ICYMI: Deb Haaland Previews Water Agenda at Next Generation Water Summit

Haaland calls for swift, bold action to protect New Mexico’s water future amid Trump cuts

Santa Fe, N.M. – Last week, Deb Haaland, candidate for New Mexico governor, delivered the keynote address at the Next Generation Water Summit, outlining her comprehensive vision for improving water resilience in the face of climate change and ongoing drought. 

“We have a shared obligation to use water wisely, whether we live in cities or farm and ranch the land, or run businesses here in our state,” said Haaland. “We need to manage the water resources with every community in mind, work collaboratively and respect each other.”

Haaland outlined her priorities as governor for strengthening New Mexico’s water infrastructure, including modernizing groundwater management in overdrawn basins, expanding stormwater capture systems statewide, and offering competitive grants to farmers for modern irrigation technology. She also emphasized the need to clean up contamination from PFAS, abandoned uranium mines, and oil and gas wells.

Haaland went on to say, “During my time as Secretary, we made unprecedented progress for our shared public lands, waters, wildlife and the communities they sustain. But right now we face a bigger challenge—the Trump Administration is putting our progress at risk. Cuts to conservation, cuts to staff, cuts to grants, cuts to Tribal communities, cuts, cuts, cuts.”

Haaland’s ambitious water agenda builds on her extensive experience managing federal water resources as the U.S. Secretary of the Interior from 2021–2025. Her gubernatorial campaign has been endorsed by scores of New Mexican local elected officials, Senator Ben Ray Luján, Representatives Teresa Leger Fernandez, Melanie Stansbury, and Gabe Vasquez, and organizations including Common Defense, Conservation Voters New Mexico Action Fund, and EMILYs List. Last week, Haaland previewed a part of her economic plan at an event with the New Mexico Chapter of the American Marketing Association. She laid out a path to support small, local businesses and spur new economic opportunities for New Mexicans.