Figure 5. New Mexico Drought Status (released 10/15/09)
Sources: New Mexico State Drought Monitoring Committee, U.S. Drought Monitor

New Mexico continues to be mostly drought free due to decent monsoon precipitation during the summer months and above-average precipitation across western parts of the state during the past 30 days (Figure 5a). The October 13 update of the National Drought Monitor reports that about 71 percent of the state is absent of a drought classification, an approximately 7 percent increase of drought-free area from last month (Figure 5b). However, a small band of abnormally dry conditions lingers over eastern New Mexico, and a small area of moderate to severe drought conditions is emerging across the far northwestern corner of the state, due to scant summer precipitation. This area has observed less than 50 percent of average precipitation over the past 90 days.

In water-related news, developers in western states including New Mexico are rethinking lawns in new planned communities (Wall Street Journal, October 13). Lush lawns that require thousands of gallons of water each month are difficult to justify in the Southwest US, where water scarcity is a concern. Through rebate programs, water agencies are helping encourage existing home owners to take radical water conservation measures by tearing out their existing lawns and landscaping with drought-tolerant plants.

Notes:
The New Mexico section of the U.S. Drought Monitor is released weekly (every Thursday) and represents data collected through the previous Tuesday. The maps are based on expert assessment of variables including (but not limited to) the Palmer Drought Severity Index, soil moisture, streamflow, precipitation, and measures of vegetation stress, as well as reports of drought impacts. It is a joint effort of the several agencies.

More Information:
For the most current drought status map, visit:
http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/DM_state.htm?NM,W

For the most current Drought Status Reports, visit:
http://www.nmdrought.state.nm.us/MonitoringWorkGroup/wk-monitoring.html