General Credits (Live)
New Mexico & Texas* - 4G
Colorado & Oklahoma - 5G
*This course has been approved for Minimum Continuing Legal Education credit by the State Bar of Texas Committee on MCLE in the amount of 4 credit hours, of which 0 credit hours will apply to legal ethics/professional responsibility credit.
Gain practical legal knowledge and a roadmap for assisting clients with water rights matters. This basic to intermediate curriculum will provide you with a solid foundation to handle most routine water rights transactions with confidence and go on to tackle more complex water rights matters. Even seasoned water practitioners will pick up new tips for selecting and integrating multiple data sources to catch errors and avoid embarrassing mistakes when evaluating water rights. A water law background is helpful but not necessary. Consultants, paralegals, and other water or environmental professionals are welcome to register.
Instructor: Lisa Henne
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Prior appropriation doctrine
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Water rights basics
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Elements of a water right
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Acquiring a water right
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Vesting a water right
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Forfeiture & abandonment
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Points of diversion vs. water rights
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Water rights administration
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New appropriations
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Changing an existing water right
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Water leasing
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Domestic, livestock, & temporary use permits
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Irrigation water rights
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Status of water rights
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Permitted
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Declared
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Licensed
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Adjudicated
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Combined and split rights
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Data sources and data reliability
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Water rights summaries online
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Physical files
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Metering records
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GIS data
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Well ID or PLSS
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County Records
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Researching & evaluating water rights
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Status of the right
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Evidence of vesting
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Elements of the right
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Source of water and restrictions
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Administrative guidelines
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Detangling combined, commingled or split rights
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Compliance
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Ownership & chain of title
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History of use
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Topics Covered:
About the Instructors
Lisa Henne is General Counsel of the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission. She was Associate Counsel at the NM State Land Office from 2016-2024 and the Law Office of Steven L. Hernandez from 2014-1016. She has a multidisciplinary background with over thirty years of experience in water science, policy, and law. Lisa holds a Ph.D. in Regional Planning from the University of Illinois with an emphasis on water resource planning. She was awarded a Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Grant for her research on citizen participation in efforts to stop industrial pollution of a major river in west-central Mexico. She was a Technical Staff Member in the Ecology Group at Los Alamos National Laboratory from 2002-2011, and served as Secretary of the Governor's Blue Ribbon Water Task Force from 2005-2010. Lisa earned her J.D. in 2014 from the University of Arizona with a Certificate in Environmental Law and Graduate Certificate in Water Policy. In addition to teaching continuing legal education, Lisa has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in hydrology, ecology, and watershed planning.
Sarah Stevenson is a shareholder in the Natural Resources Department and a litigator representing public entities and private businesses. Sarah graduated magna cum laude from Fordham University School of Law, and received a joint J.D./M.A. in International Political Economics and Development from Fordham University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. While at Fordham, she was chosen as a Crowley Scholar in International Human Rights, participated in the Leitner Human Rights Clinic, and was a research assistant for Professor Russell Pearce. She clerked for the Honorable Patricio M. Serna of the New Mexico Supreme Court from 2009 to 2011. Her B.A. is from Scripps College. Sarah served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Niger. Chambers USA Directories of America’s Leading Lawyers for Business has recognized Sarah in both Native American Law and Water Law in New Mexico. She is recognized by Best Lawyers in America© for her work in Environmental Law and Native American Law. Best Lawyers has named Sarah the “Lawyer of the Year” for 2026 in Environmental Law in Santa Fe. Sarah is the Managing Director of Modrall Sperling’s Santa Fe office and Chair of the firm’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.