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Our Land

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Poetry As a Way To ‘Build Empathy’

12.1.23 – For New Mexico Poet Laureate Lauren Camp, poetry is a way to “build…

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A river surrounded by trees and rocks.

Listening to the Gila

10.27.23 – Rarely in the United States do we remember that rivers are living beings…

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The cost of free land by rebecca clarke.

The Cost of Free Land

10.13.23 – At the turn of the 20th century, Rebecca Clarren’s ancestors fled antisemitism in…

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An aerial view of a burned area in colorado.

Building Public Trust in the Forest Service

9.22.23 – In the third and final segment of their conversation, Our Land Senior Producer…

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A group of people sitting around a table in an interview.

New Fire Protocols

9.22.23 – In the second of a three-part conversation, Our Land Senior Producer Laura Paskus…

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2022’s Historic Fire Season

9.22.23 – This week on New Mexico in Focus, Our Land Senior Producer Laura Paskus…

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An image of a river with mountains in the background.

NM’s Water Challenges Are ‘Significant’

9.8.23 – Our Land’s Laura Paskus spoke with New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission Director Hannah…

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An aerial view of a lake in the desert.

Is a Settlement on the Rio Grande Coming Soon?

8.4.23 – After the relatively wet years of the 1980s and ‘90s, New Mexico’s reservoirs…

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Stay up to date with everything happening in New Mexico.

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Reconciling with the past through place and story

February 12, 2021 – Snap open a map and read the place names listed across…

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A platform sits in a shady area of a rocky structure.

Cochiti Pueblo Opposes Bandelier Bill

January 8, 2021 – Public lands in New Mexico hold different meanings for different people,…

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A bottle pours out a stream of water in front of a yellow-orange sky.

New Mexico’s Military Legacy & PFAS Contamination

December 25, 2020 – One of the other top stories of 2020 for us here…

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A body of water at sunrise, with cranes basking in the pool.

Our Land: Albuquerque’s Bosque

December 11, 2020 – In this month’s episode of Our Land, correspondent Laura Paskus travels…

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NMiF: Our Land

Groundwater War: Fort Wingate

November 13, 2020 –  NMiF producer Matt Grubs talks with Our Land correspondent Laura Paskus…

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Aerial view of residential neighborhood, with trees scattered throughout.

Our Land: Urban Forest Update 

October 9, 2020 – This year’s hot, dry conditions highlight the need for New Mexicans…

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Low view of a dry Rio Grande.

Impact of a Dry Rio Grande

October 9, 2020 – The Rio Grande has been dry near San Antonio, New Mexico,…

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A dried-up river flanked by greenery.

Tribes, Power, and Water

Sept. 11, 2020 – In the western United States, rivers like the Colorado River and…

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A gold-tinted river flows.

All We’ve Surveyed: Five Years After the Gold King Mine Spill

By Laura Paskus Five years ago, crews reopening an abandoned mine in the mountains of…

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Composite of various New Mexican terrains, with superimposed text "OUR LAND'S THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY!"

Third Anniversary Interview and Our Land: Gila Diversion Decision

July 10, 2020 – NMiF host Gene Grant celebrates the third anniversary of the show’s monthly series Our Land…

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A dried-up Rio Grande.

A Dry Rio Grande and Its Impact on Endangered Fish

June 12, 2020 – On this month’s episode of Our Land, we visit the dry…

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Aerial view of a large body of water flanked by dried-up brush and trees.

Our Land: Rio Grande Spring Flow and Climate Change

May 8, 2020 – On this month’s episode of Our Land, we look back to…

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A dried-up area meant for water, flanked by bushes.

Our Land: A Decent Winter Becomes a Lousy Spring on the Rio Grande

Two years ago, New Mexico’s largest river dried in April, right when the Rio Grande…

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The Sandia mountains at sunset.

Our Land: How Australia’s Bush Fires Might Inform New Mexico’s Upcoming Fire Season

April 10, 2020 – Our Land correspondent Laura Paskus sits down with Santa Fe National…

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A factory on the coast of a body of water.

EPA Rolls Back Regulations During Pandemic, Shifts Burden to States

As the country reels from the spread of the novel coronavirus, federal regulators say they…

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A family stands in the middle of White Sands National Park.

Room to Move? Outdoor Recreation During the COVID-19 Emergency

This week, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a public health order mandating that New Mexicans…

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Signage for the New Mexico Army National Guard Armory.

Pentagon IDs Four More NM Sites at Risk of PFAS Contamination

The Pentagon has identified four more military sites in New Mexico that could be contaminating…

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Our Land: Cochiti Pueblo Opposes National Monument Expansion

March 13, 2020 – On a recent episode of Our Land, we talked about public…

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Resources mentioned during the show: 

U.S. Forest Service’s National Prescribed Fire Resource Mobilization Strategy 

U.S. Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy 

U.S. Forest Service investigation of the Cerro Pelado Fire 

FEMA’s Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office 

Santa Fe National Forest 

“The Federal Government Accidentally Burned Down Their Houses, Then Made It Hard to Come Home” By Patrick Lohman with Source NM for ProPublica 

Southwest Jemez Mountains Collaborative Landscape Restoration 

How to learn more about wildfires when they’re happening: 

For fire locations and details about individual fires: InciWeb  

New Mexico Fire Information: NM Fire Info & NM Fire Info on Facebook 

National Interagency Fire Center – Fire News 

If the fire is burning on U.S. Forest Service land, search the name of the forest to find updates. Many of the forests, such as the Santa Fe National Forest, also have active Facebook pages. 

NOAA Fire Weather information and alerts (to see things like red flag warnings for your area) 

Fire and Smoke Map  

New Mexico Department of Health 5-3-1 Visibility Method (for determining if smoky conditions in your area are unhealthy) 

How to learn more about protecting your home and community: 

Community Wildfire Protection Plans in NM (includes guidelines and information on creating one, as well as links to plans for communities across the state)  

Ready, Set, Go! Your Personal Wildland Fire Action Guide (New Mexico) (for information on protecting your home, being ready to evacuate, and making a personal wildfire plan for your home) 

En sus Marcas, Listos, Fuera! Su Guia de Accion (Spanish) 

Fire Adapted New Mexico Learning Network 

NM State Foresty, Fire Prevention Programs 

NM State Forestry: Protecting your home from wildfire 

NM State Forestry: Creating Wildfire-Defensible Zones 

Living with Fire: A Guide for the Homeowner (English)  

Firewise USA: Residents Reducing Wildfire Risks (National Fire Protection Association) 

State of New Mexico Prescribed Burn Certification Program 

Past Our Land shows related to New Mexico wildfire: 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX-Gj22wAC46YnLfxBPo5ek7CxXB4_eOE