Here’s a look at today’s headlines:
The Southern New Mexico Resource Advisory Committee recently met to review project proposals to be initiated with Title II funds. 22 Federal and public proposals were recommended for funding across three forests and six counties. Included in the recommended projects are: in Grant County- surveys for vegetation projects, Meekins Prescribed Burn, an archeological survey, Big Tree Trailhead Parking area completion, hazard tree and branch removal, horsemen trail maintenance and Gila River Flood Debris Removal. For a full list of these projects, visit the US Forest Service Website.
According to the New Mexico Department of Health, a recent Risk Behavior Survey shows that New Mexico high school students were less likely to binge drink than other students across the United States, or a percentage of 17.1 versus the national 20.8. However, even though New Mexico students are less likely to binge drink, they are more likely to have their first drink before the age of 13, a 22.3% chance compared to the national 18.6%. Other results included in the study suggest New Mexico students are more likely to get an hour of physical activity every day, are less likely to watch more than three hours of TV per day, and are less likely to be sexually active. However, New Mexico students are almost twice as likely to have ever used drugs, including cocaine and methamphetamines. Details of these reports are available at “NM Health dot org”
US Senator Tom Udall today introduced a bill to help the state’s communities use water more efficiently and address the impact of water scarcity. The New Mexico Drought Relief Act of 2014 is cosponsored by Senator Heinrich, and has the support of water conservancy districts, farmers, ranchers and municipalities around the state. The bill authorizes funding and policies to help irrigators improve water delivery and enable communities to find new sources of water. It also provides for better ways to use science to understand the impact of drought and predict how it affects communities.
