Water is a precious resource that will become more so with climate change. The Institute is working with our farmers to develop water conservation techniques on their farms, to develop irrigation contingency plans, and to advocate for water rights within the community.
The NM Office of the State Engineer and Environmental Department anticipate the impacts of climate change throughout New Mexico to be significant for water managers and users, with changes to both supply and demand:
- Temperatures have already risen in New Mexico and are predicted to continue to increase;
- Changes in snowpack elevations and water equivalency;
- Changes in available water volumes and in the timing of water availability;
- Increasing precipitation in the form of rain rather than snow due to increasing temperatures;
- Smaller spring runoff volumes and/or earlier runoff that will impact water availability for irrigation and for ecological and species needs;
- Milder winters and hotter summers, resulting in longer growing seasons and increased plant and human water use;
- Increased evaporative losses from reservoirs, streamflows and soils due to hotter, drier conditions;
- Increased evapo-transpiration by agricultural and riparian plants;
- An increase in extreme events, including both drought and floods.
(July 2006)
These anticipated changes could alter NNM agriculture as we now know it. Communicating and collaborating with local agricultural producers will prepare us for future land alterations and help develop successful adaptive strategies.
SFFMI Current Activities
- Surveying 150 farmers’ market vendors and analyzing results to better understand where water comes from so the Institute will know where to focus water efforts
- Continue to offer Professional Development Classes on soil fertility practices so farmers can make land accepting of limited water resources
- Offer Professional Development Classes on water conservation techniques such as drip irrigation, water catchment, xeriscaping, and other water saving methods.
