>>ANNOUNCER: REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NEW MEXICO, AN ORGANIZATION OF PROFESSIONALS WHO BELIEVE THAT INVESTING IN PUBLIC EDUCATION IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR STATE'S ECONOMIC FUTURE, FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM >>LORENE: HELLO, I AM LORENE MILLS AND WELCOME TO REPORT FROM SANTA FE .

I AM HONORED TO BE JOINED TODAY BY ONE OF MY ESTEEMED COLLEAGUES, LAURA PASKUS, WHO IS A JOURNALIST COVERING WATER AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN NEW MEXICO FOR TWO DECADES.

SHE HAS BEEN A FREELANCE JOURNALIST WORKING WITH NEW MEXICO IN DEPTH , NEW MEXICO INDEPENDENT , NEW MEXICO POLITICAL REPORT, THE SANTA FE REPORTER, YOU GOT A LOT OF AWARDS FOR THAT WORK.

NEW MEXICO MAGAZINE, AUDUBON AND HIGH COUNTRY NEWS , BUT NOW YOU ARE THE PRODUCER OF AN EXQUISITE SERIES IT IS FEATURED ON PBS TV'S IN FOCUS PROGRAM THAT COMES ON EVERY WEEK.

AND YOU DO A PROGRAM CALLED, "OUR LAND NEW MEXICO'S ENVIRONMENTAL PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE."

YOU DO WONDERFUL WORK AND I AM HONORED TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>>LAURA: THANK YOU SO MUCH, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU HAVING ME BACK.

>>LORENE: AND IN YOUR FREE TIME, YOU ARE AN AUTHOR AND THIS WONDERFUL BOOK, I THINK EVERY NEW MEXICAN SHOULD OWN IT, AT THE PRECIPICE, NEW MEXICO'S CHANGING CLIMATE , YOU PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO THIS, SO THANK YOU.

I HAVE ASKED YOU TO COME BACK BECAUSE I AM LOOKING AROUND ME AT NEW MEXICO'S ENVIRONMENT IN THE PRESENT AND I AM SEEING A LOT OF THINGS THAT I CANNOT HELP BUT INTERPRET AS WARNING SIGNS, AMONG THEM ARE THAT A LOT OF THE BOAT RAMPS IN OUR LAKES HAVE BEEN CLOSED BECAUSE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH WATER, THAT ELEPHANT BUTTE RESERVOIR IS AT NINE PERCENT, NINE PERCENT OF ITS CAPACITY, PART OF THE RIO GRANDE IS DRYING UP FOR MILES NOT JUST A LITTLE BEND IN THE RIVER.

AND THEN EARLIER THIS YEAR THE STATE ENGINEER AND THE INTERSTATE STREAM COMMISSION TOLD FARMERS NOT TO PLANT, THAT THERE WAS NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH WATER, WE WILL GO INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER.

AND THEN IN TOWN WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF WATER RESTRICTIONS AND I AM PUTTING ALL OF THIS TOGETHER AND I AM WONDERING AM I RIGHT TO BE A LITTLE MORE ALARMED THAN WE ARE GOING TO BUMP ALONG AND GET THROUGH IT, ISN'T THIS THE WORST DROUGHT IN HOW MANY YEARS, 50, A 100?

>>LAURA: YEAH, THESE WARNINGS SIGNS HAVE BEEN BUILDING FOR A LONG TIME, BUT THIS YEAR A LOT OF THINGS ARE COMING TOGETHER.

WE HAVE VERY WARM CONDITIONS, VERY DRY CONDITIONS, OUR RESERVOIRS WERE ALREADY LOW FROM A NUMBER OF DRY YEARS AND HOT YEARS.

AND NOW, YOU KNOW, KIND OF WHAT HAPPENS IS OUR RESERVOIRS DROPPED AND OFTEN TIMES WE THINK, OH, PRAY FOR RAIN, PRAY FOR A GOOD WINTER SNOW PACK, BUT NOWADAYS EVEN WHEN WE HAVE A CLOSE TO NORMAL WINTER SNOW PACK BECAUSE IT IS WARMER, BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS SO DRY, WE JUST CAN'T FILL THEM BACK UP.

