Water stayed at the forefront of news about conservation, health and money in New Mexico this year, and pressure is growing for increased support from the Roundhouse in the January legislative session.
As the world keeps heating up due to human burning and extraction of fossil fuels, New Mexico faces the dual anxiety of too much water at times, and too little at others.
While unprecedented levels of federal money was made available for water projects during the Biden administration 鈥�- from drought projects to drinking water concerns 鈥� advocacy groups say costs for addressing across the nation are
Source New Mexico covered nearly 100 stories about water in 2024, ranging from to to following wildfires and storms.
Here are some stories you might have missed, and a look forward at what鈥檚 coming around the bend.
Rivers and streams
The relationship between chronic drought and deadly, devastating floods remains, as fires consumed forest and homes around Ruidoso, followed by walls of water and mud sloughing off the mountains during monsoon season.
Burn scars around the state faced flooding this summer, washing out homes and flooding houses, but also spaces like schooling.
Climate disaster continued into election season, closing , after flooding swept through Chaves County, killing two people and .
While winter weather early with heavy wet snow and raising flood concerns in , New Mexico remains in drought, with loaded dice for a coming.
Wildlife advocates reached a deal with the federal government to , but humans and continued habitat loss from a drying Rio Grande continue to imperil its survival.
The New Mexico attorney general , asking judges to penalize landowners fencing off streams along the Pecos basin for not acting sooner. A judge still hasn鈥檛 ruled on that case.
The federal picture
Many of the effects on New Mexico鈥檚 waters stemmed from Washington.
The nation鈥檚 highest court struck a blow to Texas, New Mexico and Colorado鈥檚 proposed plan to end a decade-long, costly . Instead, the court and ordered the case to continue. The high court appointed a , who and sent them back to the . If no agreement is reached, the plan is to head back to trial.
That鈥檚 not all. New Mexico agency and water conservationists remained concerned from the 2023 Supreme Court ruling in Sackett v. EPA. The decision removed pollution protections for many intermittent waters 鈥� and an estimated 93% of New Mexico streams and wetlands. The decision drove
Congress has yet to act to settle lawsuits and manage tribal water rights in New Mexico for leadership to act.
New Mexico received a federal grant to examine how 鈥渇orever chemicals鈥� have , even as it starts residents around areas with impacted groundwater.
Water is for drinking, too
It鈥檚 been nearly a year since state officials released findings that Camino Real Regional Utility Authority, which provides drinking water for more than 19,000 residents in Sunland Park and Santa Teresa, had been sending them water with It also had . In a media release on Dec. 16, the utility said it has addressed from last year, and has had three quarters without an arsenic violation according to state tests.
In November, against the utility company and the local government entities that run it, alleging their actions violated residents鈥� civil rights. Earlier this year the utility got both a new and a , but only after a delay between officials after a failure to file documents with the state.
The troubles at the utility sparked state officials to take a closer look at and may result in that provided no answer or insufficient plans to address issues.
Money and water
One thread Source NM will follow in 2025 is how New Mexico spends its money when it comes to its most precious resource.
While have kept money flowing for the state government鈥檚 operations, water conservation nonprofits and the executive branch are asking state lawmakers to .
The state has asked a judge to award money and compel the military to clean up 鈥渇orever chemicals鈥� which have in the state.
Las Vegas finally received its to fix its water systems after they were damaged during the 2022 wildfire season.
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