Protect Tesuque is asking the right questions

Protect Tesuque has made a profound impact on our community, as evidenced by the recent civil lawsuit filed against us by Bishop’s Lodge resort (“Bishop’s Lodge asks court to block protests near entrance,” July 17). Rusty Day’s article (“State Supreme Court leaves question: Which law protects our water?” My View, July 17) unfortunately resonates deeply with many Tesuque residents, and it’s clear our efforts have touched a sensitive nerve with the resort.

Protect Tesuque has been working tirelessly to halt the permit for the dangerously placed leach field situated mere feet from Tesuque Creek, posing a substantial risk to the aquifer and located in a flood zone. Despite the ongoing legal battle, the leach field is already in place and operational. Longtime residents will remember the devastation caused by past monsoon systems that sent torrents of water down the canyon alongside Bishop’s Lodge Road, resulting in massive mud and debris movement and the tragic loss of several horses both at the Lodge and adjacent residential properties.

It is deeply disheartening to witness money taking precedence over environmental concerns, particularly in the case of Bishop’s Lodge resort — a short-term investment for Juniper Capital. The firm’s plan to sell the resort within a few years’ time reflects a focus on profit without regard for the long-term consequences of its development. We needed the Supreme Court to recognize our concerns, but it, along with the New Mexico Environmental Department, has failed us by allowing the continued use of the leach field and permitting the process to move forward. (It’s important to note the resort’s initial plan was to dump a portion of the wastewater directly into the creek during the winter months.) It was because of Protect Tesuque’s efforts that a revised plan was implemented. Nevertheless, the current leach field placement remains deeply problematic.

While lawyers will undoubtedly focus on the legal justification of applying a certain standard, it is equally crucial to emphasize the potential danger of the actual placement of the leach field. A strong storm can and will undoubtedly overwhelm the leach field, carrying waste far from its source and causing multiple environmental problems.

As our once-quiet and rural village undergoes transformation with increased traffic and population, we must protect the treasures that make Tesuque unique, including its natural beauty and the health of Tesuque Creek. The state Supreme Court should have listened more attentively — this is a consequential battle between applying the correct and updated standard to protect our water and giving in to the relentless pursuit of profit by ignoring the crucial issue at hand.

Time and again, we have witnessed the triumph of greed and monetary gain over the preservation and sustainability of our natural resources. It is critical that we realize the importance of safeguarding our environment, for the survival and health of both humanity and the natural world are inextricably linked.