During the spring of 2002, Santa Fe faced a mounting crisis. After decades of groundwater overuse and years of intense drought, the city’s water supply was dwindling, and fast. As officials rushed to enact restrictions on water use, residents bickered about whether or not to follow them, pointing fingers at golf courses and neighbors with thirsty lawns. Times were tense, …

Aron Balok and the Roswell Artesian Basin When he gets behind the wheel, the dusty flatlands of Eastern New Mexico stretching out before him, Aron Balok gets to thinking. “Windshield time,” he calls itHe might think about the cattle ranch where he grew up, about 60 miles south of Gallup, where he learned to appreciate the good years, when the …

The Role of Science, Culture, and Community in Stemming New Mexico’s Water Crisis Like any passionate scientist, water engineer Phoebe Suina can’t help but take her work home with her. In gathering storm clouds, she sees differential equations. On floodplain trail runs, she geeks out estimating roughness coefficients. “I think in water,” Suina says. “I see water everywhere. I look …

It’s 7:30am, and you just realized you forgot to move that load of damp laundry from the washing machine to the dryer. With just an hour to spare before it’s time to head to work, you throw handfuls of soggy clothes into the tumbler and set the heat to high. After all, it’s scarcely a secret that intense heat is …

Geology, data, and planning for the future of New Mexico’s groundwater We’ve covered some of the context of the current and projected water realities in New Mexico. Here we’d like to turn our attention to some of the helpful tools (and people) who are supporting effective water planning across the beautiful, arid, complex landscape we call home. To the right …

Boundaries are important — especially when it comes to New Mexico’s water. Water is the lifeblood of New Mexico’s communities — but we face a future with less water. This means that the vitality of our cities, towns, agriculture, and ecosystems depend on us planning and taking action today. But what does this look like in practice? How are water …

The Water Security Planning Act of 2023 Water shortages in New Mexico, spurred by climate change, are a pressing challenge in New Mexico; stream flows and groundwater levels are decreasing, while water usage continues to rise. New Mexico is acting now to secure its water for the future through the Water Security Planning Act. This legislation, passed in 2023, aims …

Water is a precious resource everywhere, but its importance is magnified in New Mexico’s desert climate. Here are five essential water facts every New Mexican needs to know: 1. All our water comes from rain and snow. Then most of it evaporates… Our water sources all begin as precipitation (rain and snow). When it rains or snows in New Mexico, …