Sun Valley, La Junta & Little Creek Estates Subdivisions in Alto, NM: KOAT: Forecasting Our Future: New Mexico's Drought Crisis

https://www.koat.com/article/forecasting-our-future-new-mexicos-drought-crisis/39454125

Transcript of video

WATER WE VALUE IT SO MUCH NEW MEXICO. IT’S WHAT BROUGHT PEOPLE TO SETTLE HERE THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO AND IT IS WHAT SUSTAINS US TODA

IN THE WINTER, SNOW CAPS OUR MOUNTAIN TOPS. WHEN IT MELTS, OUR RIVERS AND STREAMS THRIVE.

BUT SOMETHING HAS CHANGED IN THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT. A DROUGHT UNLIKE ANY OTHER IN RECORDED HISTORY. IT’S CHANGING THE WAY WE LIVE AND DECISIONS MADE NOW WLIL IMPACT HOW WE THRIVE IN ETH FUTURE.

IN THE WINTER, SNOW CAPS OUR MOUNTAIN TOPS. WHEN IT MELTS, OUR RIVERS AND STREAMS THRIVE.

BUT SOMETHING HAS CHANGED I THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT. A DROUGHT UNLIKE ANY OTHER IN RECORDED HISTORY. IT’S CHANGING THE WAY WE LIVE AND DECISIONS MADE NOW WLIL IMPACT HOW WE THRIVE IN ETH FUTURE.

