Balancing Water and Development in the East Mountains

November 5, 2021 – In 2017, the Our Land team visited the Petrie family in the East Mountains. Their well had run dry, and they weren’t the only ones experiencing that problem. At that time, we also met with Phillip Rust, a hydrogeologist with Bernalillo County, who was tracking dropping groundwater levels across that region. Today, many places in New Mexico – including the East Mountains – are seeing a housing boom. More and more people want to move here. But wells are still drying. And groundwater levels, dropping. This week on New Mexico in Focus, environment reporter Laura Paskus checks back in with Phillip Rust to learn more.

Guest: Phillip Rust, hydrogeologist, Bernalillo County

For More Information:

Our Land: “Wells Going Dry in the East Mountains” (2017)

Bernalillo County Groundwater Resources

New Mexico’s 50-Year Water Planning Process – New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission