New mexicos lakes have faced chronic water level fluctuations and overall low water levels in recent years due to long term drought

The Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 2 awarded $670,000 to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish on March 2, 2026, under the Sport Fish Restoration program (CFDA 15.605) to purchase temporary boat ramps for deployment across New Mexico reservoirs facing chronic low water levels. The recipient will procure one mechanically deployed boat ramp system with three ramps and four manually deployed ramps to restore boater access during drought-driven water level fluctuations that regularly render the state's permanent ramps inoperable and limit recreational boating, fishing, law enforcement, and lake management activities. Performance takes place in New Mexico with a completion date of June 30, 2026. Sport Fish Restoration funding derives from excise taxes on motorboat fuel, electric motors, fishing equipment, and import duties on fishing tackle and yachts, deposited into the Sport Fish Restoration Trust Fund and apportioned annually to state agencies by formula. The assistance type is a formula grant.

This trend is expected to continue into the foreseeable future. Low water levels regularly render many of the states permanent boat ramps inoperable limiting lake access for recreational boating and fishing. Inability to use permanent boat ramps also impacts law enforcement and management activities on lakes which can become even more critical at low water levels. The new mexico state parks division manages boater facilitiesacross the state of new mexico which include several reservoirs currently affect by low water. To improve boater access to new mexico reservoirs there is a need to purchase temporary boat ramps to enhance boater access. The state parks division plans to procure one mechanically deployed boat ramp system with three ramps and four manually deployed ramps to improve boater access during low water levels.