KOAT’S TEAM OF METEOROLOGISTS ARE STUDYING THE SCIENCE OF CHANGING WEATHER PATTERNS NOW, AN IN DEPTH LOOK AT THE IMPACTS OF THE DROUGHT WE ARE ALL EXPERIENCING. DROUGHIST COMPLEX. BASICALLY, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE ABSENCE OF WATER. BUT DROUGHT IS CHARACTERIZED INTO FOUR DIFFERENT TYPES. FIRST IS MEOETROLOGICAL DROUGHT: THIS HAPPENS WHEN AN UNUSUALLY DRY WEATHER PATTERN DOMINATES THE AREA. NEXT IS HYDROLOGICAL DROUGHT: THIS IWHS EN A LOW WATER SUPPLY DEVELOPS, ESPECIALLY IN STREAMS, CREEKS AND RESERVOIRS. THEN THERE IS AGRICULTURAL DROUGHT: THIS OCCURS WHEN THE DRY LDAN STARTS TO IMPACT CROPS. FINALLY, SOCIOECONOMIC DROUGHT: A TYPE OF DROUGHT WHEN WATER SUPPLY CANNOT MEET THE WERAT DEMANDS. SUCH AS THE DEMANDSOR F FRUITS, VEGETABLES, GRAINS AND ME.AT HERE’S IS THE REAL EYE-OPENGIN FACT. RIGHT NOW, MANY PARTS OF NEW MEXICO ARE EXPERIENCING NOT ONE, BUT ALL FOUR CATEGORIES OF DROUGHT. THE DUST BOWL OF THE 30S WAS A BAD TIME FOR OUR STATE. PARTS OF EASTERN NEW MEXICO BEING HIT SO HARD THAT STRONG WINDS PICKED UP THE TOPSOIL AND BL IEWT AWAY INTO HUGE CLOUDS OF DUST. THE DUST STORMS KILLED LIVESTOCK AND DESTROYED CROPS. THEN CAME THE 50S. FOR SEVEN YEARS, THE STATE WAS DEVASTATINGLY DRY. CROPS FAILED, AND MANY FARMERS AND RANCHS WENT UNDER. BUT NOW, NOT ONLY ARE PARTOFS THE STATE DEALING WITH ALL FOUR CATEGORIES OF DROUGHT. BUT WE ARE ALSO DLIEANG WITH A STEADILY WARMING EARTH. A PATTERN THAT CAN TAKE YOUR BASIC DROUGH CYCLE AND MAKE IT MORE FREQUENT AND MORE SEREV YES, SOME OF THIS IS PART OF A NATURAL OCCURRENCE. BUT ALSO DUE TO HUMAN-CAUSED WARMG.IN HISTORY SHOWS US THAT WET AND DRY PERIODS OFTEN RUN IN 20-R O 30-YEAR CYCLE. FOR INSTAE, DURING A DRY CYCLES YOU STILL HAVE WET YEARS, BUT THEY ARE OUTNUMBERED BY THE DRY YEARS. I REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO FORECAST WEATHER DURING A ET"W CYCLE. A WET PERIOD THAT FIRST STARTED TAKING HOLD DURING THE 80S. MOST OF THE TIME RAINND A SNOW WERE PLENTIFUL, AND THERE WAS VERY LITTLE TALK ABOUT DROUT. YES, THAT’S RIGHT, VERY LILETT TALK ABOUT DROUGHT DURING THAT TIME. HOWEVER, THIS DRY CYCLE STARTED AROUND 20.00 OFTEN YOU HOPE TO SEE THE START OF A WET CYCLE. BUT NOW, MORE THAN 20 YEARS INTO THIS HISTORIC MEGA-DROUG,HT THERE IS NOTHING TO SUGGEST CHANGES ANYTIME SOON. MEANING CONDITIONS COULD GET MUCH WORSE WILDFIRES THAT BECOME MORE FREQUENT AND MORE INTEN.SE LOWER WATER LEVELS IN OUR RESERVOI. CHANGES TO OUR LIFE TILE AND RECREATION. QUESTIONS OUTAB IF THERE RIGHT WILL BE ENOUGH RIGHT NOW, TBU WATER. NOT ALL OF THAT MOISTURE ENDS UP SOAKING INTO THE GROUND OR FLOWING INTO RIVERS AND STREAMS. NEW MEXICO’S DRY AIR AND TALL MOUNTAINS SET UP A PERCTFE COMBINATION FOR WHAT’S CALLED SUBLIMATION THE SNOW DOESN’T MELT, IT CHANGES DIRECTLY TO WATER VAPO IT’S REALLY HARD TO SEE IN NATURE, BUA T GOOD EXAMPLE IS A BLOCK OF DRY ICE. IT DOESN’MET LT AS IT COMES UP TO ROOM TEMPERATURE, BUT INSADTE VAPORIZES INTO THE ATMOSPHERE. IN NEW MEXICO,UB SLIMATION BASICALLY "STEALS" SOME OF OUR VALUABLE SNOW PACK ON SUNNY DAYS WITH LOW HUMIDITY AND HIGH WD.IN OUR RIO GRANDE PROVIDES WATER FOR HUNDREDS OF FARMS THROUGHOUT OUR STATE,UT B HOW DO FARMS FURTHER AWAY FROM THE RIVER GET THE TEWAR THEY NEED? ACTION 7 NEWS REPORTER ANGEL SALCEDO TAKES US INSIDE THE HISTORY OF AN A-SECK-IA A TOOL THAT FARMERS IN R OUSTATE HAVE USED FOR CENTURI. MEET DON BUSTOS. HIS FAMILY HAS FARMED THIS LAND IN ESPANOLA FOR GENERATIONS IN A DESERT CLIME THAT SNOWCAPPED MOUNTAINS, DON’S FAMILY’S FARM HAS SURVEVI THROUGH THIS! THEIR STORHI ACEQUIA AND THAT’S NOT EVEN THE MT IMPRESSIVE THING ABO IUT IT BRINGS WATER FROM THE SANTACRUZ RESEVOIR ALL THEAY TO HIS FARM IN ESPANAOL BUT IT DOESN’T JU BSTRING WATER TO DON AND HIS FAMILY. EACH ACEQUIA HAS A "BARRANCO" WHICH IS RAVINE WHERE THE WATER FLOWS, AND THESE ACCESS GATES THAT CAN BE RAISED OR LOWERED. DON IS THE MAYORDOMO OF HIS ACEQUIA SO HE CONTROLS HIS ACCESS GATE AND DECIDES HOW MUCH WATER IS RELEASED FURTHER DOWN STRE. >> BEFORE THEREAS W GOVERNMENT, ETH LAW OF THE WATER. . EVEN HERE IN OUR METRO. WE HAVE AROUND 700 ACEQUIA’S IN OUR STATE AND EACH ONE HAS A VERY IMPORTANT PURPE. >> IT ISHE T LEBIFLOOD OF NEW MEXICO. THE WAY WE GET OUR WATER SUPPLY. THIS ACEQU HIAAS GIVEN LIFELONG MEMORIES TO DON AND HIS FAMILY. >> I REMBEEM IOL TD MY LILETT BROTR,HE LEAH CROSS THERE AND I WILL THROW WATER ON YOU. "THROWING YOUR BROTHER IN THE ACEQUIA? WHAT ARE YOU DOG?IN YOU’RE NOT PAYING ATTEION"NT FROM HIS ELDSER SHE WENT TO SLEEP AND NEVER WOKE UP AGA.IN I GOT TO WALK HER ACROSS THE BRIDGE TO HER NEXT LIFE. >> TO THE NEXT GENERATION MY GRANDSON IATS COLLEGE AND HE SAID WHEN I GET OUT, I’M GOING TO COME OUT AND TEACH YOU HOW TO REALLY FM.AR >> DON SAYS THE TRADITION AND CULTURE BEHIND THE ACEQUIAIL WL LIVE ON! >> IT’S MORE THAN A LIVELIHOOD, IT’S A PASSION. >> DON BUSTOS SAYS THE SNOWFALL WE GET EACH YEAR DETERMINES HOW OFTEN MAYORDOMO’S LIKE HIMSELF N CARELEASE WATER DOWN STREAM, TO THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY. NEW MEXICO IS A HUGE AND VERY DRY STATE. IN FACT, NEW MECOXI IS THE FIFTH LARGEST STA ITE THE NATION, COVERING ORVE 121,000 MI.. BUT IT’S ALSO THE FIFTH DRIEST STATE IN THE NATION AVERAGING LESS THAN 14 INCHES OF RAINFALL AND MELTED SNOWFALL EACH YEAR. THAT’S WHY EVERY OP OF RAIN AND FLAKE OF SNOW IS SO TAVI TO FILL R RIVERS, OUR LAKES, AND OUR RESERVOIRS. THIS WATER OR LIQUID GOLD PROVIDES ALL OF US WHAT WE ND TO SURVIVE IN A VERY DRY STATE. AND NOW AS TEMPERATURES CONTINUE TO WARM LESS AND LESS OF TSEHO RAINDROPS AND SNOWFLAKES ARE MAKING IT INTO OUR RIVERS, LAKES AND RESERVOIRS. A RECENT STUDY SHOWS 10% MORE WATERS ILEAVING OUR LAND THROUGH EVAPORATIONN I JUST THE PAST TWO DEDECA ONE BAND-AID FOR OUR WATER DEFICIT IS THE SAN JUAN CHAAM DRINKING WATER PROJECT, WHICH TAKES WATER FROM COLORADANO DIVERTS INTO THE RIO GRANDEPROVIDING BURQUES NOWITH OUR DRINKING WATER. BUT THIS BAND-AID IS JUST THAT, BECSEAU AS OUR TEMPERATURES CONTINUE TO WARM ALL OVEROUR WATER RESRCESOU ARE FORECAST TO CONTINUE TO DRY UP ALL THE WHILE OUR DEMAND WILL KEEP TO CLIMBI.NG BUT ALL OF THAT WATER ISN’OURST TO KEEP STATES WITH THE RIO GRANDE RUNNING THROUGH THEM HAVE AN AGREEMENT TO SHARE WATER. NEW MEXICO, COLORADO AND TEXAS ARE PART OF THE RIO GRAND COMPACT. IT’S BEEN IN PLACE NEARLY ONE HUNDRED YEARS AND IN THATI,T NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED WITH HOW IT WORKS. WHAT HAS CHANGED THOUGH, IS TH ENVIROT.EN CLIMATE CHANGE MAKES IMPLENTAEMTION OF THE COMPACT A LOT MORE CHALLENGING. BECAUSE IT’S CHANGING THE RIVER IN FUNDAMENTAL WAYS. THE AGREEMENT ALLOWS FOR CHANGES IN HOW MUCH WATER EACH STATE GETS, IN A WET YEAR--EACH STATE GETS MORE WATER AND IN ARY D YEAR EVERYONE GETS LESS. WATER BEING HELD AT ELEPHANT BUTTE IS RELEASED DOWN STREAM FOR PEOPLE IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO AND EVEUANTLLY TEXAS. THE STATE’S DON’T ALWAYS AGREE ON HOW THE COMPACTS OUSHLD BE ENFORCED. TEXAS IS SUING SAYING NEW MEXICO WAS TAKING MORE THAN ITS FAIR SHARE THE CASE IS BEFOREHE T SUPREME COURT NOW. NEW WATER AGREEMENTS ARE STILL BEING MADE TODAY, A NEW ONE JUST HAPPENED AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR WITH A TRIBE AND THE STATE. THE JICARILLA APACHE NATION WILL LEASE WATER TO THE STATE INTERSTATE STREAM COMMISSION FOR THE NEXT 10-YEARS. IT MEANS ABOUT SIX AND A HALF BILLION GALLONS YEA AR WILL BE RELEASED INTO THE SAN JUAN RIR.VE

