McKINLEY COUNTY, N.M. — Several McKinley County water systems are working with county and regional officials to identify natural hazards, assess infrastructure vulnerabilities and develop projects aimed at reducing future damage.
Development is underway on an annex to the 2026 McKinley County Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan for participating mutual domestic water consumer associations and water and sanitation districts.
The annex will focus specifically on the risks facing rural and community water systems. Those risks may include flooding, drought, wildfire and other natural hazards that can damage infrastructure, disrupt service or place additional strain on alreadylimited water resources.
The planning process will help each participating system evaluate its risks and prioritize mitigation measures that could lessen the effects of future disasters.
An annex approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency would also help the participating water systems remain eligible for FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance and other grant funding opportunities.
The planning team includes representatives from the McKinley County Office of Emergency Management, Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments, Gamerco Water and Sanitation District, Northwest New Mexico Utility Authority, Yah-ta-Hey Water and Sanitation District, White Cliffs Mutual Domestic Water Users Association, Ramah Water and Sanitation District and Whispering Cedars Mutual Domestic Water Users Association.
The team will review hazard risks, develop mitigation strategies and prepare the annex for state and federal review.
Community members are expected to have opportunities to participate through an online survey and other outreach efforts during the planning process. Details on when the survey will become available have not yet been announced.
A draft of the annex is expected to be released for public review and comment in November 2026.
After the public review period, the document is anticipated to be submitted to the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and FEMA for review and approval later this year.
Participating entities are expected to formally adopt the annex after FEMA issues what is known as an Approval Pending Adoption letter.
Once approved and adopted, the annex will provide each participating water system with a federally recognized plan supporting long-term resilience efforts and future applications for hazard mitigation funding.
Residents with questions about the planning effort may contact Angelina Grey, associate planner and RWPD program manager with the Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments, at agrey@nwnmcog. org.