ALBUQUERQUE—Despite recent monsoon rains and flooding, New Mexico remains a desert state where water is a precious commodity. Agriculture, industry and commerce, ecosystems and residents of all communities—urban, rural and traditional—compete against each other for limited water supplies necessary to survive and grow. Unfortunately, a failure to conserve these supplies, pollution, population growth, drought and irresponsible development are putting New Mexico’s water future in jeopardy.
In a new report, Our Water, Our Future: Policy Options to Safeguard Water Resources in New Mexico, Environment New Mexico looks at the current state of New Mexico’s water supply—its sources, its uses and the demands placed on it—and presents an array of short- and long-term policy solutions to New Mexico’s water scarcity problems.
“Instead of investing in more and more expensive pipelines at taxpayer expense, we should turn to efficiency and conservation and work to reign in unsustainable development that threatens our water supplies. We need to act now to safeguard our water for future generations by adopting strong policy this legislative session, like the assured supply bill,” said Lauren Ketcham, Environmental Associate for Environment New Mexico.
The press conference held to release the report took place against the backdrop of the Rio Grande Nature Center. Speakers from several state and national environmental groups were present, including the Sierra Club, Amigos Bravos, the New Mexico Wildlife Federation, 1,000 Friends of New Mexico and others.
Governor Bill Richardson has announced that the 2007 legislative session will be the Year of Water and he is looking for visionary ideas to help solve the state’s water problems. Coupled with this, 2007 marks the 100 year anniversary of New Mexico water law, and given the state’s water problems, this anniversary serves as a reminder that New Mexico needs new policy that will help our state keep up with changing demands and times.
“Governor Richardson's proclamation that 2007 will be the "Year of Water" should be applauded and everyone needs to step up to the plate to make sure that special interests will not dilute our chance to establish sound sustainable water resource policy for New Mexico. Sportsmen all across New Mexico support a balanced water policy—a policy that assures water will flow in our rivers and streams to sustain New Mexico's fish and wildlife,” said New Mexico Wildlife Federation President, Oscar Simpson.
New Mexico’s population is expected to grow 15.4 percent by 2030 as people are drawn to the area for its beauty, open space, economic opportunity and culture. Unfortunately, this rapid growth has consequences for New Mexico’s limited water supply. As our demand continues to increase, our water supply is growing more precarious.
“A growing population combined with weak state laws that fuel unplanned development means that developers can build homes even in areas of the state where aquifers are already critically depleted. This leaves New Mexico homebuyers and our future water supply at risk,” said Susan Martin, Chair of the Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club.
Over-pumping has left some of New Mexico’s aquifers in serious decline. In some parts of Albuquerque, ground water levels are dropping at a rate of 1.3 to 2 feet per year. The Mesilla Bolson, which serves as the primary source for municipal and industrial water for the city of Las Cruces, has only enough water to supply the city for the next 20 years.
At the same time, thousands of homes are being planned across New Mexico in areas with inadequate water supplies. Already, approximately 266,000 private domestic wells are in existence and nearly 6,000 wells are drilled every year in many areas of the state that already have depleted water supplies.
As the Year of Water, now is the time to ensure that New Mexico water law is keeping up with the times, and we’re using the water we do have to maximum benefit. To ensure that water will be available for future generations of New Mexicans, Environment New Mexico advocates a five-point water vision, that they call on Governor Richardson and New Mexico’s state representatives to embrace as they gear up for the Year of Water:
- Preserving our natural environment—We must keep enough water in our rivers, streams and lakes to support a full range of recreation and wildlife—integral parts of New Mexico’s natural heritage and quality of life. In order to preserve and protect our rivers for generations to come, we must control the amount of water removed from rivers and interconnected aquifers.
- Maintaining a local supply of water—We must use local ground water supplies in a sustainable manner to protect the environment and local economies. When ground water is transferred from one part of the state to another, that water is no longer available to the communities and ecosystems where it originated. As a result, inter-basin transfers are inherently harmful because taking large volumes of water from one ecosystem to another is almost certain to disrupt the source ecosystem.
- Maintaining water quality—Pollution is exacerbating our water quantity problems by rendering countless gallons unsafe for use. We must reduce and prevent water pollution as a key strategy for addressing the scarcity of this resource.
Our Water, Our Future identifies several policies that would help to achieve this vision.
One important policy, the 100 Year Assured Supply bill, to be introduced this session to the legislature, would require developers to show that there is a 100 year renewable supply of local, clean water as a condition of permitting new industrial, commercial or residential development anywhere in the state.
"The 100 year supply bill would protect New Mexico homeowners and wildlife habitat, and would require new developments to incorporate long-term water planning. Right now, New Mexico is way behind other southwestern states in this area. Because this bill sets out such a clear vision for New Mexico, the environmental community is united in their support and are prioritizing this during the 2007 session," said Ketcham.
Already adopted in parts of Arizona, this law requires every developer to demonstrate an assured water supply that will be physically, legally, and continuously available for the next 100 years before the developer can record plats or sell parcels.
“A sustainable water supply is a right that needs to be honored now and for future generations. New Mexicans need to learn to live within our water means. Here in the Southwest, Agua es Vida. It's the basis for our unique natural and cultural landscape and is critical for the health of the environment, the strength of our economy, and the well-being of our citizens,” said Lucy Sanchez, Albuquerque Projects Director for Amigos Bravos.
"With this overarching policy, New Mexico can ensure that its continued growth occurs in balance with its finite water supplies," concluded Ketcham.
