“New Mexico’s agriculture sector uses more than 80% of its fresh water. An activist group is calling for limitations on industry growth.” by Cathy Cook, Albuquerque Journal July 24, 2023
Diana Tittle, a member of the board of Sierra County Public-Interest Journalism Project, was the editor of the Sierra County Sun, the Citizen's precursor. A former resident of Truth or Consequences who now lives part-time in northern New Mexico, she spent her 42-year professional career in Cleveland, Ohio, where she worked as a newspaper reporter, magazine writer and editor, book author and publisher and publishing consultant. She is the recipient of a Cleveland Arts Prize for Literature.
I couldn’t read the article because of an annoying paywall but that is definitely a valid question to be asked at this point!! I travel to Albuquerque often enough that it appalls me to see the miles of irrigated nut farms south of Belen. How can we wonder why there is less water flowing into Elephant Butte Lake than could be accounted for simply by the drought?? Where did they get the water rights for that gignormous industrial orchard??? Probably from some place that used to have water but doesn’t anymore ……………… hmmmmm, I wonder.
NM water must be put to “benificial use” that means Ag! u cant give a dyeing fish or other earthling a sip of water. (this has been changed in Colorado)
when i brought this up on a show re water on radio i said that “well if it is thought thru the general public would have a big beef with ag as it is a very small percentage of New Mexicans that get the water. probably big farmers–not mom and pop nut farms” that comment was poorly received
I couldn’t read the article because of an annoying paywall but that is definitely a valid question to be asked at this point!! I travel to Albuquerque often enough that it appalls me to see the miles of irrigated nut farms south of Belen. How can we wonder why there is less water flowing into Elephant Butte Lake than could be accounted for simply by the drought?? Where did they get the water rights for that gignormous industrial orchard??? Probably from some place that used to have water but doesn’t anymore ……………… hmmmmm, I wonder.
NM water must be put to “benificial use” that means Ag! u cant give a dyeing fish or other earthling a sip of water. (this has been changed in Colorado)
when i brought this up on a show re water on radio i said that “well if it is thought thru the general public would have a big beef with ag as it is a very small percentage of New Mexicans that get the water. probably big farmers–not mom and pop nut farms” that comment was poorly received