Responding to the Challenge of Water Shortages in New Mexico

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Here is an action alert from the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission Water Planning Program,

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. The New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission’s planning team is hosting a series of water planning open houses across New Mexico to listen and learn from communities. These open houses will help establish a roadmap for the future of water planning in our state.

The NMISC’s Online Water Planning Open House, which provides the same input opportunities at an in-person event, is now live. The commission encourages you to check out the online input opportunities or visit our NMISC website to find an upcoming Water Planning Open House near you.

 

Water Advocates 2024 Legislature Report Webinar on Thursday

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The Middle Rio Grande Water Advocates are hosting a February virtual webinar that will assess what was funded by the 2024 legislature and how much. Join them as young experts, including New Mexico Wild Rivers and Waters Program Director Tricia Snyder, and activists discuss what happened at the 2024 legislature. They’ll also address the need to simplify legislative complexities for the general public to better engage diverse groups across New Mexico.

Register Here 

Video: Centering Equity in Water Planning

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An informative, interactive discussion regarding water resilience planning to show how we should equitably share water supplies in our hotter and drier future. IPL New Mexico & El Paso was a co-sponsor of this event organized by The Middle Rio Grande Water Advocates

The Middle Rio Grande Water Advocates and other nongovernmental and community organizations believe centering equity in water planning is crucial for New Mexico’s public health and a balanced and secure future. What does centering equity mean in the context of sharing reduced water supplies, across New Mexico and in the Middle Rio Grande? How should regional water scarcity and resilience planning advance public health, and justice, equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusiveness. What should the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission forthcoming water planning rules and guidelines say about inclusion of public voices? About equitable access to water to meet human needs and community values?

Panelists include Paula Garcia, Interstate Stream Commissioner and Executive Director of the New Mexico Acequia Association; Jorge Garcia, Executive Director, Center for Social Sustainable Systems. and Marcia Fernandez, a retired teacher who lives on a small South Valley farm, and is a board member of the MRGWA, CESOSS, and South Valley Coalition of Neighborhood Associations.