SO THIS YEAR, A DRY, HOT YEAR WHERE THE RESERVOIRS WERE ALREADY LOW, THE RIVERS WERE ALREADY LOW, THE FORESTS WERE ALREADY DENSE AND DRY, IT IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGING YEAR FOR MANY, MANY NEW MEXICANS.

>>LORENE: I KNOW THAT THE LAST TIME WE HAD A NICE RAIN MARTIN HEINRICH, OUR SENATOR SAID, "WELL, I AM DELIGHTED TO HAVE THE RAIN, BUT IT MAY NOT MAKE THAT MUCH DIFFERENCE BECAUSE."

HE ASKED ARE WE IN DROUGHT OR IS IT THE ARIDIFICATION, BECOMING MORE ARID, OF OUR WHOLE SOUTHWEST PART OF AMERICA.

WHAT IS ARIDIFICATION, AM I SAYING IT RIGHT AND WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LONG TERM DROUGHT, RECORD BREAKING DROUGHT AND ARIDIFICATION?

>>LAURA: THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

HERE IN THE SOUTHWEST WE ARE USED TO DROUGHT, WE ARE USED TO WEATHERING LONG PERIODS OF DRY WEATHER OR A BAD MONSOON CYCLE OR A BAD SNOW PACK.

BUT WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING AS THE REGION HAS CONTINUED TO WARM AS WE CONTINUE TO WARM OUR PLANET, FOR THE SOUTHWEST, FOR A REGION THAT IS ALREADY ARID, WARMING MEANS DRYING.

SO THERE IS MORE EVAPORATION FROM OUR RIVERS AND OUR LAKES, OUR FORESTS DEMAND MORE WATER, OUR CROPS NEED MORE WATER, SO EVERYTHING KIND OF DRIES OUT WHEN WE HAVE THESE WARMER AND WARMER TEMPERATURES.

AND WE ARE IN THE SOUTHWEST ON A LONG TERM TRACK WHERE THERE IS INCREASING ARIDIFICATION EVEN AS FAR INTO THE FUTURE AS WE'VE EMITTED GREENHOUSE GASES, CHANGED THE CLIMATE AND FOR US THAT REALLY MEANS WARMING AND THAT CAN END IN DRYING.

>>LORENE: SO WHEN THE FARMERS WERE TOLD NOT TO PLANT, I INVITED JEFF WITTE WHO IS AS YOU KNOW OUR CABINET SECRETARY FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND I SAID, WHAT IS GOING ON, AND HE SAID, "LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE ABOUT THAT.

THE FEDS HAVE OFFERED TO INVITE SOME FARMERS TO LET SOME OF THEIR FIELDS LIE FALLOW AND TO PAY THEM TO LET THE LAND REST BECAUSE THERE REALLY MIGHT NOT BE ENOUGH WATER TO SUSTAIN A SEASON OF ONE OR TWO HIGH WATER DEMAND CROPS."

BUT HE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE ARE BETTER OFF THAN WE WERE FOR THE DROUGHT 50 YEARS AGO, WE HAVE GOT DRIPS SYSTEMS, WE HAVE GOT NEW IRRIGATIONAL TOOLS AND THE FARMERS ARE BETTER AT MANAGING THESE THINGS, BUT HE ALSO SAID A REALLY WONDERFUL THING, THAT OUR NEW MEXICO FARMERS AND RANCHERS ARE SO RESOURCEFUL AND THAT THE WAY A FARMER HAS TO DO, THEY HAVE TO PLAY THE HAND THEY ARE DEALT, BUT THEY ARE STILL GOING TO SURVIVE AND PROSPER.

AND HE SAID, IF YOU WANT TO HELP THEM, BUY NEW MEXICO PRODUCE WHICH WE WILL ALL DO.

HE ALSO ASSURED ME THAT THERE WOULD BE ENOUGH GREEN CHILE SO WE ARE SAFE.

