Tijeras residents who rely on private wells for drinking water can get their water tested for free this Saturday, May 9, at a one-day public health event. The New Mexico Environment Department and the New Mexico Department of Health are hosting the water testing event from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.at the Tijeras Senior Center at 10 Tijeras Ave, Tijeras, NM 87059. Testing is free to the first 100 participants. Well water tests typically cost about $150. Testing comes just weeks after NMED announced that water systems serving over […]
Environment, Conservation & Climate
Stories related to our ongoing coverage of environmental issues in New Mexico.
Posted inCorrales
Our Dark Sky Legacy: The Bigger Picture
Editor’s note: This is the fourth and final article in a series submitted by Village of Corrales Code Enforcement Officer Dennis Edeal on lighting in the village. Previous articles are available at corralescomment.com. Why This Matters and How to Stay Compliant We’ve spent three articles talking about lumens and shields, property lines and fixture heights, […]
Posted inCorrales
Weekend precipitation critical to Corrales’ irrigation hopes
The pumps for Corrales are shut down, but Mother Nature could get them back up and running after this weekend. Anne Marken, river operations manager for the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, said the water level in the river has fallen below where it needs to be to operate the pumps serving the village, and […]
Posted inPlacitas
Placitas PREP to host fire-behavior presentation
April doesn’t just mean it’s baseball season. It’s also fire season, and a group in Placitas is trying to ensure residents know how much danger is out there. Placitas Resilience & Emergency Preparedness Alliance (PREP) is hosting a May 12 presentation by District Ranger Ken Born of the U.S. Forest Service on possible wildfire behavior […]
Posted inCorrales
Corrales irrigation deliveries suspended as Rio Grande levels drop
Corrales-area farmers and irrigators are without water deliveries this week after dropping Rio Grande levels forced the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District to shut down pumping operations Monday. MRGCD suspended deliveries to the Corrales service area April 21 after river levels fell below the minimum threshold required to operate the temporary pumps that lift water […]
Posted inCorrales
Recent rain hasn’t boosted irrigation outlook for Corrales, metro area
The irrigation outlook for the Middle Rio Grande isn’t great, Anne Marken says, and Corrales in particular is in for a sparse season. But the worst has been avoided for now. The shortage’s cause? Culprits familiar to anyone who follows water issues in Central New Mexico: poor winter precipitation and early high temperatures. Marken, river […]
Posted inPlacitas
Placitas chipper day targets wildfire risk on May 30
Placitas residents can reduce wildfire risk around their homes at a free community chipper day hosted by the Coronado Soil and Water Conservation District on Saturday, May 30. The event runs from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the San Antonio de las Huertas Land Grant property at 1 Camino de la Buena Vista, just […]
Posted inSandoval County
Record heat, drought prompts early statewide fire restrictions
Those whose outdoor plans include fires will need to review updated rules to stay in compliance with state law. The New Mexico Forestry Division is enacting statewide fire restrictions in an effort to reduce the risk of wildfire starts. The new restrictions taking effect today, April 6, apply to all “non-federal, non-Tribal and non-municipal lands […]
Posted inEnvironment, Conservation & Climate, Rio Rancho
No fooling: Rio Rancho outdoor watering restrictions take effect April 1
Rio Rancho residents must follow outdoor watering restrictions starting April 1, through Oct. 31, under the city’s annual water conservation program. Spray irrigation — including sprinklers and any device that propels water as droplets — is prohibited between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily for all properties within city limits. Hand watering is permitted during […]
Posted inAlbuquerque
City closes part of Bosque for fire prevention, Jetty Jack removal
With little snowpack and early season heat waves hitting the city in February, 2026 is shaping up to be an historically dangerous year for wildfire conditions so the City of Albuquerque is getting a head start on wildfire prevention along the Bosque. City officials will close an 18-acre area north of Campbell Rd. and west […]