How Does New Mexico's Media Portray Issues of Drought and Water Allocation - Essay Example

___________ ____________ ____January 2007 How does New Mexico's (Albuquerque and Santa Fe) media (newspapers) portray issues of drought and water allocation in the state o Geography of Albuquerque and Santa Fe Best descriptions of geography of various states within the US are found on Wikipedia. Wikipedia describes the geography of Albuquerque in following words," Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 448,607 as of the 2000 U.S. census. As of the 2005 census estimate, the city's population was 494,236, with a metropolitan population of 797,940. In 2005, Albuquerque ranked as the 33rd-largest city and 62nd-largest metropolitan area in the U.S. The Albuquerque MSA population includes the city of Rio Rancho, one of the fastest growing cities in the United States, a hub for many master-planned communities which are expected to draw future businesses and residents to the area. According to the United States Census Bureau, Albuquerque has a total area of 181.3 square miles (469.6km). 180.6 square miles (467.8km) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6km) of it (0.35%) is water. The metro area has over 1,000 square miles developed. Albuquerque lies within the northern, upper edges of the Chihuahuan Desert ecoregion, based on long-term patterns of climate, associations of plants and wildlife, and landforms, including drainage patterns. Located in central New Mexico, the city also has noticeable influences from the adjacent Colorado Plateau Semi-Desert, Arizona-New Mexico Mountains, and Southwest Plateaus and Plains Steppe ecoregions, depending on where one is located. Its main geographic connection lies with southern New Mexico, while culturally, Albuquerque is a crossroads of most of New Mexico."(Albuquerque, 2007) Wikipedia goes on to further detail the geography of the region as follows: "Albuquerque has one of the highest elevations of any major city in the United States, though the effects of this are greatly tempered by its southwesterly continental position. The elevation of the city ranges from 4,900 feet (1,490m) above sea level near the Rio Grande (in the Valley) to over 6,400 feet (1,950m) in the foothill areas of the Northeast Heights. At the airport, the elevation is 5,352 feet (1,631m) above sea level. The Rio Grande is classified, like the Nile, as an 'exotic' river because it flows through a desert. The New Mexico portion of the Rio Grande lies within the Rio Grande Rift Valley, bordered by a system of faults, including those that lifted up the adjacent Sandia and Manzano Mountains, while lowering the area where the life-sustaining Rio Grande now flows".( Albuquerque,2007) Santa Fe is located within the same region .Santa Fe is situated in the northern part of the Rio Grande Valley which essentially falls at the southern edge of the Rocky Mountains. It enjoys an area of 37.33 square miles and is situated at an elevation of 7,000 feet above sea level. The city is located in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range, and has a dense pine forest on the outskirts which can be reckoned as near to the city. Mountain terrains enforce a kind of semi arid continental climate in Santa Fe and due to this climate the city has moderate summers and winters. In general the humidity is experienced at low levels and the bright sun shine is present almost 300 days per year. However Santa Fe receives very good snowfall and the annual average is clocked at 32 inches with deeper snows remaining fast at higher altitudes during the winter. General Climate of Albuquerque and Santa Fe Albuquerque and Santa Fe represent arid to semi arid kind of climate .Wikipedia describes the climate of Albuquerque as follows: "Albuquerque's climate is usually sunny and dry, with low relative humidity. Brilliant sunshine defines the region, averaging more than 300 days a year; periods of variably mid and high-level cloudiness temper the sun at other times. Extended cloudiness is rare. The city has four distinct seasons, but the heat and cold are mild compared to the extremes that occur more commonly in other parts of the country. Winters are rather brief but definite; daytime highs range from the mid 40s to upper 50s Fahrenheit, while the overnight lows drop into the low 20s to near 30 by sunrise; nights are often colder in the valley and uppermost foothills by several degrees. The occasional snowfall, associated with low pressure areas, fronts and troughs, often melts by the mid-afternoon; over half of the scant winter moisture occurs in the form of light rain showers, usually brief in duration. In the much higher and colder Sandia Mountains, moisture falls as snow; many years have enough snow to create decent skiing conditions at the local ski area. (Albuquerque, 2007) Santa Fe experiences an average temperature of 40.0 F during January which climbs up to 91.0 F during July; the annual average temperature in Santa Fe is placed at 49.3 F.Given its rocky terrain Santa Fe receives an annual average precipitation of 14 inches, and as much as 32 inches of snow. Climate of Albuquerque and Santa Fe, NM during periods of focus Months of March to May are normally arid months resulting in low precipitation and impact of low precipitation on the water resources in the region, which