THIS WILL BENEFIT THE ENTIRE ECOLOGY OF THE SAN JUAN RIR -VE IT’S AN INCREDIBLE RIVER IT SERVES INCREDIBLE HABITAT AND BIODIVERSITYMO ANGST MAY RIVER MILES. >> TWO ENDANGERED FISH, THE COLORADO PIKE MINNOW AND THE RAZORBACK SUCKER LIVE IN THE SAN JUAN RIVER, ALONG WITH A NUMRBE OF SENSITIVE SPECIES. DROUGHT CAN REALLY IMPACT ALL THINGS THAT LIVE IN AND ALONG WATERWAYS. YOU CAN PHYSICALLY SEE SOME OF THE IMPACTS OF OUR DROUGHT RIGHT HERE AT THE BOSQUE. COTTONWOODS EVOLVED TO BE SELF PRUNING TREES - SO WHEN THEY AREN’T GETTING ENOUGH WATER, THEIR BRANCHES DP.RO WHEN IT’S WINDY, IT’S BEST TO AVOID THEM. MANY OF THE TREES HERE DATE BACK TO THE 1940S AND ARE REACHING THE END OF THEIR NATURAL LIFE. AND THLOE WERED WATER TABLE IS A CONCERN FOR YOUNGER EETRS TRYING TORO G >> SOMETIMES SOME OF THE REALLY THE YOUNGER COTTONWOODS ANTHD SEEDLINGS CAN BE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE BECAUSE THEY HAVEN’T DEVELOPED THAT LARGER ROOT SYSTEM >> AS THE COTTONWOODS REACH THE END OF THEIR LIVES, EXPERTS YSSA IT WOULDN’T BE SURPRISING IF ELM TREES WERE TO REPLACE THE OLDER COTTONWOODS IF WATER CONDITIONS DON’T IMPROV

