New Mexico Mercury

River Runs Through It

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

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.

Sonora Water Wars, Part 4: The Pride of Sonora

The northern Mexican state, known for its self-reliance in a harsh climate, is leading the way in water megaprojects to address the country's water shortages. 

Sonora Water Wars, Part 3: “El Nuevo Sonora” Continues Sonora’s Hydraulic Traditions

As water megaprojects focus on diversion to feed urban growth and agriculture profit, regional tensions grow for the increasingly scarce resource. 

Sonora Water Wars, Part 2: Reviving a Hydraulic Society

Just southwest of New Mexico's borders, a Mexican water crisis boils down to diversion vs conservation.

Sonora Water Wars, Part 1: An intro to the Yaqui Water War

In response to an escalating water crisis, the Mexican border state of Sonora is rushing forward with more water-management projects.

¡Ah, Chihuahua!

The changing character of the vast Mexican state that's our neighbor.

A Sotol Story

A modern day adventure through the mysteries of an ancient potion.

A Memorial for a Failed Border Policy

Tom Barry, author of "Border Wars", explores border policy on the ground and illustrates how the new legislation making its way through Congress mirrors the dysfunction of current U.S. immigration policy.

Border surge misses real security threat in Transborder West

New U.S. initiatives associated with immigration reform proposals aim to seal the U.S.-Mexico border with more hulking fences, high-tech surveillance, sensors, and drones -- all to “secure the border” against a dramatically diminishing flow (lowest in four decades) of south-north immigrants, and costing at least $30 billion in additional border security funding.

Generally unnoticed in this border security buildup is the rapid onset of a new transborder security threat. Not immigrants, not terrorists, not drugs, not spillover violence. Rather frightening changes in the deserts, in the mountain flora, in the surface water flows, in the falling levels of reservoirs, and in the disappearing aquifers and underground water basins...