This story was originally published by Capital & Main. By Jerry Redfern On a warm evening in early June, Loretta Johnson pointed her white Chevy Silverado with a Navajo blanket-patterned steering wheel cover south on the main road leading out of Shiprock, New Mexico, and hit the accelerator — lightly. The retired nurse drove herself and […]
Environment, Conservation & Climate
Stories related to our ongoing coverage of environmental issues in New Mexico.
Posted inEnvironment, Conservation & Climate, Pueblos
Video: Ruidoso avoids more tragedy as flash flood prompts 5 rescues
Emergency responders successfully rescued all five people trapped by Thursday’s flash flooding in Ruidoso, marking a far less severe event than the deadly flooding that killed three residents just 16 days ago. Heavy monsoon rainfall caused a major flash flood near the village of Ruidoso on Thursday afternoon, with the Rio Ruidoso cresting at 12.5 […]
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Water managers brace for dry conditions along sections of the Rio Grande
Water managers across the middle Rio Grande Valley in New Mexico are coordinating efforts in anticipation of a dry 2025 season, which will likely cause sections of the river to run dry. This follows a trend seen in Albuquerque, where the Rio Grande dried up for the first time in 40 years in 2022. While […]
Posted inEnvironment, Conservation & Climate, Pueblos
More bad news for Ruidoso as NWS issues flood watch
A day after historic flash flooding deluged Ruidoso, killing three people and displacing many more, the National Weather Service issued another flood watch for the area. The flood watch is in place for Ruidoso until 9 p.m. Residents are advised that excessive runoff could lead to flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying, flood-prone […]
Posted inEdgewood
No Water, no answers: Melody Ranch residents forced into survival mode
Developing a strategy wasn’t on Fox Morgan’s to-do list, but planning every detail of her life has been her best course of action for the past few months, as she’s resorted to drastic measures to get by and adapted despite it all. She jokingly states that her former experience as a Girl Scout and a […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Environment, Conservation & Climate
EPA designates former Albuquerque dry cleaner as one of the nation’s most serious hazardous waste sites
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday that a former dry cleaning facility in Albuquerque has been added to the federal Superfund National Priorities List, marking it as one of the nation’s most serious hazardous waste sites requiring cleanup. The Carlisle Village Cleaners site, which operated from 1953 to 1975, has been designated for priority […]
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Historic Ruidoso flash flooding kills three people, including two children
The Village of Ruidoso confirmed that three people have died as a result of the historic flash flooding that deluged the community on July 8. The victims were swept downstream by unprecedented floodwaters. The fatalities include a male, aged 40-50, a 4-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy. All three were caught in the powerful current […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Environment, Conservation & Climate
Nature’s newest GEM: Inclusive sensory trail at Tijeras Arroyo bio-zone shines bright for everyone
The grand opening of the Tijeras Education Center Sensory Trail—a fully compliant trail under the Americans with Disabilities Act designed to be inclusive, immersive and educational—drew a lively crowd Tuesday of nature lovers, curious kids and community trail-blazers, all ready for a few surprises along the path. City officials, partners and community members gathered to […]
Posted inEnvironment, Conservation & Climate
Supreme Court allows Bishop’s Lodge wastewater permit process to proceed
This story was originally published by Source NM By Danielle Prokop, Source NM New Mexico justices Tuesday morning denied Tesuque Village residents’ emergency petition in a dispute over a proposed sewage permit for a nearby resort and development. Chief Justice David Thomson delivered the ruling from the bench after a short deliberation, saying the arguments […]
Posted inEnvironment, Conservation & Climate, Pueblos
New Mexico’s PFAS claim against Air Force base advances as federal bellwether case
A federal judge last week opened the door to New Mexico’s pursuit of its ongoing civil case against Cannon Air Force Base for environmental and public health damage near Clovis. The judge’s statements pave the way for New Mexico’s July 2024 lawsuit to serve as a national bellwether case for PFAS claims under the Comprehensive […]