includes both Albuquerque and Santa Fe.Wikipedia describes this period for the region, in details, as follows, "Springtime starts off windy and cool, sometimes unsettled with some rain and even light snow, though spring is usually the driest part of the year in Albuquerque. March and April tend to see many days with the wind blowing at 20 to 30 mph, and afternoon gusts can produce periods of blowing sand and dust. In May, the winds tend to subside, as temperatures start to feel like summer. Summer daytime highs range from the upper 80s to the upper 90's, while dropping into the low 60s to low 70s overnight; the valley and uppermost foothills are often several degrees cooler than that. The heat is quite tolerable because of low humidity, except during the late summer during increased humidity from surges in the monsoonal pattern; at that time, daytime highs drop slightly but the extra moisture in air can cause nighttime temperatures increase. Fall sees mild days and cool nights with less rain, though the weather can be more unsettled closer to winter". (Albuquerque, 2007).Thus in these months the local planners and administrators are essentially busy planning the water resources by close measurements of precipitation and snow pack accumulations. Definitions of Drought While many definitions of the drought and drought state are prevalent emphasizing different aspects of the condition it had been generally accepted that the state cannot, in general, be defined in universal quantitative measures so as to legally acceptable or binding. Therefore, literature mostly refers by drought to an extended period of time of below-normal precipitation, generally long enough to have pronounced effects on plants, rivers, or reservoirs. Thus, drought refers not just to persistent dry weather, but also to the various impacts that go along with dry weather. These impacts vary regionally. Three weeks without rain in a desert, coniferous forest, or wheat-growing region would have different effects in different seasons; they would have quite different consequences in a place that depends on precipitation replenishing a local reservoir than they would on a major, snow-fed river in a different location. The National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska defines three different "types" of drought: meteorological drought, defined strictly in terms of less than normal precipitation; agricultural drought, defined in terms of water-stressed crops or rangeland and anomalously dry soil; and hydrologic drought, measured in terms of shortages of surface water supplies (low reservoir levels and/or diminished stream flow). Meteorological drought affects ecosystems and economic activities that depend directly on local precipitation. Forested hill slopes, non-irrigated agriculture, and landscape watering in cities are examples. Agricultural drought generally refers to longer time scales than meteorological drought. Hydrologic drought affects large-scale waterworks and river flows, taking into account factors such as reservoir levels (which are affected by consecutive years of drought) and winter snow pack at the headwaters of large river drainages.(Gutzler,2003) What drought means in New Mexico "Drought in New Mexico causes dry riverbeds, widespread plant and wildlife mortality, failed crops, and may have contributed to the collapse of prehistoric civilizations in the not-so-distant past". (Gutzler, 2003) Drought and increasing populations pressurize wells based water resources. Well-drilling companies look out for new and unique ways to obtain more water out of the existing wells just because their current outputs have dropped dramatically .Wells in mountains areas run dry the fastest and drilling companies run up huge drilling backlogs. In the meanwhile the population suffers. For instance, multiple homes share a single well as its output has drastically reduced from a high of 12 gallons a minute when it was drilled several years ago to just a single gallon a minute. Moreover, some wells have to be drilled as deep as 800 feet and attract prohibitive costs, which can total up to $10,000 or more and which are beyond most normal households. On the other hand, long stretches of Mainland River dry to a dusty bed of sand .With only about 11 percent of New Mexico's range and pasture land being rated in good or better than good shape these poor precipitation and surface water level ions make farming, rearing and other land based professions arduous. Already famished and weakened vegetation is further attacked by insects like Bark beetles n destroy thousands of acres of forest land having the precious but drought-stressed pinons. Because of the drop in the water table in the mountains people migrate to lower heights and plains and in course of their migration sticking new straws in the region's aquifer. Drought always implies that less rain and snow is available to recharge the aquifer. This stresses the water running and storage. For instance, in the severe drought of 2003, most of the New Mexico's reservoirs had emptied to critical levels- Santa Rosa Lake, for example, was almost dry with just 5 percent of its average storage for this critical time of the year; similarly Elephant Butte Reservoir was at a mere 21 percent of normal. Droughts make for stream flows to run much below their recorded