New Mexico Wild’s Senior Water Policy Analyst, Tricia Snyder, was featured in an article published by New Mexico In Depth on April 12th, 2023 that takes a look at New Mexico’s urgent need for strategic water use planning.

“If you don’t have a scientific foundation for those needs, then how do you expect to be able to form good policy?” said Tricia Snyder,”… “If you are investigating the impacts on certain water uses and not others, then the state is already making decisions about which of those water uses will be prioritized in the future.”

You can read New Mexico In Depth’s Full Article, “Amid a withering drought, New Mexico leaders struggle to plan for life with less water,” here.

New Mexico Wild focused heavily on the Strategic Water Reserve bill during the 2023 legislative session. Though it did not pass with the proposed funding and timeframe we had hoped, the Reserve will receive a record amount of funds.

“We’re thrilled to see a $7.5 million appropriation for the Strategic Water Reserve in this year’s final budget. This is the largest appropriation the Reserve has ever seen, after years of receiving piecemeal funding that was then clawed back for other purposes. Unfortunately, there is still work to be done to ensure these funds can be put on the ground to maximum effect. But funding this tool is a critical piece of building the climate resiliency we need to see across New Mexico to prepare and mitigate the challenges ahead,” said Tricia Snyder.

This legislative session was another step in the right direction for protecting and preserving our land, water, and wildlife. We will continue to advocate for land and water stewardship, forest and watershed health, outdoor recreation and infrastructure, agriculture and working lands, historic preservation, and wildlife species protection.