In New Mexico, water conservation, health, and funding issues dominated the news in 2024, with an increasing demand for state support in the upcoming legislative session.
Climate change, driven by human activities such as fossil fuel use, has led to a volatile water situation in the state, where residents experience both severe drought and dangerous flooding.
Federal funding has been allocated for water-related projects, including drought response and drinking water concerns. However, advocacy groups argue that the costs for addressing long-standing contamination issues are often underestimated.
Several key water-related stories made headlines this year, from U.S. Supreme Court cases to the appointment of the state’s new water czar, to devastating floods following wildfires and storms.
A notable example includes the severe flooding that followed wildfires near Ruidoso, washing out homes and impacting the local school system, though enrollment remained steady despite the dangers. Other disasters, like the flooding in Chaves County, led to the closure of polling sites and fatalities.
The state’s water challenges continue, with burn scars from wildfires exacerbating flood risks during monsoon season, and concerns remain about the drying of the Rio Grande, threatening wildlife, including the endangered silvery minnow.
As New Mexico braces for a drier winter, the state faces the complex challenge of balancing water scarcity and the risk of flash floods, while advocating for increased support and funding to address both immediate and long-term water issues.