SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Water delivery systems known as acequias, 
or community ditches, are a centuries-old system 
used for water distribution. 
(2) A combination of Spanish and Indigenous 
irrigation methods, acequias were expanded in New 
Mexico during the 16th century to allow for farming 
to sustain the needs of the community. 
(3) Acequias are a vital component of the econ-
omy of the State of New Mexico (referred to in this 
section as the ‘‘State’’). 
(4) Acequias are a centuries-old form of water 
governance and are recognized as political subdivi-
sions of the State. 
(5) Acequias consist of water rights holders, 
often called parciantes, who are responsible for the 
upkeep and maintenance of the acequias and who in-
ternally elect a board to monitor and administer sur-
face water rights. 
(6) In the State, acequias have created a cul-
tural landscape and way of life centered around local 
agriculture, water governance, and a custom of shar-
ing scarce water. 
(7) Acequias— 
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(A) play an integral role in maintaining 
forest and watershed health; 
(B) serve as examples of responsible land 
and water stewardship by providing benefits 
such as groundwater recharge, flood attenu-
ation, and groundwater contaminants filtration; 
and 
(C) support native vegetation and provide 
habitat for wildlife species. 
(8) Despite their contribution to local food pro-
duction and watershed stewardship, acequias are 
managing already limited water resources under con-
ditions of aridification, changing irrigation and 
growing seasons, and encroachment of invasive spe-
cies. 
(9) To address crop loss, planting challenges, 
and yield reductions, parciantes rely on direct finan-
cial assistance from Department of Agriculture pro-
grams, including the noninsured crop disaster assist-
ance program established by section 196 of the Fed-
eral Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 
1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333). 
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SEC. 3. ENSURING FARMERS AND RANCHERS HAVE ACCESS 
TO DROUGHT AND DISASTER PROTECTIONS. 
Section 196(c)(2) of the Federal Agriculture Im-
provement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333(c)(2)) 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(C) ACEQUIA
SYSTEMS.—On making a 
determination described in subsection (a)(3) for 
producers who rely on acequia systems, the Sec-
retary shall provide assistance under this sec-
tion to those producers from all losses suffered 
as a result of the cause described in subsection 
(a)(3).’’. 
SEC. 4. SPECIAL USE PERMITS NOT REQUIRED FOR ROU-
TINE MAINTENANCE AND MINOR IMPROVE-
MENTS OF ACEQUIAS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ACEQUIA.—The term ‘‘acequia’’ has the 
meaning of the term ‘‘community ditch’’ as that 
term is construed under New Mexico Stat. 73–2–27. 
(2) COMMUNITY USER.—The term ‘‘community 
user’’ means an employee, contractor, delegate, rep-
resentative, volunteer, or other authorized personnel 
of the governing body of an acequia. 
(3) SECRETARY CONCERNED.—The term ‘‘Sec-
retary concerned’’ means— 
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(A) the Secretary of Agriculture, with re-
spect to land under the jurisdiction of the Sec-
retary of Agriculture; and 
(B) the Secretary of the Interior, with re-
spect to land under the jurisdiction of the Sec-
retary of the Interior. 
(b) PROHIBITION.—A special use permit shall not be 
required for— 
(1) the presence or use of water from an 
acequia on Federal land; or 
(2) routine maintenance and minor improve-
ments described in subsection (c) conducted by a 
community user or governing body of an acequia on 
an acequia on Federal land. 
(c) ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND MINOR IMPROVE-
MENTS DESCRIBED.—Routine maintenance and minor im-
provements referred to in subsection (b)(2) are— 
(1) cleaning, maintenance, repair, or replace-
ment-in-kind of infrastructure; 
(2) annual ditch cleaning, including removal of 
silt; and 
(3) any other traditional activity that preserves 
the state of the acequia, as agreed to in writing by 
the Secretary concerned and the governing body of 
the acequia. 
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SEC. 5. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE REPORTING. 
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to 
the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of 
the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the 
House of Representatives a report that includes the fol-
lowing information: 
(1) The number of agricultural producers in the 
most recent calendar year who rely on acequia sys-
tems or other traditional infrastructure that is vul-
nerable to drought conditions. 
(2) The amount of assistance provided under 
the noninsured crop disaster assistance program es-
tablished by section 196 of the Federal Agriculture 
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 
7333) to producers described in subsection (c)(2)(C) 
of that section, in each county, during the most re-
cent calendar year. 
(3) An analysis of the ability of agricultural 
producers who rely on acequia systems or other tra-
ditional infrastructure that is vulnerable to drought 
conditions to access all programs administered by 
the Farm Service Agency and the Natural Resources 
Conservation Service. 
(4) A summary of any Department of Agri-
culture programs or initiatives in the most recent 
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calendar year that provide technical or financial as-
sistance targeted to agricultural producers who rely 
on acequia systems or other traditional infrastruc-
ture that is vulnerable to drought conditions. 
Æ 
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