Ramah water systems part of new plan to gain money
McKINLEY COUNTY, N.M. – Six small water system communities in southern McKinley County are participating in a regional planning effort aimed at preparing for drought, wildfire, flooding and other hazards while improving access to federal funding for infrastructure projects.
The work is being conducted through an annex to the 2026 McKinley County Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Angelina Grey, associate planner III and Rural Water Program Development program manager with the Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments, told the Cibola Citizen that planners identified nine hazard risks and threats facing small water systems.
Seven natural hazards were identified as having the greatest impact on rural communities: drought, extreme heat and cold, flooding, high winds, thunderstorms, winter storms and wildfires.
Grey said the annex is part of a broader effort to strengthen regional water systems through collaboration, preparedness and increased local capacity rather than a response to any single recent emergency.
Five communities are currently being assessed: Ramah, Whispering Cedars, White Cliffs, Gamerco and Yah-ta-Hey. The sixth participant is the Northwest New Mexico Utility Authority, which is being established as a regional utility authority incorporating Gamerco and Yah-ta-Hey.
Participation also helps water systems remain eligible for federal hazard mitigation funding.
“One of the benefits of participating in the hazard mitigation plan is to be eligible to apply to federal funding sources to help secure emergency backup generators that are critically needed in rural communities, especially during inclement weather and events,” Grey said.
Participating systems are working with the Council of Governments to pursue funding for generators and upgrades to electrical and mechanical components at water and wastewater facilities.
A virtual public meeting is scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 18 through Microsoft Teams to review and refine risk assessments and mitigation strategies.
Grey said a public survey is expected to open in early September. A draft annex is expected by the end of October, with state and federal review targeted for completion by Dec. 31.
Six of McKinley County’s 10 active small water systems are participating.
“We hope to have 100% participation for the next plan update,” Grey said. The next update is expected sometime after 2031.