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## Santa Fe Opinions Archive: WATER These archives are maintained under Fair Use, to be utilized when original online versions of these documents are no longer available. ### May 13 ORIGINALLY FROM Santa Fe New Mexican Letters to the Editor for 05/13/02 Another way to think about water crisis It seems that all of Santa Fe is spun up about its water "crisis." Why? Because the two watershed reservoirs are empty and four out of 15 wells are down for maintenance. We in Los Alamos are not experiencing a perceptible shortage of potable water and, in fact, there is no crisis here or in Santa Fe. Los Alamos has not had a single watershed reservoir for 50 years, depending instead on 12 water wells fed by the Pajarito Plateau's deep water table. The fathers of Los Alamos realized that a watershed reservoir is an unreliable and inadequate form of water storage at best. Most watersheds in the Southwest are in severe danger of complete destruction by overgrowth, drought and wildfires. Santa Fe's reservoirs should be regarded as useful only for surge capacity in fighting a wildfire, as was our little pond. Santa Fe needs to bring online its entire Buckman well field, dig a few more wells and secure permanent water rights from the San Juan/Chama water-diversion project. The current water panic is sucking dry the economic recovery of your town. Mark MacInnes ORIGINALLY FROM Santa Fe New Mexican Letters to the Editor for 05/13/02 Affluent bias While flying to our second home on April 24, I read the entire Opinion Page. Most of the letters were filled with anti-affluent sentiment, which has been ongoing since we purchased a house here four years ago. As usual in biased opinions, there is a total absence of factual information. For one, Las Campanas doesn't use city water because the initial plan was to have its own water supply. Anita West (letters, April 24) can sit back on that for a while and remember that our country is - and, hopefully, always will be - devoted to opportunity and a higher living standard for those who desire to have mall-sized houses. When I was a young girl going to school, I cut out cardboard to fill the holes in my shoes. I didn't think then, or now, that being poor was a blessing, something to blame on others or a career choice. Maybe, with time and the growing impact of the negative words and anti-rich sentiment, the folks of accomplishment, who work more than the required eight hour/five day week, needn't settle where they are clearly not wanted. Gale Davis Santa Fe Los Alamos ### May 5 Zoning changes illogical in face of water shortage ORIGINALLY FROM Santa Fe New Mexican Letters to the editor for Sunday 05/05/2002 Something is very illogical about the Wurzburger resolution to change zoning rules to minimum "R7," meaning seven houses or more built on one acre. Here in Santa Fe, the city has (adopted) severe restrictions and penalties to limit homeowners' water usage drastically. Trees, grass and flowers will die. Yet a resolution has been proposed to allow a zoning change in the name of "affordable housing." In view of the rigid water rationing, this is nothing but pure, unadulterated insanity on the part of our city government. The shortage of water here in Santa Fe should dictate a moratorium on building homes. Many other cities across the nation have done this. It is a very sad day, indeed, when our city leaders cannot concur with responsibilities toward all its people. This month there will be a meeting at the Public Works building, 120 S. Federal Place, to voice opinions about this resolution. Call the Public Works Committee for date and time. Margie Bourgeois Santa Fe ORIGINALLY FROM Santa Fe New Mexican Letters to the editor for Sunday 05/05/2002 Constitutional case? Four city councilors are telling property owners that they must "densify" their land with more housing. What nerve! I see "affordable housing" on the West side and Agua Frķa areas. It is unconstitutional in the United States - or is it? - to tell property owners what to do with their land. But, then, our government has been guilty of confiscating private forest land. This is just one more step toward government control of private property. Dori Lynn Santa Fe ORIGINALLY FROM Santa Fe New Mexican Letters to the editor for Sunday 05/05/2002 Water, toilets Water, our natural resource, is being wasted by you, me and almost everybody. What do we gain by letting the water run when we are brushing our teeth? What do we gain by taking a long shower when a short one will clean just as well. Can you imagine how much water we could save if everyone in Santa Fe saved a quart a day? I retired after 45 years in the plumbing industry. I spent most of those years in maintenance and engineering departments. Let me tell you that a low-flow toilet will not empty in one flush in a house that has cast-iron plumbing; you will have to flush as many as three times. Even with PVC piping, a low-flow toilet won't flush if the house has a long drain line. If readers install low-flow toilets in their houses, I suggest they hold on to the old ones because it won't be long before they are putting them back. So please, let's all join the "save water" club. We have no choice! Alfred L. Gonzales Santa Fe ORIGINALLY FROM Santa Fe New Mexican Letters to the editor for Sunday 05/05/2002 Response to Sussmann I would like to respond to Jeff Sussmann's letter (April 17) condemning Sen. Domenici and the cattle industry. Start with the facts: Grasses and grazers have co-evolved over the last 45 million years. Grazers include bison, elk, deer and, yes, cattle. Grazers need grass; grass needs grazers. I think what Sussmann is actually objecting to is not grazers, per se, but the people who have mismanaged the cattle. We have no difference there. If the conversation shifts to how to manage cattle (and other grazers) to sustain the viability and health of the landscape, then Sussmann needs to visit the Web site of the Quivira Coalition at www.quivira coalition.org. There he will find many aspects of the rangeland conflict dealt with in a proactive manner, with constructive solutions. In a larger perspective, public lands form a patchwork pattern with private lands completely surrounding these public patches. For an ecoregion to function in a healthy manner, we need to have a system in place that transcends the divide between public and private lands. David M. Hutt Santa Fe ORIGINALLY FROM Santa Fe New Mexican Letters to the editor for Sunday 05/05/2002 Purchasing rights A recent article on water usage (April 11) quoted the manager of Las Campanas as saying that his firm had purchased water rights. Does such a purchase give Las Campanas the right to use Santa Fe water beyond the restrictions imposed on others? A casual inspection of Las Campanas' second 18-hole golf course reveals that they are thoroughly hosing down greens outside the limits imposed by the city. The course is in beautiful shape as far as the fairway is concerned. No lack of watering is evident. Your article stated that Las Campanas is using a substantial amount of water. Despite the water usage, their two courses are completely private. I hope that there is some reasonable explanation of their water usage. Dave D. Wagner Santa Fe

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