STILL TO COME ON FORECASTING OUR FUTU.RE GROWING ONE OF NEW MEXICO’S SIGNATURE CROPS THROUGH DROUGHT >> IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO ADAPT, YOU’RE GOING TO BE OUT.

HOW FARMERS ARE CHANGING THEIR APPROACH *TO SEE THEIR CROPS THROUGH TO HARVEST PLUS, MAKING UNUSABLE WATER USABLE A NEW MEXICO PROJECT THAT COULD PROVIDE MORE CLEAN WATER TO THE WORLD. AND ALLERGY IMPACTS. WHY THE DROUGHT CRISISOULD C MEAN YOUR SEASONAL SYMPTOMS HAPPEN MORE OFTEN.

OUR TEAM OF METEOROLOGISTS HERE AT KOAT ARE STUDYING DATA BEHIND NEW MEXO'I’S DROUTGH CRISIS. WATER IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT IN THE SOUTHWEST BUT EVEN MORE SO DURING A MEGA DROUGHT.

WE CAN SEE WATER IN RIVERS AND STREAMS, BUT IT’S THE WATER THAT WE CAN’T SEE THATS I BECOMING MORE AND MORE IMPORTANT. METEOROLOGIST KELLY FRANSON EXPLAINS

WHEN YOU THINK OF THE WATER SUPPLY IN NEW MEXICO, UYO PROBABLY THINK OF SNOW FALLING ON OUR MOUNTAINS IN THE WINTER AND THEN IN THE SUMMER MONSOON STORMS PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL WI LTHOTS OF THUNDER AND LIGHTNING YOU ALSO THINK OF THE WATER HELD IN OUR RESERVOIRSND A FLOWING THROUGH OUR RIVERS. BUT WATER IS ALSO STORED BELOW THE SURFACE. WE CALL THIS GROUNDWATER ACCORDING TO THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, ABOUT 87 PERCENT OF NEW MEXICO’S PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY COMES FROM GROUNDWATER. GROUNDWATER CAN BE FOUND IN THE TINY SPACES BETWEEN SAND GINRAS AND GRAVEL, WITHIN CRACKS, AND IN SMALL CAVES DISSOLVED OUT OF ROCKS. MOST GROUND CAN STORE WATER,UT B WATER NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO EASILY MOVE THROUGH THE ROCK OR SEDIMENT TO BE A USEFUL AQUIFER. THERE ARE 39 UNDERGROUND WATER BASINS IN NEW MEXICO. BUT MANY OF THESE RESOURCES ARE BEING USED FAR FASTER THAN THEY CAN BE REPLENISH.ED AQUIFERS ARE RECHARGED OR REFILLED BY WATER SEEPING DOWN THROUGH THE EARTH’S SURFAC MANY NEW MEXICANS HAVE WELLS FOR THEIR CROPS AND FOR THEIR HOMES. ACCESSING THAT UNDERGROUND WERAT IS DIFFICULT AND WHOEVER DRILLS THE WELL HAS TO BE LICENSED THE STATE ENGINEER.

PECAN FARMERS IN THE MESILLA VALLEY HAVE ADAPD TETO LIFE IN DROUGHT. REPORTER STEPHANIE MUNIZ FOUND THEY DEPEND ON GROUNDWATER TO KEEP CROPSLI AVE. THE PECAN INDUSTRY IN NEW MEXICO IS ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY. AND IT IS ONE OF THE CROPSHA TT GROWS PERFECTLY IN THE MESLAIL VALLEY.

