Addressing New Mexico’s Water Crisis
New Mexico’s water governance crisis threatens our very survival. This situation demands urgent, transformative change, yet political strife at the highest levels is getting in the way, threatening to block urgently needed actions by the State. Despite earnest, professional efforts to initiate the transformative changes necessary for our survival, New Mexico risks evaporating its people along with its diminishing water and economic security. We must wake up to this reality and adapt to the increasing aridity affecting our watersheds, as echoed by experts in the Leap Ahead Analysis.
It’s time for New Mexico to wake up!
Like a contributing author of the Leap Ahead Analysis recently said, for 40 years we’ve ignored the clear warnings of science and failed miserably to mitigate greenhouse gases. Now, we’re left with no choice but to adapt to the drying and significant aridity intensifying in New Mexico, affecting our watersheds the most. Only that choice to adapt makes any sense to those who like me, love New Mexico and want to see it left habitable for future generations of New Mexicans.
Legislative Inaction on Water Security
As the 2024 NM legislative session reaches its midpoint, vital Water Security and Economic Security funding is at risk due to ongoing disputes between the Executive and Legislature. This squabbling if it continues will cause us to miss out on federal funding and opportunities to address the very basics of improving New Mexico’s water governance. The State is ignoring the NM Water Ambassadors’ priorities, grounded by the State-Government-chartered 2022 Water Policy and Infrastructure Task Force’s analysis. This is disastrous.
Public Criticism and Action
The website h2oreportcardnmgov.com, a grassroots-funded initiative by the Water Advocates for New Mexico and the Middle Rio Grande, aims to increase government accountability by bringing public pressure to bear on our elected State Government leaders. The website demands State Government begin responsible water management of wet water, not permits and paper, to provide for the public health, safety, and welfare of all New Mexicans. The site offers resources for citizens to engage with their legislators to respectfully demand their attention to vital role of water in everything, in all of life.
A Call to Engage and Demand Action
We urge that you respectfully demand by copying and customizing our pre-written letter requesting New Mexico’s state government leaders and your legislators to wake up and address this crisis. The law requires water planning. It requires us to use “the best science, data and models relating to water resource planning … with scientific integrity and adherence to principles of honesty, objectivity, transparency and professionalism in developing, vetting and prioritizing proposals.” The State must fund the very basics of water governance or none of this can happen. Additionally, our elected leaders must realize that when it comes to funding water projects, what is good for the goose is good for the gander.
We need our leaders to fund essential water projects, not speculative ventures. The future of New Mexico depends on our ability to adapt to a water-scarce environment, requiring cooperation and decisive action from our state leaders.
The Urgency of Now
We cannot change the past, but we must and can change the future. It’s imperative that the 2024 Legislature funds urgent water priorities before the session ends. New Mexico will not survive continued State government neglect. It’s time – past the time – for our leaders to step up.
Please, leaders of the State of New Mexico government: fulfill the critical roles only the State can play to secure New Mexico’s water future – our future.