A coalition of Indigenous, frontline, youth and environmental organizations, alongside community members, appealed to the New Mexico Supreme Court Tuesday to hear their landmark lawsuit, which challenges the state’s alleged failure to protect public health and the environment from oil and gas pollution, as mandated by the New Mexico Constitution. The appeal follows a state […]
Environment, Climate & Conservation
Challenging times are ahead on the Rio Grande
Flows in the Rio Grande at the Otowi Bridge are at 34% of the historical median for this time of year and water levels in Elephant Butte Reservoir are declining as irrigation season gets underway, according to information presented to the Interstate Stream Commission this month. Deputy State Engineer Tanya Trujillo said “significant efforts” are […]
Albuquerque prepared for monsoon season with enhanced pump station security
As Albuquerque enters its monsoon season, the city has upgraded its 15 pump stations. These improvements, a joint effort between the City of Albuquerque and the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Authority, aim to prevent flooding and ensure the efficient transfer of large volumes of water to the Rio Grande during heavy storms. Over the past […]
Multiple fires spark Bosque crackdown
City officials are asking residents to help prevent fires in the Bosque after a string of suspected arsons triggered expanded patrols, new surveillance tools and a crackdown ahead of the Fourth of July. At a press conference at Tingley Beach, Mayor Tim Keller said multiple fires over the past week were human-caused, including one tied […]
Officials work to save the Rio Grande silvery minnow
As the time came for the Rio Grande silvery minnow to begin spawning this year, officials had concerns that not enough eggs would be produced. Grace Haggerty, a hydrologist with the Interstate Stream Commission who oversees endangered species work on the Rio Grande, outlined some of the efforts that crews undertook this year to help […]
Gutting the Forest Service will cause irreparable damage to wilderness character and natural resources
By Suzanne Cable The U.S. Forest Service is headed for obsolescence due to recent personnel reductions, proposed budget cuts, and reorganization plans. The ability of the Forest Service to meet its legislatively mandated multiple-use mission to the American public is being systematically dismantled. I, and many Americans, welcome thoughtful strategic reform of federal agencies, but what […]
Middle Rio Grande Valley faces critical drought conditions
As summer temperatures rise through the Middle Rio Grande Valley, water managers and farmers are racing against the clock. According to the latest Irrigation & Hydrology Update released June 14, MRGCD’s only available storage supply for the season—6,500 acre-feet of San Juan–Chama water—is expected to run dry by the end of June, leaving the region […]
Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District celebrates 100 Years of service
The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD) is marking a significant milestone in 2025: its 100th anniversary. As the district enters the 2025 irrigation season, it celebrates a century of managing water resources in the Middle Rio Grande Valley, a task that has historically been met with numerous challenges and continues to face difficulties with […]
Wildfires continue to grow in New Mexico
Fires in or near the Gila National Forest are continuing to grow amid dry conditions. The Trout Fire is burning north of Silver City and has prompted some evacuations, while the Buck Fire has charred acreage near Aragon and Magdalena. As crews battle the fires in western New Mexico, a new fire has started on […]
NM Gas Co. merger hearing delayed as groups seek to have the case dismissed
A hearing on the possible merger of New Mexico Gas Co. and Saturn Utilities Holdco — a subsidiary of Bernhard Capital Partners Management — has been delayed following a push by advocates and state agencies to have the application dismissed. New Mexico Gas Co. is currently owned by Emera, which is seeking to sell the […]