In a recent University of New Mexico community outreach project, “New Mexico Water: What our Next Leaders Need to Know,” UNM professors called upon recent Governor-Elect Michelle Lujan Grisham to protect New Mexico’s water.
Recommendations from the project include: increased involvement in water issues by Lujan Grisham, assuring appropriate regulatory programs from federal agencies, addressing climate change and providing financial assistance to small communities to meet water needs.
Bruce Thomson, one of the organizers of the conference that produced the project and a research professor in the Civil Engineering Department at UNM, said each year UNM holds a water conference and the most recent one focused on recommendations for the new governor.
According to Thomson, with the election came new administration in all of the departments that impact water protection, regulation and use. These departments include the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), Interstate Stream Commission (ISC), Energy Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) and the Office of the State Engineer (OSE).
“We wanted to organize a conference in which we would have past cabinet secretaries, past general counsel and past senior level administrators from the federal government — with ties to New Mexico — and they would give their perspective on the challenges and issues facing New Mexico,” Thomson said.
He said about 200 people attended the conference.
According to the official report created by the committee, “The next Governor needs to be fully informed on water and environmental issues in New Mexico and should appoint highly qualified administrators with a strong background in water and environmental issues. Agency administrators need to attract and retain good technical staff for their agencies.”
John Fleck, another organizer of the conference, professor of water policy and director of the UNM Water Resources Program, said the goal of the conference was to bring together previous New Mexico and federal leaders along with water experts to present a set of recommendations to the new administration.
Fleck was part of a four person organizing committee that brought together multiple UNM departments including the Civil Engineering Department, the Water Resources Program and the School of Law. The two other organizers were Kerry Howe and Adrian Oglesby, both of whom are professors at UNM.
“It’s kind of an example of how water works on this campus,” Fleck said. “Water has a bunch of different areas of research that are in different departments across campus. One of the things (UNM) tries to do is have these interdisciplinary efforts to work collaboratively on projects.”
Both Fleck and Thomson said the governor would benefit from having a “Water Coordinator” as part of her cabinet. This person would coordinate from the top down, Fleck said, and would reach out to all of the different New Mexico agencies involved in water management and conservation.
There has been a history of this job, Thomson said. Bill Hume played this roll in the Bill Richardson administration in 2002. Hume served as a liaison between these agencies and the governor providing more effective communication and governance, Thomson added.
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According to the official report, “This staff person might be identified as a water and environment ombudsman. This recommendation was based largely on the effective role played by Bill Hume in the Richardson administration. However, it was also noted that the success of this approach would depend largely on the qualifications and integrity of the person selected for the position.”
Fleck and Thomson both said a representative from Lujan Grisham and Republican candidate Steve Pierce attended the conference and copies of the final report were sent to the campaigns, since the conference happened prior to the election. Thomson added that Lujan Grisham’s campaign platform did address water conservation and other environmental issues.
“I think these messages have been heard, if you look at Michelle Lujan Grisham’s water policy during the campaign and the way she is starting to do it,” Fleck said.
A large part of the committee’s discussion was addressing the needs of small rural New Mexican communities, Fleck said. He said water infrastructure needs must be addressed because during drought and climate change these communities need more state resources.
“Upon taking office the next administration will face important water and environmental issues that will require immediate attention by the Governor and the state resource management agencies, particularly given current drought conditions affecting the Rio Grande and Colorado River basins,” the official report concluded.
Megan Holmen is the assistant news editor at the Daily Lobo. She can be contacted at assistant-news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @megan_holmen.