averages. Then there is widespread risk of forest fire in parched and dried forest land during the months of March & April. Water sources in Albuquerque and Santa Fe Rio Grande water resources form the water resources of Albuquerque and Santa Fe.These resources primarily comprise of natural precipitation as detailed above, ground water resources in the form of wells (also explained above) and reservoirs and flowing streams as they get released and formed after their damming at reservoirs.Rio Grande river basin system has several stream flows which get dammed. Examples include Conejos River near Mogote, Red River, Rio Hondo, Rio Pueblo de Taos, Santa Cruz River and Rio Grande. The reservoirs include, Abiquiu, Bluewater Lake, Caballo, Cochiti, Costilla El Vado, Elephant Butte and Heron. Another factor determining the reservoirs' level is the condition of the snow pack in the months of March & April. Water restrictions in Albuquerque and Santa Fe The low water resources conditions in the period March to May affect water table ,ground or surface water resources like wells ,reservoirs and flowing stream making the water availability scarce and difficult. The situation in relation to dependence on wells has already been explained above. With such low availability of drinking and other quality of water most local administrators enforce water usage restrictions on resident populations so as to ensure optimum usage of water resources and avoid water wastage. These water restrictions are imposed in the form of, say, The City of Santa Fe Stage Three water shortage emergency restrictions which among others may restrict or prohibit wasteful use of precious water resources such as the one in the use of ornamental fountains. "Santa Fe's year-round water restrictions include: No landscape watering permitted between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m; Shut-off nozzles are required on hoses used for hand watering; Washing hard surfaces is not permitted (e.g., driveways, sidewalks, parking lots, outdoor eating areas); Fugitive water is not permitted (that's water that flows onto any surface or leaves the area intended for irrigation); Water waste is not permitted (e.g., indoor/outdoor leaks including faucets, toilets, coolers, hoses, etc.) and restaurants and banquets can serve water only upon request".(Honaberger,2006)Water pricing in the form of levying some kind of water tax or cess on a graduated water usage is the most common restrictive devise. Then for agricultural use there are various systems in vogue like allocating water rights and cost sharing programmes.In fact water restrictions have been so effective that they have meant the severe fall in business for some industries that were dependent on free and plentiful availability of water. "Water feature construction is just not happening in Santa Fe this summer, says Charles Montoya, owner of Rock Creations Construction Inc. The business does all manner of water features and hardscape for residential and commercial use. "I used to do two waterfalls or fountains a week in summer; now, zero," he says. "I've done two in-ground spas with waterfalls all year. [The city] is not issuing building permits because of the drought, so that's hurting me." Work on the artificial boulder retaining walls, sidewalks, driveways and patios that the company normally completes also has slowed down in Santa Fe".(Hiansfurther,2002) Content Analysis The drought reporting in the New Mexico press has been extensive and has covered a variety of issues relating to several actors and participants in the state of droughts. The main issues at the heart of reporting have been water conservaton, water management, water restrictions, and legal rights to use water, water restriction legislation, funding of water management initiatives, greening ,droughts and innovations in water use. Water politics also emerged out as a constant refrain. The main actors involved appear to be the water users -which included domestic consumers as well as commercial users like farmers and ranchers, local administrators, politicians and those that are responsible for data collection on water resources and its use. In an article with the title Farmer Gains Support; State engineer says rancher has right to district water, appearing in the Albuquerque Journal Albuquerque Journal (New Mexico) on April 10, 2006 Monday Davis(2006) reports a local rancher as pitted against local administrator and local farmers. Rancher is seeking a legal right from State Engineer of him, for use of a canal to irrigate his commercial plantation. In order to do this he wants the local administration to share cost for laying a long pipeline to get the canal water to his plantation. While Engineer concedes the legal right of the rancher to use this resource for plantation he is not quite convinced about the increased irrigation possibilities after this. Rancher gives two major arguments that water in open canal, which is also in need of repairs, is lost to evaporation and also runs off to other territories giving rise to other claims for rights. Right and good usage as the Rancher proposes would help the land vegetation to grow and help increase the greening of the area. However full greening of the area would require drawls of so much water from Rio Grande that it will affect the irrigation water