WE GROW MORE PECANS IN THIS REGION THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD. IT IS OUR DRY CLIMATE TTHA MAKES THEM SO PRODUCTIVE.

BEING A FARMER IN A DROUGHT IS NO EASY TASK CONSTANTLY CHANGING HOW FARMERS OPERATE IS A STMU

WHAT WORKED FOR YOUR GRANDFATHER MAY NOT WORK FOR YOU. IF YOU ARN'T ABLE TO ADAPT, YOU WILL BE OUT

ALTHOUGH MANY SETTLERS DID CHOOSE TO FARM NEAR THE RIO GRDEAN BECAUSE OF THE WARTE SUPPLY, NOW.

WE USE GROUNDWATER WELLS TO SUPPLEMENT THE SURFACE WATER SUPPLY. WE USE THE PIPELINES TO MOVE WATER AROD AND IRRIGATION DITCHES. IN A FEW MONTHS, THIS WILL BE FULL OF WATER. BECAUSE OF THE DROUGHT AND LIMITED GROUND WATER FARMERS HAVE MANAGE IT WELL.

HOW MUCH PRODUCT DO I PROVIDE CONSUMERS. THAT IS KEY NO MATTER WHAT WE ARE GROWING.

ONE WAY FARMERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ADAPT IS BY RENTING A DIFFERENT PIECE OF LAND, PUMPING OUT GROUND WATER AND USING IT FOR THE PECAN ORCHARDS >> WHAT IS THE FUTURE OFHE T PECAN INDUSTRY IN NEW MEXICO?

IT’S QUESTIONABLE. WEONDE WR.

WHEN IT COMES TO GROWING PECANS THE CYCLE IS REPETITIVE.

IT IS A CIRCLE AT NTHEVER ENDS.

THE TRATIDIONAL START THANKSGIVING. WE ARE WAITING FOR A FREEZE TO BRING ETH LEAVES OFF THE TREES.

BY THE END OF JANUARY TREES ARE PRUNED AND THE SOIL IS TREATED. FROM THE SPRING TIME UNTIL SUMMER TREES ARE BEING WATERED. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE CHALLENGES TO ABE FARMER THEY ARE OPTIMISTIC.

EAT ALL THE PECANS YOU WANT, I PROMISE WE WILL MAKE MORE.

REPORTING IN THE MESILLA VALLEY STEPHANIE MUNIZ KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS.

CANALS IN MESILLA VALLEY VEHA BEEN AROUND SINCE BEFORE ELEPHANT BUTTE DAM WAS BUILT.

CROPS LIKE PECANS AND GENRE CHILE HAVE BEEN GROWN IN NEW MEXICO FOR GENERATIONS, BUT THERE’S A CROP THAT IS B A NEWER WHEN IT COMES TO MASS PRODUCTION.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA HAS BNEE LEGAL SINCE 2007 AND NOW THAT INDURYST IS GROWING WITH RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA STORES OPENING IN A MATTER OF DAYS. STELLA SUN TAKES A LOOK AT WHETHER LAUNCHING THIS NEW CROP WILL IMPACT OUR WATER CRISIS.

ROWS AND ROWS OF CAABNNIS. ALL OF THIS WILL SOON HIT THE SHELVES. >> WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO MEE THE DEMAND OF NEMEW XICANS WE’VE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP OUR CONSUMPTION WOFATER FAIRLY WLO ON THIS PROPERTY. BECAUSE OF OUR GROW METHOD

AS RECREATION SALALES ROLL OUT, NEW MEXICO BATTLES A MEGA DROUGHT.

I THINK THAT DROUGHT IS CONCERNING ALL OF US.

THE CANNABIS RESEARCH CENTER AT UC BERKLEY FINDS GROWING CANNABIS USES AROUND THE SAME AMOUNT OF WATER AS *OTHER CROPS. WE SPOKE WITH OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEER, WHICH HANDSLE ALL THE NEW MEXICO WATER USAGE, WHETHER THEY WORRY CANNABIS PRODUCTION WILL MAKE THE WATER CRISIS WORSE.

NOT REALLY BECAUSE IT’S A NEW CROP WE’VE GOT WATER FOR OTHER CROPS LIKE ALFALFA, HAY,OR C CHILE, PECANS. SO SOMEBODYS I GOING TO HAVE WAA TER RIGHT

THE WATER RIGHT HE’S REFERENCING IS IN THE NEW MEXICO CONSTITUTION IT SAYS A TLL WATER IN THE STATE BELONGS TO THE PUBLIC, AND THE RIGHT USETO IT IS CALLED A WATER RIGHT. THE LAW LEGALIZING RECREATIONAL SALES SAYS CANNABIS PRODUCERS MUST PROVE THEY HAVE IT.