BUT EVERYONE IS BEING CALLED UPON TO KIND OF CHANGE OUR PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT IS GOING ON AND SO HOW DO YOU COUNSEL PEOPLE WHO COME IN WITH THEIR HAIR ON FIRE AND SAY, OH MY GOSH, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

>>LAURA: YEAH.

I UNDERSTAND STATE OFFICIALS AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS ALSO ARE GOING TO BE A BIT MORE OPTIMISTIC THAN SOMEONE LIKE ME WHO HAS BEEN COVERING THESE SAME EXACT ISSUES FOR CLOSE TO 20 YEARS.

THE WARNING SIGNS HAVE BEEN IN PLACE, STATE OFFICIALS HAVE KNOWN, HAVE HAD ACCESS TO THE SAME INFORMATION THAT I HAVE HAD AS A REPORTER, THAT WARMING IS HAPPENING, DRYING IS HAPPENING AND FRANKLY AS A STATE, WE HAVE NOT DONE ALL THAT WE SHOULD HAVE DONE TO BE PREPARING FOR THESE CONDITIONS.

WHETHER THEY ARE GOING TO IMPACT NEW MEXICO FARMERS OR AND SO THESE WARNING SIGNS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME.

NO FARMERS THIS YEAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN SURPRISED THAT THESE CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN WORSENING AND THAT OUR OPTIONS, WHILE THERE IS MORE TECHNOLOGY AND CERTAINLY IRRIGATION DISTRICTS LIKE ELEPHANT BUTTE IRRIGATION DISTRICT AND MRGCD, HERE IN THE ALBUQUERQUE AREA, ARE EMPLOYING DIFFERENT KINDS OF TECHNIQUES TO TRY TO MANAGE WATER DIFFERENTLY AND MORE EFFICIENTLY.

THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE TAKING ANYONE BY SURPRISE AND SO I THINK THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER AND THAT THESE PROBLEMS ARE GOING TO BE COMPOUNDED NEXT YEAR, 10 YEARS FROM NOW, 50 YEARS FROM NOW.

WE CAN BE SORT OF OPTIMISTIC AND YOU KNOW KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSSED, BUT NEW MEXICANS NEED TO GET VERY SERIOUS AND DECISION MAKERS IN NEW MEXICO NEED TO GET VERY SERIOUS ABOUT WHAT CHANGES WE ARE GOING TO IMPLEMENT SO THAT NEW MEXICO FARMERS CAN SURVIVE.

I DON'T WANT TO BE AN ALARMIST BUT WE REALLY ARE AT A POINT AS A SPECIES AND AS NEW MEXICANS THAT THERE IS NOT MUCH MORE TIME LEFT FOR US TO DILLY DALLY ON CLIMATE CHANGE.

>>LORENE: IN YOUR SHOW, OUR LAND , YOU DID A WONDERFUL ELEPHANT BUTTE INTERVIEW WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE, BUT THE ONE THAT REALLY STRUCK ME WAS DAGMAR LLEWELLYN AND SHE SIMPLY SAID, SHE IS A HYDROLOGIST, SHE SIMPLY SAID, "THERE IS NO NEW NORMAL AND THE CHALLENGE IN CLIMATE CHANGE IS WE ARE LOSING THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF NORMAL.

SO THERE IS NO GOING BACK BECAUSE THAT DOESN'T EXIST ANYMORE, WE HAVE TO FORGE OUR WAY INTO NEW TERRITORY."

ONE THING THAT YOU DO, LAURA, IN YOUR WORK THAT PLEASES ME SO MUCH, YOU BALANCE HOPE AND FEAR.

YOU DID A WONDERFUL SHOW ON OUR LAND ABOUT EARTH DAY AND YOU REFERENCED IT WAS THE TIME OF THE LEONID SHOWERS, NO, THE LYRID METEOR SHOWERS AND YOU TOLD PEOPLE, "FIRST OF ALL GO OUTSIDE AND LOOK UP AND IT IS BEAUTIFUL, THIS WILL RESTORE YOUR SENSE OF WONDER."

BUT ALSO THINK ABOUT ALL THE DECISIONS THAT THE LAST MANY, MANY, MANY GENERATIONS HAVE MADE TO GET US WHERE WE ARE NOW AND WHAT WILL FUTURE GENERATIONS THINK OF HOW WE ACTED OR FAILED TO ACT, IT WAS JUST SO BEAUTIFULLY DONE, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BALANCING THE FEAR AND THE HOPE.

>>LAURA: SO WHAT I THINK, I THINK YOU KNOW IT IS REALLY HARD, THESE ARE BIG CHALLENGES AND THEY DO DEMAND A LOT OF EFFORT AND ENERGY TOWARD MAKING KIND OF TOUGH CHANGES IN SOME CASES.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, WE KNOW WHY THE CLIMATE IS CHANGING, WE KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO TO SLOW THAT OR TO AVOID CATASTROPHIC CHANGES AND WE KNOW WHAT SORTS OF TECHNOLOGY WE CAN EMPLOY, WE KNOW HOW WE CAN HELP ONE ANOTHER AS COMMUNITIES AS NEIGHBORS.

SO I FEEL LIKE EVEN THOUGH IT CAN BE A REALLY OVERWHELMING AND DISCOURAGING TOPIC TO TALK ABOUT WHETHER IT IS CLIMATE CHANGE OR WATER ISSUES, I ALSO THINK THAT IT IS A REALLY EXCITING TIME BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE CAN EMPLOY THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE WHETHER THAT IS SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE OR TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE, WE HAVE SO MUCH INFORMATION ON HOW WE CAN BETTER HELP ONE ANOTHER AND INSURE THAT THERE IS A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

SO IT IS A CHALLENGING TIME BUT I ALSO FIND IT A REALLY EXCITING AND HOPEFUL TIME AS WELL.

>>LORENE: WELL, THANK YOU AND ONE OF THE EXCITING AND HOPEFUL AREAS IS WE JUST FINISHED A LONG 60-DAY LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THERE WAS SOME REAL PROGRESS MADE NOT EVERYTHING HAPPENED THAT THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS WANTED, BUT THERE WERE SOME IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT HAD BEEN KICKING AROUND FOR A LONG TIME THAT GOT TAKEN CARE OF.

SINCE WE ARE HALF WAY THROUGH THE SHOW, LET ME REMIND OUR AUDIENCE WE ARE SPEAKING TODAY WITH LAURA PASKUS ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN NEW MEXICO RIGHT NOW ON THE CUSP OF WE HOPE NOT TOO HOT A SUMMER.

SO THERE ARE TWO THINGS I WAS PARTICULARLY DELIGHTED ABOUT, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO EXPLAIN, METHANE.

WE HAVE BEEN, THEY CAN SEE OUR METHANE LEAKS FROM SPACE WHERE ONE PLACE THAT LIGHTS UP, METHANE IS VERY DANGEROUS GREENHOUSE GAS, MAYBE THE MOST DANGEROUS AND WE HAVE BEEN SPEWING IT INTO THE ATMOSPHERE.

SOME THINGS WERE DONE ABOUT THAT AND THERE HAS BEEN A LONG WATER FIGHT ABOUT THE GILA RIVER DIVERSION.

SO CAN YOU ADDRESS THOSE AND WHATEVER ELSE YOU WANT US TO KNOW ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS BEING MADE BY THE LEGISLATURE.

>>LAURA: SO TO START WITH THE GILA, I AM SURE THAT YOUR VIEWERS ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE LONG TERM BATTLE OVER THE GILA RIVER AND THE OPPOSED DIVERSION THERE.

BUT THE LEGISLATURE FINALLY SOLIDIFIED, WITH SUPPORT FROM THE GOVERNOR AND WITH SUPPORT FROM THE CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE INTERSTATE STREAM COMMISSION IS TO BASICALLY END FUNDING ON THE DIVERSION AND USE THAT FEDERAL SUBSIDY THAT NEW MEXICO STILL HAS AND PUT THAT MONEY TOWARD OTHER TYPES WATER PROJECTS IN THOSE FOUR COUNTIES IN SOUTHWESTERN NEW MEXICO.

SO LOOKING AT PROJECTS RELATED TO EFFICIENCY, FOR RESTORATION PROJECTS AND THESE ARE PROJECTS THAT COULD BE UNFARMED EFFICIENCY MEASURES.

IT COULD BE IN A CITY CONSERVATION AND EFFICIENCY EFFORTS WITHIN THE CITIES DOWN THERE.

SO THAT FREED UP TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON WATER PROJECTS INSTEAD OF CONTINUING TO KIND OF SYPHON MONEY INTO NOT EVEN A FULL PLAN FOR A FAILED PROJECT.

SO THAT IS REALLY EXCITING TO THINK ABOUT THAT MONEY BEING BETTER SPENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF MORE PEOPLE IN SOUTHWESTERN NEW MEXICO.

ONE BILL THAT I THOUGHT WAS REALLY EXCITING THAT THE LEGISLATURE PASSED THIS YEAR HAS TO DO WITH ALLOWING NEW MEXICO TO SET ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS THAT ARE MORE STRINGENT THAN FEDERAL REGULATIONS.

SO IN GENERAL, STATES KIND OF HAVE TO ABIDE BY FEDERAL REGULATIONS AND THAT IS KIND OF A CAP FOR A STATE LIKE NEW MEXICO IN THE PAST.

NOW NEW MEXICO CAN ENACT STRICTER REGULATIONS SO THAT WHEN THERE IS A FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION THAT WEAKENS POLLUTION PROTECTIONS, OUR POLLUTION PROTECTION DON'T WEAKEN AS WELL.

SO THAT IS REALLY EXCITING.

AND THEN YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR TWO ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCIES AT THE STATE RIGHT NOW WORKING ON WAYS TO TIGHTEN UP METHANE EMISSIONS AND OZONE CAUSING EMISSIONS FROM THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY.

AND THAT IS A HUGE, HUGE EFFORT AND WILL HAVE HUGE IMPACTS ON THE STATE IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH GREENHOUSE GASES WE ARE SENDING INTO THE ATMOSPHERE, BUT ALSO IN TERMS OF PROTECTING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES FROM THE DANGEROUS POLLUTANTS THAT COME ALONGSIDE METHANE AS WELL.

SO THERE IS SOME EXCITING THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING.

>>LORENE: YEAH, I WAS NOTING THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE MORE ATTENTION PAID TO RADIOACTIVE ISSUES AND ALSO WE ARE GIVING CREDIT TO THE LEGISLATURE BUT THE GOVERNOR SIGNS THESE THINGS.

SO THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING HAND AND GLOVE TO TRY TO MAKE OUR STATE BETTER.

THERE ARE A FEW THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT, THERE WERE EFFORTS TO JUST STUDY WHAT IS IN THE PRODUCED WATER FROM FRACKING TO SEE IF IT CAN POSSIBLY BE REMEDIATED OR WHAT TO DO WITH IT.

AND SENATOR STEWART HAD A WONDERFUL BILL ABOUT NOT USING IT IN NEONICOTINOIDS A BEE KILLING PESTICIDE IN CITY LIMITS AND THAT DIDN'T GO OVER.

MOST OF THESE THINGS, A LOT OF THESE BIG BILLS HAVE BEEN COMING UP FOR SEVERAL YEARS IN THE LEGISLATURE AND THIS YEAR WAS A REALLY LANDMARK YEAR FOR PROGRESS IN ENVIRONMENTAL AREAS.

THERE IS SO MUCH.

SO THE CRUX OF THIS ABOUT WATER BECAUSE I WANT TO GET THIS IN BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO GROUNDWATER AND SOME OF YOUR OTHER THINGS, WHICH IS HOW DO WE MAINTAIN WATER SUPPLIES IN A DRY STATE WITH LIMITED RESOURCES AND WHAT DO PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW, I MEAN, HOW MANY YEARS DID IT TAKE PEOPLE TO TURN OFF THEIR BATHROOM FAUCET WHILE THEY WERE BRUSHING THEIR TEETH.

AND YOU KNOW, SLOW PROGRESS TOWARDS MORE ENVIRONMENTAL AUTOMOBILES AND THIS AND THAT.

WHAT KIND OF LIFESTYLE AND WHAT KIND OF EDUCATION WILL WE HAVE TO PROMOTE TO GET PEOPLE TO REALIZE WELL I CAN DO SOME THINGS AND I AM GOING TO TRY TO DO THEM NOW FOR THE SAKE OF MY GRANDCHILDREN.

>>LAURA: SO THE INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS THAT WE ALL DO IN OUR HOUSES IN OUR DAILY LIVES ARE CERTAINLY IMPORTANT IN PART BECAUSE THERE ARE GOOD REMINDER, RIGHT, IF YOU ARE A CAUTIOUS, CAREFUL, THOUGHTFUL PERSON WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR WATER USE IT DOESN'T JUST SAVE WATER IT IS A REMINDER TO YOU EVERY DAY, RIGHT, AS YOU ARE GOING THROUGHOUT YOUR DAY, IT'S A REMINDER TOO THAT THIS IS A PRECIOUS RESOURCE.

SO I DON'T EVER WANT IT DIMINISHED THE INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS THAT WE CAN EACH DO BECAUSE THEY ARE IMPORTANT, BUT CITIES IN NEW MEXICO HAVE HAD A REALLY GOOD TRACK RECORD OF REDUCING OUR RESIDENTIAL WATER USAGE, UNDERSTANDING THAT WE SHOULDN'T EACH HAVE A LAWN IN ALBUQUERQUE AND I KNOW SANTA FE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB WITH CONSERVATION.

TWO OF THE BIG CONVERSATIONS WE NEED TO BE HAVING, WE USED TO THINK ABOUT OUR AGRICULTURAL WATER USE NOT AS IF THEY'RE IN A CONTROVERSIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND WITH SIGNIFICANT CONVERSATION BUT SOMETHING LIKE 85 PERCENT OF THE WATER THAT IS USED IN NEW MEXICO AND THAT IS SURFACE WATER AND GROUND WATER, IS USED FOR AGRICULTURE.

AND SO WHILE CITIES CAN KIND OF CHIP AWAY AT CONSERVATION ISSUES, BUT THE BIG CHUNK OF WATER THAT IS USED IS IN THE AG COMMUNITY.

SO WE NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT WHAT KINDS OF CROPS WE SHOULD BE GROWING AND WHERE THEY SHOULD BE GROWN, HOW THEY SHOULD BE GROWN.

THAT IS A REALLY HARD CONVERSATION TO HAVE BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR ACACIAS AND OUR TRIBES, VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, CULTURAL TRADITIONS THAT NEED TO BE PRESERVED AND THEN WE KIND OF GO ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH YOU KNOW KIND OF HOUSEHOLD FARMS, SMALL FARMS, I DON'T WANT TO USE THE TERM HOBBY FARMS, BUT YOU KNOW SMALLER FARMS, ALL THE WAY UP TO BIG THOUSANDS OF ACRE FARMS.

SO IT IS LIKE ACROSS ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT TYPES OF AGRICULTURAL USERS, WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WATER ISN'T BEING USED AS EFFICIENTLY AS IT COULD BE AND THAT'S A REALLY, REALLY HARD CONVERSATION FOR US TO HAVE.

BUT THE SECOND THING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO BE DOING IS MAKING SURE THAT NEW MEXICO'S LEGISLATORS AND WHATEVER ADMINISTRATION IS IN A POSITION OF POWER IN THE STATE UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER PLANNING NOT JUST FOR ONE YEAR, NOT JUST FOR 10 YEARS, BUT 50 AND 100 YEARLONG WATER PLANNING.

SO FAR THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATOR HAS NOT COMMITTED TO FUNDING THAT SORT OF PLANNING AND I BELIEVE, AS SOMEONE WHO HAS COVERED THESE ISSUES THAT REALLY NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

>>LORENE: WELL PROGRAMS LIKE YOURS HELP EVERYONE, HELP EDUCATE EVERYONE IN A REALLY WAY THAT IMPARTS A LOT OF WISDOM AGAIN WITHOUT YELLING AT PEOPLE AND SAYING, OH YOU CAN'T DO THAT, BUT JUST SET BACK AND LOOK AT THE LONG TERM SITUATION.

WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME LEFT BUT I NEED TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF YOUR GROUND WATER WORK.

YOU PARTNERED WITH A MUCH BELOVED PBS NATIONAL SHOW CALLED FRONTLINE AND YOU HAVE BEEN DOING A SERIES CALLED "GROUND WATER WAR, NEW MEXICO'S TOXIC THREAT" ABOUT SOMETHING CALLED PFAS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME, IF YOU CAN TELL PEOPLE WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHAT THEY NEED TO KNOW AND HOW PREVALENT IT IS IN OUR STATE.

>>LAURA: WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE MILITARY CONTAMINATION OF GROUND WATER WITH PFAS AND WE LOOKED SPECIFICALLY AT CANNON AIR FORCE BASE AND HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE.

BUT THERE ARE ACTUALLY FIVE OTHER FACILITIES IN THE STATE THAT POTENTIALLY HAVE BEEN RELEASING PFAS INTO LOCAL WATERS AS WELL, THE PENTAGON IS STILL IMPEDING THOSE STUDIES SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING, BUT WE HAVE ALSO SEEN PFAS SHOWING UP IN PLACES ACROSS THE STATE.

AND PART OF THE ISSUE THAT WE FACE HERE IN NEW MEXICO IS THE STATE HAS TRIED TO COMPEL THE MILITARY TO ACT ON CLEANUP FOR THIS TOXIC SUBSTANCE AND THE MILITARY HAS RESISTED THE STATE'S EFFORTS, HAS SAID THE STATE DOES NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO COMPEL THE MILITARY TO CLEANUP.

SO WE KNOW THIS CONTAMINATION IS OUT THERE, WE DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WILL BE CLEANED UP OR HOW IT WILL BE CLEANED UP, SO THAT IS DEFINITELY AN EMERGING ISSUE THAT WE WILL CONTINUE LOOKING AT AT NEW MEXICO PBS.

>>LORENE: WELL TO ME ONE OF THE MOST TRAGIC CASES IS THE DIARY IN CLOVIS THAT WAS USING WATER CONTAMINATED WITH PFAS IS THAT HOW YOU SAY IT, AND IT TURNS OUT NOW EVERYTHING THAT HE HAS DONE, HIS CATTLE, THE MILK, THE WATER, EVERYTHING IS TOO CONTAMINATED AND HE IS LOSING EVERYTHING HE HAS EVER WORKED FOR.

>>LAURA: YEAH, THAT'S ART SCHAPP, HE LIVES KIND OF ON THE EDGE OF CANNON AIR FORCE BASE AND IN 2018 THE AIR FORCE TOLD HIM THAT THEY HAD TESTED HIS WATER AND HIS WATER WAS CONTAMINATED.

THE WATER HIS FAMILY HAD BEEN DRINKING, THE WATER AT HIS DAIRY WAS CONTAMINATED, SO FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS NOW HE HAS BEEN DUMPING THAT MILK.

HE HAS SOME FILTERS HAS INSTALLED IN THE FAMILY HOME BUT THAT DAIRY IS BASICALLY A BUST AND AS HE EXPLAINED IT TO ME THAT WAS LIKE HIS 401K PLAN, THAT'S WHAT YOU PLAN TO PASS ON TO YOUR CHILDREN.

SO HE, ALONG WITH THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO, MR. SCHAPP HAS ALSO FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE AIR FORCE, SO BOTH OF THOSE LAWSUITS ARE TIED UP IN A FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT IN SOUTH CAROLINA ALONG WITH MORE THAN 700 OTHER SIMILAR LAWSUITS AGAINST THE MILITARY.

SO THIS IS JUST A HUGE NATIONWIDE PROBLEM THAT IS JUST NOT MOVING.

>>LORENE: WELL, THERE ARE A LOT OF THOSE BIG ISSUES, THE INCREASED USING OF NEW MEXICO AS A RADIOACTIVE WASTE REPOSITORY IS ANOTHER ISSUE THAT KEEPS COMING UP.

AND OF COURSE, FRACKING AND WE REALLY NEED TO GET THE FACTS ON ALL OF THESE THINGS AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU ARE SO GOOD AT PRESENTING TO US IN A VERY PALATABLE WAY AND I AM GRATEFUL TO YOU.

TELL US WHAT THE FUTURE, WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT AND HOW CAN WE AMELIORATE SOME OF THESE DANGEROUS EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE THAT ARE COMING OUR WAY.

>>LAURA: YEAH, WE HAVE SOME GREAT SHOWS COMING UP LOOKING AT FOREST HEALTH ISSUE AND CLIMATE CHANGES ISSUES ON OUR LAND .

THEY THINK THE THING THAT I WOULD ASK PEOPLE TO DO IS REMEMBER, REMEMBER TO GO OUTSIDE, WE LIVE IN THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE EVER AND WE HAVE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL THINGS HERE, WHETHER IT IS OUR CULTURES AND TRADITIONS OR OUR LANDSCAPES.

ENJOY THOSE, RELISH THOSE, YOU KNOW HOLD ALL OF THAT TO YOUR HEART, I THINK THAT IS THE WAY THAT WE REMEMBER THAT WE WANT TO TAKE CARE OF ONE ANOTHER AND WE WANT TO TAKE CARE OF OUR LANDSCAPES AND OUR WATERS.

YOU WILL FIND JOY IN ALL OF THAT AND CONTINUE TO LET YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND OTHER DECISION MAKERS KNOW THAT THESE ISSUES ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU, LEADING UP TO ELECTION DAY BUT LONG AFTER ELECTION DAY AS WELL.

>>LORENE: AND I REMEMBER THERE IS A BOOK CALLED THE LAST CHILD IN THE WOODS BECAUSE A LOT OF KIDS JUST SEE THEIR SCREENS, THEY SEE THE OCEAN ON A SCREEN, THEY SEE THE FOREST AND ANYTIME YOU CAN EVEN GRAB A NEIGHBORHOOD KID OR YOUR OWN KIDS OR GRANDKIDS AND JUST TAKE THEM TO THE MOUNTAINS, TAKE THEM FISHING, CANDLE THIS LOVE OF OUR BEAUTIFUL NATURAL WORLD IN THE NEXT GENERATION BECAUSE THEN THEY WILL KNOW, THEY WILL STAND FOR THAT, SO THEY WILL PROTECT IT.

SO AGAIN, I THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE.

OUR GUEST TODAY IS LAURA PASKUS, THIS BOOK, AT THE PRECIPICE NEW MEXICO CHANGING CLIMATE , I THINK EVERYBODY NEEDS TO READ THIS, IT IS BEAUTIFULLY RESEARCHED AND BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN.

SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY AND SHARING THE FRUITS OF YOUR LABORS WITH US.

>>LAURA: THANK YOU SO MUCH, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO, LORENE.

>>LORENE: WELL, BACK AT YA, I WILL BE WATCHING YOU ON IN FOCUS AND OUR LAND .

SO THANK YOU, LAURA PASKUS.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR AUDIENCE TODAY FOR BEING WITH US TODAY ON REPORT FROM SANTA FE .

I'M LORENE MILLS AND >>ANNOUNCER: REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NEW MEXICO, AN ORGANIZATION OF PROFESSIONALS WHO BELIEVE THAT INVESTING IN PUBLIC EDUCATION IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR STATE'S ECONOMIC FUTURE, FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM