River Protection: Commission Designates 250+ Miles of New Mexico Rivers as Outstanding Waters

The New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission has unanimously voted to protect more than 250miles of rivers and streams as Outstanding National Resource Waters. This landmark designation shields portions of the Rio Grande, Rio Chama, Cimmaron, Pecos, and Jemez watersheds from degradation while preserving traditional and recreational uses. With up to 95% of New Mexico's waters having lost federal Clean Water Act protections last year, these state-level safeguards are more crucial than ever. Thank you to everyone who helped secure this victory for New Mexico's waters!

Enviromental Review Tool (ERT)

Do you need feedback for your grant application project proposal?

Utilize the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish’s Environmental Review Tool (ERT) for conservation planning and review of important resources for wildlife and habitats. ERT provides conservation information on wildlife and habitat diversity, protected lands, and other natural resources, and allows users to submit proposed projects for review of potential impacts to special status species and their habitats in New Mexico.

Department of the Interior Nature-Based Solutions Road Map

What are nature-based solutions?

Nature-based solutions are actions that incorporate natural features and processes to protect, conserve, restore, sustainably use, and manage natural or modified ecosystems to address socio-environmental challenges while providing measurable co-benefits. Nature-based solutions benefit both people and the environment. Examples cited in the Roadmap include urban stormwater and runoff management, prescribed burns, living shorelines, and restoration of various ecosystems. Learn more at this link >> or download the Road Map by clicking here>>

Stormwater Sampling in the Rio Grande

The USGS New Mexico Water Science Center is taking stormwater samples to study PCBs, PFAS, and microplastics at storm outfalls to the Rio Grande (Alameda bridge, Paseo bridge, Sanchez Farms, and Adobe Acres). View data and information on New Mexico’s rivers and streams, groundwater, water quality, and many other water-related topics here >>.

EPA Trash Free Waters Program

Are you interested in addressing trash in your waterways? 

Check out the EPA’s Trash Free Waters program’s Escaped Trash Risk Map. This map is designed to help local governments and communities to identify high-density escaped trash areas so they can evaluate impacts and consider how to take action. Contact Romell Nandi at nandi.romell@epa.gov with questions.

Climate Corner: Compendium of Tools to Estimate Benefits of Nature-Based Solutions 

Action: Adrienne Coakley, PhD, Physical Scientist at the EPA’s Nonpoint Source Management Branch, will provide an overview of the EPA’s Compendium of Tools and Methods to Estimate Environmental Benefits for Nature-Based Solutions, and identify methods and tools to estimate and communicate environmental benefits for planning activities such as watershed-based planning, grant writing and stakeholder engagement that are relevant to Ambassadors.   

Other Urban Waters Resources:

National Protected Rivers Explorer to navigate conservation values that rivers and watershed provide and identify which rivers are currently protected. (link)

Residential Rainwater Harvesting for residents of Bernalillo County (link).

Xeriscape for a Desert-Friendly Yard in Albuquerque/Bernalillo County (link).

National Stormwater Calculator (link).

Natureal Resource Center Service Web Soil Survey (link).

Bernalillo County Green Stormwater Infrastructure and Post-Construction Stormwater Management (link for practitioners and managers).

iTree Online Estimation Tools (link).

New Mexico Water Advocates -- learn about current water issues and legislative sessions (link).

Dowloadable Resources: