The Tragedy of the Commons: A Lesson from an 8th Grader Why do we struggle to act on problems we know are urgent? An 8th-grade Santa Fe girl’s January 28, 2025, public comment in support of passing Senate Bill 4 to comprehensively limit greenhouse gas emissions defines the problem and a simple solution. “I have learned about the Tragedy of the Commons, which occurs when each well-meaning individual takes or uses only what they need, but the total is greater than the resource available. In the case of our environment, this plays out in small emissions that total more than our atmosphere can handle. … One of the best things we can do is impose regulations that cap resource use at a level that is sustainable for a long period of time.” The concept applies to our water. The total […]
From the President’s Desk
Insights from the leadership of Water Advocates of New Mexico on critical water issues facing our state. This collection of articles from President Norm Gaume provides updates on Water Advocates’ activities and priorities, policy analysis, and more.
You won’t learn from the Feasibility Study Review Draft that desalination of Permian Basin fracking wastewater, the explicit 2028 goal of the Governor’s 50-Year Water Action Plan, would require all the energy from multiple San Juan Generating Station-sized power plants to produce […]
While many steps are being taken in the right direction, we are short on reliable facts, trusted data, and funding; and long on misinformation. The Governor’s water leadership focus is badwater treatment, justified by oil and gas industry disinformation. The […]
While many steps are being taken in the right direction, we are short on reliable facts, trusted data, and funding; and long on misinformation. The Governor’s water leadership focus is badwater treatment, justified by oil and gas industry disinformation. The […]
This ongoing mismanagement of vital water data hampers effective decision-making needed to address the state’s water crisis. New Mexico is at a crossroads. Without a significant shift towards a water governance framework that recognizes and integrates hydrologic and climate realities […]
On April 9, 2024, I witnessed a significant step forward in local government's approach to water policies crucial for New Mexico's future. Bernalillo County elected officials and staff have clearly acknowledged in a draft high-level plan that water poses a […]
The sweet waters of New Mexico are necessary for all life in our beloved state, in all our home places, our querencias. An acerbic senior ISC water engineer told me 25 years ago that we know where New Mexico’s water is. It […]
New Mexico faces a critical water governance crisis, endangering its future. Political conflict hinders vital reforms, risking both water resources and economic security. The Leap Ahead Analysis underscores the need for immediate adaptation to increasing aridity for the state's survival.
Part II – "Co-Creation of a Sustainable Water Future for the Middle Rio Grande." The past two years have set the stage for accelerated progress in managing New Mexico's water resources for much greater resilience, as described in Part I, […]
Part I – Good Work Is Converging Introduction Together, New Mexicans made significant strides in addressing the multifaceted challenges of water management and conservation in New Mexico in 2023. Multiple related accomplishments represent badly needed steps toward improved water governance […]