This was a second discussion with Bruce Thomson on New Mexico’s water resources. Back In May, Bruce discussed unconventional sources of water and their (un)sustainability. This August conversation focused on the conventional sources of water in New Mexico, how we use them, and how we can manage them for long-term sustainability
New basin-wide science shows groundwater depletion in New Mexico is already well documented and driven primarily by irrigated agriculture. This long-form analysis explains why the remaining barrier is not science or authority, but the failure to institutionalize groundwater governance.