WE’VE MADE SURE THAT THE LEGISLATION THAT WE HAVE AND IS CURRENTLY ON THE BOOKS IS THOUGHTFUL AND SUPPORTS OUR EFFORTS TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE

REPRESENTATIVE ANDREA ROMERO SAYS ITS THE ONLY LAW HEIN STATE WHERE AN INDUSTRY MUST PROVE WATER RIGHTS *BEFOREEI BNG ABLE TO GET A LICENSE THATAY W THE STATE ENGINEER’S OFFICE SAY ONLY 15 CANNABIS CULTIVATORS HAVE PROVEN WATER RIGHTS ONE OF THEM IS EVERT.ES

THIS DRIP IRRIGIOATN, REALLY CONTROLS THE AMOUNT OFAT W THAT GOES INTO THE PLANTS, AND THE SOIL KEEPS AND HOLDS IT INSTEAD OF IT JUST DRAINING RIGHT THROUGH

KIRK SAYS OVER THE YEARINS THE MEDICAL CANNABIS BUSINESS, THEY’VE LEARNED TO USE SOIL THAT RETAINS WATER BETTER ANDSE MORE EFFECTIVE WATERING METHODS. STELLA SUN, KOAT ACTION 7 WSNE.

CANNABIS SALES WILL START APRIL 1. THE RUNNING JOKE IS THAT NEW MEXICO ACTUALLY HAS FIVE SEASONS - SPRING, SUMMER, FALL, WINTER - AND WI!ND APRIL IS WINDIEST MONTH OF YEAR, BUT DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LE,IV HIGH WIND CAN HAPPEN ANYTI.ME IT IS MORE FREQUENT IN SPRING BECAUSE THE SUN GENERATES MORE HEAT NEAR THE SURFACE AND "THAT" WARM AIR RISES. "IF" THERE’S A STRONG JET STREAM ABOVE US, AS THE SURFACE AIR RISES, STRONG JET STREAM WINDS CAN MIX DOWN. AND THOSE GUSTY CONDITIONS OENFT PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS AND DUST STOR.MS THAT BLOWING DUST ALSO IMPACTS OUR AIR QUALITY.

BUT SEVERAL OTHER HAZARDS IN THE AIR CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS. OUR DATA SHOWS THEY ARE ISSUES THAT WILL GET WORSE ASHE T CLIMATE WARMS.

SPRING IS OUR WINDY SEASON, AND IT’ALSO OUR TRADITIALON WILDFIRE SEASON. MAY AND JUNE ARE HISTORICALLY BAD MONTHS RFO FIRES, SOME GROWING TO THOUSANDS OF ACRES WITH GIANT SMOKE PLUMES! BREATHING IN THAT SMOKE CREATES A NEGATIVE REACTION IN YOUR LUNGS.

HE T RELEASE INFLAMMATORY FACTORS THAT CAN DAMAGE THE LUNGS OR SYSTS EMOUTSIDE LIKE YOUR BRAIN, YOUR HEART, AT GROWING FETUS. THERE IS POTENTILYAL WIDESPREAD HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH WILDS PRIOR SMOKE.

OUR CLIMATE LOOKS TO BE INCREASINGLY VULNERABLE TO WILDFIRES AND SMOKE. SPRING’S GREEN-UP IS ALWAYS SUCH A WELCOME SIGHT, BUT THIS IS ALSOHE WN OUR POLLEN COUNTS GET VERY HIGH.

IT CAN BE A SEVEER OUTCOME WITH BRONCO CONSTRICTION CHALLENGING THE ABILITY TO EABRTHE.

ALLERGY MEDICATIONS HELP,BUT THEY COME AT A PRICE. YOU CAN LIVE YOUR TEIM OUTDOORS, BUT POLLEN SEASON IS GETTING LONGER.

WE ALSO HAVE A NEW SUERMM HAZARD, ONE THAT IS BECOMING MORE COMMON OZONE. OZONE FORMS ON SUNNY DAYS WHEN THE AIR IS STATIONARY.

IT IS DAME.AG AT THE MOLECULAR LELEV PRINTED IT CAN REDUCE THE GROW OF THTHE LONG. IT PREDISPOSES PEOPLE TO ASTHMA.

A WARMING CLIMATE WITH LATER AND LESS INTEN MSEONSOON SEASONS WILL LIKELY ONLY MAKE OUR EXPOSURE TO HIGH OZONE DAYS MORE COMMON. TAPPING INTO A NEW SUPPLY OF WA TER THE NEW MEXICO PROJECT PUTNGTI OTHERWISE UNUSABLE SALT WATER TO WORK AND SAVING WATERT ME A WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW TO CUT YOUR DEPENDENCE ON A DWINDLING REURSO

AS WE STUDY NEW MEXICO’S DROUGHT CRISIS TO FORECASTUR O FUTURE, WE KNOW THAT PART OF HAVING PROBLEMS IS FINDING SOLUTIONS.

ACTION 7 REPORTER JNOH CARDINALE TAKES US TO A FACILITY IN ALAMOGOORD THAT’S TAPPING INTO A WATER SUPPLY THAT UP UNTIL NOW HASN’T BEEN USABLE. >> BELIEVE IT OR NOT MOST OF EARTHS WATER IS UNUSABLE FOR CONSUMPTIO

ONE TO O TWPERCENT OF WATER IS CONSIDERED FRESH >> THAT MEANS A VAST MORAJITOFY THE WATER ON EARTH CONTAINS LTSA ACCORDING TO T UHE.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OVER 30% OF THE EARTHS WATER IS IN UNDERGRODUN ACQUIFERS SOME OF IT IS BRACKISH WATER. IN 2007 THE BRACKISH GROUNDWATER NATIONAL DESALINATION RESEARCH FACILITY OPENED UP IN ALAMAGORDO NEW MEXICO. >> WHAT WE DO HERE AT ISTH FACILITY IS FIND WAYS TO TAKE THE SALT OUT SO YOU CAN BE DRINKABLE OR USE FOR AGRICULTURE OR USE IT BY INDUSTRY. >> NOW THIS RIGHT HERE IS ONE OF FOUR WELLS ON THE PROPERTY, AND IT PUMPS ABOUT 80 GALLONS PER MINUTE FROM THE TULA ROSA BASIN, WHICH IS RIGHT BENEATH US RIGHT NOW. THAT WATER IS THEN MOVED INTO THOSE STORAGE TANKS RIGHT THERE, THEN TRANSFERRED OVERO T THE FACILITY WHERE IT’S TRANSFORMED INTO USABLE WATER. >> MOST OF THESE ARE A PROCESS WHERITE ’S USING A MEMBRANE TO SEPARATE THE WATER IN THE SALTS. AND SO IT’S PRETTY QUI. CK >> MALYNDAAP CPELLE IS THE FACILITY MANAGER SHE SHOWED US A MEMBRANE AND HOW IT WORKS. SALTY WATER IS PUMPED THROUGH UNDER PRESSURE WHILE PASSING THROUGH THE MEMBRANE SALT IS SEPARATE >> THIS IS HOW MUCH SALT IS BEGIN PUMPED OUT. >> TRANSFORMING THE SALTY WATER UNDERGROUND INTO CLEANSE ULE WATER. IF YOU HAVE THIS MUCH OF WATER THAT’S FRESH GROUNDWATER AND THEN YOU CAN SUPPLEMENT WITH DESALINATION WATER, THEN YOU CAN SOMEWHAT MITIGATE THE CHANGES THAT ARE HAPPENING WITH SEONASS AND CLIMATE CHANGE.

TECHNOLOGY BEING TESTED AT THE FACILITY HAS BEEN INSTALLED FOR MUNICIPAL DESALINATION ALL ACROSS THE NATION.

MANY OF THE REALITIES OF DROUGHT ARE FAR OUTSIDTHE CONTROL OF EVERYDAY NEW MEXICANS. BUT YOU CAN MAKE CHANGES AT HOME THAT HELP. CHOOSE DESERT FRIENDLY PLANTS THAT DON’T NEED CONSTANT WATERING. NURSERIES CAN TELL YOU ABOUT TREES THAT ARE MORE RESILENT TO DROUGHT. THEY ARE CALLED CLIMATE READY TREES. THEY CAN SHADE SURFACES SO CONCRETE WALLS AND DRIWAYSVE AREN’T IN THE DIRECT SUN. CAPTURE RAINWATER IN BARRELS AND USE THAT TO WATER PLAN.TS AND MULCH EVERHIYTNG, IT INSULATES PLANT ROOTS AND KESEP THE MOISTURE IN THE SOIL. DON’T PLANT GRASS LAWNS REQUIRE FIVE TIMES THE RAINFALL ALBUQUERQUE GETS EVERY YEAR. EXPERTS SAY SPRINKLERS SYSTEMS ARE WATER WASTERS AND OFTEN SPRAY THE SIDEWALK AND DRIVEWAY MORE THAN THE GRS.AS THEY RECOMMEND REPLACING GRASS LAWNS WITH NATIVE PLANTS.

IT HAS A DIVERSITY OF PLANT THAT PERTAIN TO THIS REGION. IT ADDS POLINATORS, IT ADDS REMO LIFE TO YOUR GARDEN. ULTIMATELY YOU END UP WITH A MORE BEAUTIFL LANDSCAPE PALLET. AND AT THE SAME TIME YOU'RE SAVING WATER.

YOU CAN EVEN GET REBATES IN ALBUQUERQUE FOR MAKING THESE CHANGES. CHECK OUT 505 OUTSIDE FOR ATTH AND A LIST OF PLANTS THAT LOVE GROWING IN NEW MEXICO. >> THE HOPE FOR THE FURETU UNDERSTANDING THE LONG TERM IMPACTS OF MEGADROUGHT IN THE WEST.

WE HAVE BEEN IN THIS MEGARO-DUGHT FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS. RESEARCHERS SAY THIS IS THE WORST DROUGHT WE HAVE HAIND 1200 YEARS. AND IT WOULD TAKE A LOT TO CLIMB OUT OF THIS. DREADFUL PATTERN. ON THE DROUGHT MONITOR, ETH DARKER SHADES SHOW THE DEEPER AREAS OF DROUGHT. IT WOULD TE AKAT LEA 5ST CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF NORMATOL ABOVE NORMAL RAIN AND SNOW. TO PERHAPS SHOW BIG IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DROUGHT MONORIT BUT THE LONG TERM EFFECTS ARE MUCH MORE COMPLE FOR INSTANCE OUR RESERVOIRS ARE HISTORICALLY LOW. THEY HAVE BEEN LOWER THAN NORMAL SINCE THE 1990S. WE WOULD NEED A SWITCH TO A WET PATTERN, LIKE WE HADN ITHE 80S AND 90S TO RAISE OUR RESERVOIRS TO NORMAL LEVELS. REMEMBER, OFTEN A DROUGHT WIND DOWN AFTER 20 YEARS OR SO. UNFORTUNATELY WE DON’T SEE A WET PATTERN ON THE HORIZON. MEANING, THAT WE WILL LIKELY BE DEALING WI TTHHIS MEGA-DROUGHT MORE YEARS TO COME.

MONSOON RAIN CAN CSEAU FLOODING. REMEMBER WHEN THIS HAPPENED IN ROSWELL STLA MAY?

MONSOON DOWNPOURS CAN DROP A LOT OF RAIN IN A SHORT AMOT.UN WHEN THAT HAPPENS, IT DOESN’T HAVE TIME TO SOAK IN TO THE GROUND. MOST OF IT GOES INTOUR O WATERWAYS SO WE’RE NOT SEEING A MAJOR BENEFIT WHEN IT COMES TO DROUGHT RELIEF.

THE NATIONAL DROUGHT CEERNT CALCULATES THAT MOST OF OUR STATE WOULD NEED 3 OR EVEN UP TO 6 INESCH OF RAIN OVER A 4 EKWE PERIOD, BEFORE WE COULD CALL OUR STATE DROUGHT FREE BUT EVEN THEN WE WOULD STILL HAVE SOME ABNORMALLY DRY SPOTS AND STILL NEED MORE RAIN GOING FORWARD OR WE WOD ULSLIP RIGHT BACK INTO DROUGHT. >> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CAUSES BEHIND THE DROUGHT WE ARE EXPERIENCING. A RECENT STUDY IN THE JOURNAL NATURE SHOWED THE DROUGHT HAS NO SIGN OF EASING UP IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

THERE’S ALWAYS HOPE THAT IT WILL CHANGE 2015 BROUGHT LOTS OF RAIN, AND 2006 SAW LOTS OF SNOW. AND WE CAN ALWAYS HOPE FOR BIG RAINS FOR THIS UPCOMING MONSOON SEASON.

RIGHT NOW WE ARE FORCED TO WORK WITH THE GRNDOU MOISTURE, AND THE WATER STORED IN ROU RESERVOIRS.

WHILE WE WAIT FOR RIEINEL THE WEATHER PATTERNS, WE CAN ALL WORK TO UNDERSTAND THE SCIENCE OF THE DROUGHT CRISIS UNDERSTANDING CAN LEAD TO ANCHGE BOTH IN YOUR HOME AND CHANGES OUR LEADERS CAN MAKE ON A BIGGER SCE.AL

OUR TEAM OF METEOROLOGISTS HERE AT KOAT WILL KEEPOU Y WEATHER AWARE TRACKING WHAT’S HAPPENING HERE IN THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR FORECASTING OUR FUTURE NEW MEXICO’S DROUGHT CRISIS IT IS THE LIFEBLOOD OF NEW MEXICO. THE WAY WE GET OUR WATER SUPPLY. THIS ACEQUIAS GIVEN LIFELONG MEMORIES TO DON AND HIS FAMILY. WATER WE VALUE IT SO MUCH NEW MEXICO. IT’S WHAT BROUGHT PEOPLE TO SETTLE HERE THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO AND IT IS WHAT SUSTAINS US TODA