The New Mexico Acequia Commission was created in 1987 to advise the governor, the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on what criteria should be used to determine priorities for rehabilitating acequias under a new federal funding program. The Acequia Commission was established by statute by the 1993 Legislature as an eleven member commission serving four-year terms.
 

The Acequia Commission was also charged with the duties of serving as a facilitator for communication between local acequia organizations and the state and federal governments, and for reviewing plans or legislation that affect acequias and presenting their findings to the governor and the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission.