State leaders are protecting the environment for future of NM
New Mexico’s rural landscapes are essential to our identity as a state and as New Mexicans. Ancient acequias that sustain our agricultural traditions, state parks that offer a wide array of recreational opportunities to outdoor enthusiasts, wildlife that appears on the fringes of even our most urban communities, vistas that take your breath away — New Mexico boasts a wealth of natural resources that testify to our state’s rich environmental heritage.
Already this spring, parciantes, or acequia association members, are clearing the intricate network of community ditches that channel snowpack runoff to fields and orchards. These mutually managed waterways, some hundreds of years old, are the ingenious heart of northern New Mexico agriculture and a model of how communities can share a limited resource.
With strategic management, we can ensure that water is used efficiently and sustainably, both protecting the resource for human use and preserving the vitality of the environment for generations to come.
As we head into summer, our state parks beckon — respites from the heat and pavement of our cities.
The Legislature’s substantial investment in state parks means better boat docks, RV stations, campsites, and more from Sugarite Canyon State Park and Navajo Lake near the border with Colorado to the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens and Pancho Villa State Park near the border with Mexico.
There is no better escape than breathing fresh air, enjoying panoramic views, and maybe drifting or zipping along in a boat with family and friends. For the majority of New Mexicans who can’t afford trips to Saint-Tropez, our state parks offer an affordable escape that allows them to create lasting memories with family and friends and reconnect with nature.
For those who want to spend their time outdoors with a rod and reel in their hands, the Department of Game & Fish maintains hatcheries and rearing stations for warm-water and cold-water fish and makes every effort to keep our lakes stocked and our waterways healthy, providing opportunities for anglers to enjoy the thrill of the catch while preserving biodiversity.
This investment in the conservation of important species provides protection for fragile ecosystems and safeguards the habitats of native species.
Also acting as stewards for our natural environment, the State Forestry Division and Environment Department, through sustainable forest management and environmental conservation initiatives, ensure that our forests remain a haven for wildlife and a source of rejuvenation.
Whether on a high-country hike or napping under the foliage, we can see the importance of their work protecting our natural environment for future generations.
As New Mexicans, we are custodians of a legacy of environmental stewardship, of harmonious coexistence with our environment. In honoring our environmental legacy, we honor the essence of what it means to be a New Mexican — rooted in tradition, yet forward-thinking in our commitment to sustainability.
This summer, take time to rediscover New Mexico at its finest. Instead of heading off to a noisy theme park in some distant city, take time to reconnect to the beauty of our surroundings, to take a deep breath of brisk air, to listen, to think.
No place in the world is like New Mexico, from the valley fields flooded with acequia water to the brilliant light that has drawn countless artists to the high desert. This summer, take time away from the day-to-day with a restoring stay in New Mexico’s great outdoors.
Pete Campos is a member of the Senate Finance, Legislative Finance, Revenue Stabilization and Tax Policy, and Water and Natural Resources committees. He has also served as president of Luna Community College, superintendent of the Las Vegas City Schools and mayor of Santa Rosa.