New Mexico

Interior Secretary Haaland announces $60 million to help water conservation along the Rio Grande • Source New Mexico

Published

5 months ago

May 13, 2024

Interior Secretary Haaland announces million to help water conservation along the Rio Grande • Source New Mexico

On Friday Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, announced a $60 million investment from the Biden administration for water conservation and drought resilience along the Rio Grande.

The federal funding will improve water protections in the lower Rio Grande Basin between Elephant Butte and El Paso, which has had issues with water loss and legal battles in recent years.

The $60 million that the Bureau of Reclamation has invested is a part of the $500 million dollars from the Inflation Reduction Act for water management outside the Colorado River Basin.

Haaland said the bureau will work through existing agreements with local irrigation districts on projects that have the potential to save millions of gallons of water per year.

U.S. Supreme Court questions both positions in Rio Grande water case

“When drought conditions like this strike, we know it doesn’t just impact one community. It affects all of us,” she said. “We all have a role and an obligation to use water wisely, manage our resources with every community in mind, work collaboratively and respect each other during this challenging time.”

Rebecca Roose, Infrastructure advisor for Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, said a recently published Water Action Plan predicts over the next 50 years New Mexico will have 25% less water than today.

“How are we going to ensure that our cultural resources and our cultural opportunities, that families are able to thrive, that we have a vibrant economy that meets the needs of our state,” she said.

The additional funds will go towards infrastructure repairs to improve water supplies and water delivery systems around the region. They will also help build increased storage for existing dams and stormwater capture systems.

This water will be used to revitalize aquifers, reduce irrigation demands and improve wildlife habitat for endangered species.

The Rio Grande provides water for agricultural food production and drinking water to New Mexico and Texas. The 23-year drought has plagued the region with record low water levels throughout the basin.

Haaland said additional funding for other basins will be announced later this summer or fall.

Support for this coverage comes from the Thornburg Foundation. KUNM first republished this article. It is republished here with permission.

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New Mexico

Los Poblanos hotel receives 2 Michelin keys

Published

6 hours ago

September 27, 2024

Press Room

Los Poblanos hotel receives 2 Michelin keys

While many New Mexicans already know about Los Poblanos, the 25-acre inn with gardens, fields and farming is finally giving New Mexico some national recognition.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – While many New Mexicans already know about Los Poblanos, the 25-acre inn with gardens, fields and farming is finally giving New Mexico some national recognition.

“They spent the last four years compiling information on the best hotels in the United States and came up with a new concept on Michelin keys,” said Matthew Rembe, an executive director of Los Poblanos.

Los Poblanos was just named a Michelin two key hotel. It’s a recognition that Rembe never expected.

“We are a unique experience, and we were happy that New Mexico was recognized. Sometimes New Mexico is overlooked in things like this. We are happy for New Mexico, and we were certainly humbled, so it is exciting,” said Rembe.

Each place is judged on five categories: Architecture and interior design, quality and consistency of service, overall character, value for the price and guest experience.

“New Mexico has the oldest architecture in the United States and Los Poblanos has a couple of different examples of important architecture, kind of agricultural old dairy buildings. The other is territory revival by John Gaw Meem and that is what sets up apart from other states, that New Mexican-style of architecture,” Rembe said.

This is only the second time the Michelin guide has announced Michelin key hotels.

Rembe hopes it gives people the opportunity to visit the Land of Enchantment and see everything that New Mexico has to offer.

“They can disconnect from their phones and technology and just kind of chill and relax and take in New Mexican culture. It always brings people back, I think New Mexico always exceeds their expectations because they have certain ideas on what the experience is going to be like,” said Rembe.

Los Poblanos got two keys, but there was another inn that got one key in New Mexico. That’s the Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi in Santa Fe.

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New Mexico

Student podcast focuses on gun violence in Albuquerque

Published

14 hours ago

September 27, 2024

Press Room

Student podcast focuses on gun violence in Albuquerque

We’ve seen school threats cause lockdowns at campuses surrounded by police, and a handful of students are facing charges. That includes three metro teens accused of bringing guns on campus.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – We’ve seen school threats cause lockdowns at campuses surrounded by police, and a handful of students are facing charges. That includes three metro teens accused of bringing guns on campus.

Now, a group of teens is more than ready to have very grown-up conversations.

“It’s a really amazing way to help us spread awareness on how many youths and how many of us have been killed throughout our state and everywhere around the world,” said Briana Salazar, a college freshman.

Kaery Camacho and Salazar are just two of about 20 New Mexico students launching a new podcast series called “Aimed At Us.”

“Having experienced it, you always now have in mind in the back of your head, what if it will happen again?” said Salazar.

Before Salazar started college, she had already experienced a school shooting.

“There was two male students, and they had a confrontation with each other, and one of the male students pulled out his gun and unfortunately killed the other student, and it was right in front of our school,” Salazar said.

Camacho argues even if students haven’t gone through a shooting, many of them live with that potential fear.

“You’re not even safe at your school anymore,” Camacho said.

They both believe this podcast will give them and other students the chance to finally share their thoughts, worries, and ideas on what has become a continuous problem in New Mexico.

“They don’t want to listen to us, you know, like we’re the ones who are getting affected the most. We should be able to speak our truths,” said Camacho.

They plan on tackling all angles of the teen gun violence epidemic, speaking to people connected to both sides of the trigger.

“We are interviewing people who have been affected with gun violence, or people who have done gun violence, and see how that changed their lives and affected it, and how they’re doing better in their lives,” Camacho said.

New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence is backing the effort and paying the students on the podcast.

“They’re deciding who they want to interview. So it’s not us. We’re just kind of helping in the background,” said Miranda Viscoli, co-president of New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence.

Viscoli says she hopes the podcast provides an outlet for New Mexico students who are on the frontlines of this state and national debate.

“Hear what these youth are going through, what these youth want to see changed, because they have real ideas. They have good ideas. and they’re extremely intelligent,” said Viscoli.

The podcast is supposed to launch in November. if you are a student who would like to be part of it, or know of one, just fill out the contact form on the New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence website.

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