resources of neighboring farmers. Farmer lobby is protesting on this ground to local authorities neither to allow the Rancher the use of district waters nor to participate in the cost sharing arrangement to repair the canal or to lay the pipeline. Even the Rancher arguments that he would more extensively use well resources with sprinkler irrigation have not convinced the farmers. Rancher's stand is a long term stand whereby by growing vegetation he wants to improve surface water irrigation potential for farmers. But farmers are besotted with the now and immediate problem of drought. Here the drought definition is mainly hydrological definition with focus on water resources. Water conservation arguments are defined to include preventing evaporation of water from open canals and channeling water in pipes and using sprinkler irrigation systems. Greening and vegetation are defined within long term water management as they help improve the ground water table. In another article Snowpack has 'never been worse': Official: State must use extra water from last year to get through 2006, appearing in The Santa Fe New Mexican on April 8, 2006 Saturday the main actors are the data gatherers and reporters who are reporting critical snow pack data and its possible implications on water management as done by the local administrators and planners. The main causality probed by the article relates to the observation that 2005 winter snow pack accumulations on the mountains has been very poor and inadequate and it would severely affect the ability of melted snow to feed reservoirs for summer use. Thus the administrators and planners need to focus primarily on presently available water resources in reservoirs for meeting the needs of the public at large. The article states that ," Levels of snow pack -- the winter snow accumulation in the mountains that melts in summer months to recharge streams, reservoirs and acequias -- were 37 percent of normal for the Rio Grande Basin. Only the San Juan River Basin had better numbers, at 67 percent of normal. The state's seven other river basins had from 31 percent of normal snow pack to none at all."(Lenderman,2006).Here the water management appears to be a short term concept focusing on water available in reservoirs. The article hints at water conservation and restrictions that may ensue following dispassionate absorption of article facts by administrators. The third article Water Wise appearing in The Santa Fe New Mexican on April 19, 2006 Wednesday the main issue at stake is water management techniques and citizen education in such techniques. The main actors appear to be educators and citizens. The articles reports of an education program in water management techniques offered by EcoVersity, a Santa Fe-based sustainable-living school that specializes in teaching green building and living techniques. The purpose of the article as such is to report successful water management techniques that enable an ordinary citizen to indulge in those activities that otherwise required full use of water. The inherent objective seem to laud such education and propel common citizens towards it. Such techniques are clearly woven with water restriction laws and as yet allow full water usage activities when management techniques are deployed. The article reports a lush green backyard ,in drought conditions as a successful example of water management techniques as follows, "Nestled in a neighborhood near the College of Santa Fe, Baker's yard is lush when others are not. During the winter, after weeks without precipitation, the soil held moisture and allowed Baker to water as little as once a month to maintain young shade trees and dormant plants. In the summer his yard is an oasis. The moisture is due in part to a 5,000-gallon rainwater- catchment system, which he says he built after several sleepless nights".(Honaberger,2006)The article goes on to entice readers with several other water management techniques the educational program is teaching in following details, "For example, cascading plant beds allow water to seep into soil over several different levels, and a coyote fence blocks wind and reduces quick evaporation. Another technique is using a porous wick to water plants; it holds moisture beneath plant beds for longer periods of time." (Honaberger,2006) The article also reports some water management techniques that not only enable appropriate use of gray water but also result in better understanding and compliance to water restrictions. In another article Water Wisdom appearing in The Santa Fe New Mexican on April 26, 2006 Wednesday the main issue at stake is water conservation and management by reporting local fair proceedings. The fair had the sole focus on water issues and the articles tries to report the importance of such events in promoting awareness about the water conservation issues and techniques. The article also reports the fact that such events can popularize latest advances in water conservation by explaining and techniques conveniently to large audience. The main actors appear to such fair organizers and water conservation and use innovators and the attending public whose interest is sought to be aroused. One such innovation had been reported in the article in following words, "Neil Williams showed fairgoers a device that lets every drop of water used indoors end up on plants outdoors. The device is installed inside septic tanks to make effluent safe for drip irrigation systems. It's sold under the brand name Pirana. "It's aquarium technology," Williams explained. The device uses a 40-watt pump to inject bubbles into septic water and a bacteria culture to improve breakdown of septic waste. When the water is distributed through a drip irrigation system just below the surface of the soil near plants, the system also can remove nitrates that result from poorly maintained or overused septic tanks, Williams said. "It puts it where your plants can use it," said Michael Nelson of Ecoscape, a landscaping firm".(Collins,2006) the article goes on to list out several other water conservation techniques that can engage interest of public that wished to put them to use in following words, "Rain barrels were on sale, along with canale caps used to divert roof water from canales into pipes for storage barrels. For reducing water use indoors, some vendors offered low-flow shower heads and toilets. Homeowners who are limited to one day- a-week use of household water for their yards can supplement their irrigation supply with roof runoff". (Collins,2006) Soussan(2006) tries to draw the issue of problems caused in daily lives of New Mexico citizens by the prolonged drought and the fact that a substantial amount of federal funds would be needed to dig up additional wells to provide relief to the suffering citizens. In fact drought effect like forcing entire families to work for extended hours on multiple to make their ends meet have been brought about apart from reporting the drought related data focusing on dwindling water resources. The main actor which are involved in the process are top federal policy makers who are responsible for making drought related policy and local policy implementers who are assessing the need for more federal initiative and funds. This article titled Major Water Rationing Is Very Likely'; N.M. Officials Beg Senators for Help appearing in the Albuquerque Journal Albuquerque Journal (New) on April 20, 2006 Thursday is an item of political reporting and tries to convey the message of severity of drought and the need for more federal funds for drought relief measures particularly when the federal budgets on such measures have turned unduly stringent. The stringent article also indicates that despite stringent local water restrictions and conservations techniques the situation may require capital investment in new wells which would necessitate federal funding. The article reports political statement on the issue like, "He pointed to cuts in the president's fiscal 2007 budget: 11 percent to 21 percent in water related programs at federal agencies. Bingaman also said the Interior Department budget cuts $24 million from some water programs to put $14.5 million toward Water 2025."(Soussan, 2006) Another article titled, Some N.M. rivers running double long-term average, appearing in The Associated Press State & Local Wire on April 19, 2005, Tuesday, BC cycle tries to portray another side of the New Mexico water management system. This article relates the year 2005 scenario in which the snow pack accumulation was substantial and temperatures in April 2005 high enough to result in record melt down of mountain snow packs and record feeding of streams and reservoirs even posing the danger of widespread floods. The main actors were public, local administrators and planners who had turned so habitual to drought conditions prevailing in the region for last decade that it was a very big probability that they may be caught unawares to the danger of flood management aspect of overall water management. The article tries to define emphatically water management to include such flood management techniques as well and serves as a forewarning to public and administrators to be prepared with corrective measures if such eventualities do arise. The articles does it warning role in following words," Water managers plan to control water flows to try to reduce potential flood damage and to keep flood channels safe. People have built fences, structures and other things in historical flood plains because many streams have had minimal runoff in the past decade of drought, he said. "People have short memories as to how high the water gets," D'Antonio said. He has asked people in flood plains to take precautions, and encouraging irrigators to use sandbags at their head gates. D'Antonio also said there will be more water for everyone, but there also could be more obligation to deliver water to downstream users."(Some, 2005) The article gave flood related data on water management in following words," Flows in the Rio Grande through Albuquerque are expected to hit 7,000 cfs by May. On Monday, the river was flowing at about 3,960 cfs through the city, more than twice the long-term norm for mid-April..[and].. on Monday, the river at Embudo was flowing at above 2,080 cubic feet per second - cfs - compared to 1,200 cfs normally. Flows at Otowi Bridge near Espanola exceeded 5,000 cubic feet per second, about twice the normal for this time of year.[and]. Starting this week, flows from Abiquiu Reservoir will reach 1,800 cfs. Normal flows from that reservoir average about 900 cfs this time of year.