Abby Butler

The Energized Watershed Engine aims to become a national and global commercial hub for water security and energy technologies by 2035. This strategic plan focuses on use-inspired research and development, translation of innovation for societal benefit, and workforce development. It emphasizes regional engagement, strategic investment, and sustainable capital, aligning with the Governor's 50-Year Water Action Plan encompassing water conservation, new water supplies, and water and watershed protection. Expected outcomes over ten years include the commercialization of numerous technologies, launch of scalable companies, significant revenue generation, and creation of new jobs through widespread deployment of sustainable water-energy systems.

This document outlines the Blue Brine Project 96, an initiative focused on significantly increasing water recovery in desalination plants to over 96% and valorizing waste brine. The project describes a process to convert brine into industrial chemicals such as Magnesium, Gypsum, Caustic Soda, and Hydrochloric Acid, aiming to make the waste brine more valuable than the potable water produced. The plan encompasses three years of design, engineering, piloting, and testing, with a target construction completion by December 2026. It highlights the technical and commercial feasibility, as well as the profitability, of producing industrial chemicals from salt brines.

This document details the strategic direction of the New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute Agricultural Water Resilience Program (AgWRP), which aims to enhance agricultural water resilience in New Mexico, addressing compounding pressures from climate change and water competition. The program implements Action A2 of the New Mexico 50-Year Water Action Plan by incentivizing agricultural water conservation. Key strategic approaches include upgrading water delivery infrastructure, reducing evaporation, adopting modern precision irrigation, restoring acequias and watersheds, and deploying solar pumping systems. The plan focuses on improving water use efficiency, building resilience against drought, and sustaining the agricultural footprint while achieving a recharge balance with depletions.

The document outlines a suggested four-year plan of study for students pursuing a Bachelor of Applied Studies in Applied Studies with a focus on Early Childhood (Zero-to-Four). It details a semester-by-semester curriculum, including general education requirements, specialized coursework, and practicum experiences, leading to 120-122 total credits. The plan serves as a roadmap for academic progression, assuming specific initial course placements.

This strategic plan outlines the New Mexico Bureau of Geology's long-term vision for groundwater characterization and monitoring. It focuses on the Aquifer Mapping Program to characterize groundwater quantity, quality, and distribution, and a statewide brackish water assessment involving data compilation, characterization of occurrences, and identification of data gaps. Key strategic pillars include comprehensive data collection through geophysics, geochemical sampling, and drilling, culminating in the establishment of a statewide groundwater monitoring network. The overarching goal is to provide essential information for planning, conserving, and protecting New Mexico's water resources, supporting the development of alternative water supplies, and ensuring a thorough understanding of the state's aquifers.