Dispatch from an Irreversibly Changed New Mexico

Surface water supplies are heavily impacted by warming, and we've spent 80, 100 years relentlessly pumping groundwater. Albuquerque and Santa Fe have tried to diversify their water portfolios. They have a mix of Rio Grande water, imported Colorado River Basin water, and groundwater. The Rio Grande is so low this year, Albuquerque has already had to switch to exclusive groundwater pumping, and Santa Fe had to consider ceasing its diversions from the Rio Grande (groundwater pumping depletes aquifers). Because we've never treated our groundwater like a savings bank for bad times, we're not going to have those supplies to rely on in the future.  People in New Mexico, whether they are business leaders or water managers, want to be optimistic about the water situation. I think that that's not realistic. - High Country News