(Some,2005) Davis(2005) explores the legislative and aspects of water conservation efforts at a local council in following words," A water conservation ordinance and two tax measures to pay for water and sewer projects are up for adoption by the Bernalillo Town Council on Monday. Town manager Lester Swindle said the water conservation and drought management ordinance would bring the town into compliance with federal water conservation policies. "(The ordinance) is not only something we needed to have in place, it makes us eligible to go after federal grants to improve our water and wastewater facilities," he said Friday". In fact this article by Davis titled, Water Issues on Agenda which appeared in the Albuquerque Journal Albuquerque Journal (New) on April 23, 2005 Saturday is an item which addresses the issue of legislating on water restrictions and mobilizing local finances to generate revenues to improve and repair local water treatment works. The article also reports as to how the local council gears up to become compliant with federal requirements for obtaining federal funding for its water management efforts. In fact passage of ordinance lends the councils program the vestige of structure sought by federal funding agencies. However apart from political funding and political actors the article also reports that at the heart of ordinance is the issue of giving the council legislative teeth to limit wasteful use of water by local residents. The article in fact makes a clear statement of water restriction events as follows," The proposed ordinance would limit water usage in Bernalillo by prohibiting practices such as excessive watering, using a free-flowing hose to wash cars and sidewalks, and failing to take care of excessive plumbing problems. It also provides voluntary guidelines such as limiting showers to five minutes and replacing faulty faucets and toilets."(Davis, 2005) The editorial with the title, Keep Santa Fe Green, But Drought-Resistant appearing in The Santa Fe New Mexican on April 18, 2005 Monday identifies its core address in a short phrase water-wise greenery. The main refrain of the article has been on some creative initiative both at the levels of the public and the policy makers and implementers to devise and propagate the planting of drought resistant varieties of plants so that not only water is conserved but also there is a long term remedy available to surface water retention. The main actors addressed are members of public and those that make policies and implement policies. Drought resistant plants and their mass adoption by population suffering from drought broadens the definition of water conservation techniques to include such plants; even the concept of greening has acquired a new definition in the drought realities of New Mexico with such drought resistant plants-this is some kind of greening of the drought affected areas. Editorial openly advocates for political will in the form of providing incentives to public in following words," Why not give, say, sales-tax breaks, or credit against water bills, to folks who put in things like desert willows, New Mexico privet or hackberry, and grama or buffalo grass The days of luxuriant lawns are long gone -- but that doesn't mean moderate shades of green must give way to dirt and the noxious weeds lying in wait to take over the territory where bluegrass and its lovely like once thrived. The move to sensible planting must happen soon, since we can't be sure the ground next year will be as moist as it is this cool and well-soaked spring..[and].. If our political leaders get off the dime, savvy Santa Feans can get the jump on summer by planning now to supplant Midwestern and Eastern vegetation with the not-so-thirsty grasses and plants of the West and South. That might include such xeric landscaping standbys as cacti and other succulents, as well as other hardy varieties of desert growth. But along with the sun-strong, often spiny and not-so-shady vegetation, there's room for something a bit greener, yet drought-stouter than the stuff that made our town so cool in times past".(Editorial,2005). Works Cited Albuquerque, New Mexico. (2007).Retrieved on January 28, 2007 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albuquerque,_New_Mexico. Gutzler, David. (2003). Drought in New Mexico: History, Causes, and Future Prospects. Current Issues.No.101. Honaberger,James.(2006).Water Wise. The Santa Fe New Mexican.April 19, 2006 Wednesday. Davis,MICHAEL.(2006). Farmer Gains Support; State engineer says rancher has right to district water. Albuquerque Journal Albuquerque Journal (New Mexico) .April 10, 2006. Hainsfurther,Stephanie.(2002). Water restrictions alter business for Santa Fe landscape firms. New Mexico Business Weekly - August 23, 2002. Lenderman,Andy.(2006). Snowpack has 'never been worse': Official: State must use extra water from last year to get through 2006.The Santa Fe New Mexican .April 8, 2006. Collins,David.(2006).Water Wisdom. The Santa Fe New Mexican .April 26, 2006 Wednesday. Some N.M. rivers running double long-term average. (2005). The Associated Press State & Local Wire on April 19, 2005, Tuesday, BC cycle. Davis,MICHAEL.(2005). Water Issues on Agenda.Albuquerque Journal Albuquerque Journal (New) .April 23, 2005 Saturday. Editorial .(2005).Keep Santa Fe Green, But Drought-Resistant. The Santa Fe New Mexican .April 18, 2005 Monday . Read More