State must enforce its water laws in Tesuque

We’ve lived in Tesuque all our lives. David was born here shortly after his parents moved to the valley in the early 1950s. Clara’s family traces its roots back to the Los Luceros Land Grant, having lived in Northern New Mexico since the 1600s.

When we got married 48 years ago, we settled on our family’s land in Tesuque and have been here ever since. We’ve seen this community grow, change and face its share of challenges — but we’ve never seen anything quite like this.

Recently, the New Mexico Supreme Court issued an order requiring the New Mexico Environment Department and Bishop’s Lodge to respond to a petition filed by Protect Tesuque. That petition asks the court to require the state Environment Department to do something very simple: follow the law. Specifically, to enforce the Environmental Improvement Act of 1971 and the Liquid Waste Regulations that exist to protect public health and our groundwater from contamination.

We were taken aback when we learned Bishop’s Lodge, a luxury resort now owned by a distressed lender, and the 83 residential properties behind it are seeking permission to discharge 30,000 gallons of partially treated wastewater every day into a small, flood-prone, undersized leach field just 100 feet from Little Tesuque Creek. That creek flows into the aquifer that hundreds of our Tesuque families use for drinking water.

As real estate professionals, we see the double standard clearly. In New Mexico, if you sell a home, you’re required to

meet strict septic regulations — no more than 5,000 gallons per day, safe distance from water sources, and guaranteed containment on your own land. Now Bishop’s Lodge, with far greater volume and risk, is being allowed to sidestep those rules completely, we believe.

This isn’t just a technical concern. This is a basic issue of equity, responsibility and trust. Families like ours drink from wells every day. We monitor what goes into the ground because we understand what’s at stake. Meanwhile, Bishop’s Lodge is moving forward with what we think is an undersized, unproven system that threatens to contaminate the very water we rely on — not just today, but for future generations.

We know this pattern and what’s at stake. Years ago, we fought pollution caused by the Shidoni Foundry. It started as a small operation, and over time, its environmental footprint outgrew what the land and community could support. What’s happening now with Bishop’s Lodge is no different — except the scale and risks are even greater.

This isn’t responsible development and isn’t respectful of the people who live here, who vote here, who raise children and grandchildren here.

So how do we feel seeing the state Supreme Court take this up? We feel hopeful. We’re encouraged that the court saw enough merit to ask questions and request responses. We’re grateful to Protect Tesuque and every neighbor who has spoken out.

We hope our leaders and agencies hear us loud and clear: this is not just a local issue. It’s a test of whether environmental laws in New Mexico protect all communities, or only those with financial influence.

We’re not asking for special treatment. We’re asking for fairness, for common sense, and for the state to do what it’s required to do: Protect our water, apply the law equally and listen to the people who call this valley home. We’ve done our part. Now it’s time for our government to do its part.