Environment

Legislative Roundup: 13 Days Left In Session

by

Demonstrators cheer and hold up signs during a public lands rally on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, outside of the state Capitol. Matt Dahlseid/The New Mexican

The Santa Fe New Mexican

Dawn the duck: The New Mexico Senate unanimously confirmed the appointment Friday of Dawn Walters to lead the state’s newly established Office of the Child Advocate.

The office will be responsible for providing third-party oversight of New Mexico’s troubled child welfare system.

“This role has been long awaited and is critical to the safety and success of New Mexico’s children and families,” Sen. Katy Duhigg, D-Albuquerque, Read More

Amateur Naturalist: The Big Flower Pot Next Door

by

Picture 1: A canyon can be thought of as an elongated flower pot set in the sun. Photo by Bob Dryja

By Bob Dryja
Los Alamos

Think of a ceramic flower pot that is made of baked clay and has a particular shape that can help plants in it grow. Also imagine that a person positions the flower pot to be in a particular location to receive the ideal amount of sunlight—not too much or too little. (See picture 1 above)

Now consider the canyon next to the PEEC Nature Center.  It is called Acid canyon. It can be thought of as a huge flower pot with a variety of plants growing it. It is positioned so that one canyon wall faces Read More

Farmington’s Historic Downtown Earns State Arts & Cultural District Authorization

by

Art in the Heart Little Cowboy sculpture by Larry Starck. Courtesy/ Brad Ryan

Art in the Alley mural by Tommy A. Singer located behind the Totah Theater. Courtesy photo

EDD News:

SANTA FE — Historic Downtown Farmington has been granted state authorization as an Arts & Cultural District following the successful completion of the Arts & Cultural District start up benchmarks, becoming the 11th NM community to earn state authorization. 

New Mexico’s Arts & Cultural Districts make a positive impact by working with artists, entrepreneurs, arts organizations/institutions and cultural/historic Read More

RCAA To Host Four Community Listening Sessions On Lower Rio Chama Watershed Project

by

RCAA News:

The Lower Rio Chama Watershed Project, led by the Rio de Chama Acequia Association (RCAA), is an acequia- and community-led effort to improve watershed health and resilience in the lower Rio Chama region, from below Abiquiú Dam to El Guache.

Guided by community priorities, this effort aims to bring together acequias and neighbors from across the region to co-develop a shared plan and vision for a healthy watershed – from the uplands through the arroyos and down to the acequias along the Rio Chama. A key focus is on slowing and spreading destructive flood waters from arroyos to mitigate Read More

Faith-Based Climate Advocates Arrive At State Capitol After 300-Mile Trek

by

Desirée Bernard participates in Climate Solutions Day at the state Capitol Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. Bernard, the executive director of the New Mexico and El Paso branch of Interfaith Power & Light, set out with others on a more than 300-mile faith-based, climate-focused trek toward the Roundhouse. Photo by Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican

By ALAINA MENCINGER
The Santa Fe New Mexican

GALISTEO — As Desirée Bernard walked between Roswell and Corona in January, local farmers and ranchers warned her of a big storm coming. Some offered a lift.

Bernard wasn’t looking for a ride. Instead, she asked Read More

At Nuclear Deterrence Summit, Lab Directors Frame Regulatory Reform As Key To Modernization

by

Lab directors Thom Mason of Los Alamos and Kimberly Budil of Lawrence Livermore discuss efforts to modernize aging nuclear infrastructure and accelerate weapons development during a panel at the Nuclear Deterrence Summit in Arlington, Va. Photo by Marlene Wilden/ladailypost.com

By MARLENE WILDEN
Los Alamos Daily Post
marlene@ladailypost.com

ARLINGTON, VA.—Appearing together at the annual Nuclear Deterrence Summit, held Jan. 26-28, the directors of Los Alamos, Lawrence Livermore and Sandia National Laboratories said they are seizing an unusual window of regulatory reform to cut Read More

Bill Protecting State’s Clean Energy Progress Advances Out Of Senate Conservation Committee

by

STATE News:

SANTA FE — Amidst one of the driest and warmest winters on record, members of the Senate Conservation Committee passed the Clear Horizons Act, legislation that gives New Mexico a responsible plan to continue reducing climate-warming pollution while protecting family budgets, growing local jobs, and preserving the state’s unique way of life.

Sponsored by Senators Mimi Stewart (D-Albuquerque) and Angel Charley (D-Acoma), and co-sponsored in the House by Representatives Kristina Ortez (D-Taos) and Andrea Romero (D-Santa Fe), Senate Bill 18, codifies New Mexico’s existing Read More