New Mexico Mercury

Logic fails to disuade county sprawl push

Yesterday marked a historic moment in Albuquerque but not for the good of the people, well I guess that really depends on what side you're on.

For those of you who still haven't heard or who have been detached from the whole thing, the Bernalillo County Planning Commission (CPC) approved the massive and now looming Santolina Master Plan in a vote of 4 to 2. The Santolina Master Plan is a 13,700-acre development with a projected population of 95,000 proposed for the West Side...

River Runs Through It

The origins and disappearance of the Yaqui River.  Food for thought in light of the recent Gila diversion approval. 

Certified Beekeepers Apprentice Program: A First in New Mexico

The Certified Beekeepers Apprentice Program, new in 2014, launched in May and ended in August. All 24 adult students successfully completed the seven all-day sessions of year one. The two-year program was developed with assistance from the New Mexico Beekeepers Association, the City of Albuquerque Open Space Division and Washington State Beekeepers Association and was held at the Open Space Visitor Center on Coors Blvd. NW, Albuquerque...

By Water Alone

A reflection on the importance of our water and the seasonal joy of the cranes. 

Provincial Matters, 11-17-2014

V.B. Price's weekly collection of appreciations and observations.

US Ignores Responsibility in Fossil Fuel Divestment

Recently the fossil fuel divestment campaign added to their numbers the heirs of John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil, when the great-great grandson and great granddaughter withdrew their funds from oil investments.  This is the latest indication that in fact there will be a turning away from the current course of self-ruin, even by the petroleum industry’s own elite.  When the Rockefellers decide to turn their (green)backs on oil and coal, we must ask if this will make it easier for others of their ilk to do the same...

3 Good Reasons Why You Should Object to the Santolina Subdivision

You probably haven’t heard of the new proposed subdivision “Santolina” and yet the Bernalillo County Planning Commission has been debating about its implementation for months. The Santolina subdivision is proposed to be built in the southwest portion of Bernalillo County on what is commonly referred to as the Black Mesa. The subdivision would cover almost 14,000 previously untouched acres with approximately 38,000 new cookie-cutter homes. Although you may not have ever heard of Santolina, you should object to it, and here’s why...

The Rio Grande - Our Imperiled Lifeline

Speaking our river’s name, the Rio Grande, evokes images of a vast and powerful river of the West, flowing forth from high mountains through the desert landscape nurturing an abundance of life that springs forth along its banks.  The river is truly the soul of this desert community, offering opportunities for life, growth, and co-creation in an otherwise severe and less than hospitable environment.  Human settlements have flourished for centuries along the banks of the Rio Grande with thriving agricultural communities supported by the waters of this great river...

Sonora Water Wars, Part 5: Touring the New Hydraulic Society

In northern Mexico, growth-fueled water redistribution plans are at odds with water shortage realities.

Provincial Matters, 11-4-2014

V.B. Price's weekly collection of appreciations and observations.