This interactive workshop had a panel of three former members of the 2022 State Engineer’s Water Policy and Infrastructure Task Force, Phil King, Ladona Clayton, and Norm Gaume. The panelists are working together currently as NM Water Ambassadors. The Water Ambassadors joint purpose is to advocate for all the water task force recommendations. The panelists each presented their highest priorities for water funding and policy, and why. The joint funding requests to the 2024 Legislature of Dr. Ladona Clayton, Executive Director, Ogallala Land and Water Conservancy, and Norm Gaume, P.E. (ret), President, Water Advocates, are available here.
A discussion on unconventional water sources with Dr. Bruce Thomson, a UNM professor who teaches a wide range of environmental engineering courses. Bruce discussed issues related to the quality of water New Mexico is using and considering for future use and whether any of these unconventional water sources are viable and sustainable.
A lively interactive discussion between NM State Senator Carrie Hamblen and NM Water Ambassador Norm Gaume about the water, our sustainable quality of life, and the NM Legislature, broadcast live from Senator Hamblen’s office in Las Cruces. Conservation Voters New Mexico (CVNM) recognized Senator Hamblen (SD-38, Doña Ana) with its 2024 Luminaria Award. Many of the Senator’s allies attended. Her acceptance speech was brilliant. The session provides her leadership and insights.
A discussion with Hannah Riseley White,NM ISC Director and Phil King, Ph.D., P.E., New Mexico water professor (ret.), NM Water Ambassador, special technical advisor to the OSE/ISC, consulting engineer, and contributing author to “Climate Change in New Mexico Over the Next 50 Years: Impacts on Water Resources”
The topic was the implementation of the 2023 Water Planning Security Act. We heard about the ISC’s and OSE’s big picture plans for regional planning and rulemaking, with emphasis on how the ISC’s open houses, online feedback, and community conversations are providing the groundwork for implementation. The presentation was followed by an open discussion and a prototype community conversation.
A discussion with Nat Chakeres, OSE General Counsel, and Tanya Trujillo, Deputy State Engineer, discussing how the OSE is managing Rio Grande Compact compliance in the Middle Rio Grande and below Elephant Butte Dam in the Lower Rio Grande. Learn about incentives and motivators that the OSE can use to ensure that New Mexico complies with its legal water sharing mandates.
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
This was an important presentation and discussion on the ongoing aridification of New Mexico caused by higher temperatures. David Gutzler and David DuBois presented how and why New Mexico is drying, what we can expect, and the certainty of the science. The science of global warming impacts on New Mexico’s climate will guide us in how we manage and protect our scarce and life-sustaining water supplies.
Ladona Clayton and Norm Gaume discussed what the 2025 Legislature must accomplish to begin a course correction toward successful adaptation to NM’s more arid future. Learn about your part in helping achieve these goals
This was a presentation from the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources featuring Stacy Timmons, Rachel Hobbs, and Laila Sturgis and addressing project updates from the Aquifer Mapping effort for New Mexico, how these efforts tie to the Water Data Initiative, and the long-term goals to build a modern and complete aquifer characterization for New Mexico.