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Candidates say 'acequias are critical' and call for linking water and land‑use planning
Summary
At a Los Ranchos forum candidates unanimously defended acequias and urged the village to connect land‑use decisions with water protections, including easements, partnerships with MRGCD and measures to secure water rights for village open spaces.
Candidates at the League of Women Voters forum described acequias as central to Los Ranchos’ identity and survival and urged concerted action to protect them.
John B. Edward said ‘‘water is life’’ and argued for easements to ensure irrigation access to land that is subdivided, warning that the village could otherwise lose functional open space if irrigation rights are not preserved. George Radnavich stressed the need to protect mountain snowpack and work more closely with the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD) and other agencies. Gilbert Benavides described a year when he received only three waterings for his vineyard and recommended exploring water storage options and new cropping strategies for a drier future. Gwen Adams Baldwin urged creating maintenance crews modeled on northern New Mexico practices, compiling a list of ditches at risk of closure, and pursuing water‑resilient design and incentives in the master plan.
Candidates agreed the village has limited control over regional water authorities but can strengthen local code, secure water rights for public lands, pursue conservation easements and include water resilience in development approvals. Several asked for more public engagement to shape policies that link water availability to future land use.
