Week of July 13, 2008 IN THIS DISPATCH: Court Ruling on Water Wells a Victory for Water Protection; Smart Growth on the Front Cover; Upcoming Events Latest News http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001CKHWXisifs4O3WP_YHb3Wk2VqS7GgO1JhPMDMqNNn3b9dtzra... Court Ruling on Water Wells a Victory for Water Protection http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001CKHWXisifs5arPx1Hw9irX4QXNcR55fWFRrL5QNNBatSDNvcG... A highly-anticipated state court decision came out late last week that overturns the practice of automatically granting permits for new domestic wells regardless of harmful impacts. The 1000 Friends NM Water Project has for years challenged the "domestic well statute" based on the understanding that too many domestic wells in an area can affect the long-term ability of groundwater to provide adequate water into the future as well as water availability for existing users. » more http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001CKHWXisifs6fFNW8U6ytQjPUKI3Q0QBoj2aHo4Jewx8YA0zSY... Smart Growth on the Front Cover http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001CKHWXisifs7iQ3bFQva2cVpXUsSArv7zE1Bfz73H8KeCynHef... Note: Joanne McEntire, our Program Director, is a member of the Public Involvement Committee at the Mid Region Council of Governments and serves on the City of Albuquerque's 21st Century Transportation Task Force. When the Wall Street Journal covers a Smart Growth innovation on its front page, we at 1000 Friends get a little excited. Gas prices have sure helped to raise the media's attention to the link between sprawl and driving cars. Article after article has noted the increase in transit ridership, the growing market for housing close to town centers, and the complaints (or willing adjustments) that we Americans have been making. 1000 Friends has been noticing this, thinking that maybe our message over the last 12 years is sinking in, thanks to peak oil. The Journal's article "When Gas is Over $4, Cities Explore Whether It's Smart to Be Dense http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001CKHWXisifs4rZ7Oj9g9i4Y7KzgOX53GJKstOTMn2wzi1hZuJv... ," describes how the Sacramento region has provided a working model for integrating transportation and land use. (The website offers a video and photos too http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001CKHWXisifs4mhKo7aFisgtFzgkseas91o-RyS-sz4e7R7YZwf... .) The state of California supported the region with developing scenarios called the Blueprint several years ago, and over time, the preferred regional plan has been used by the local communities - as well as many land developers! (Note the initial opposition of the Building Industry Association - sound familiar?) » more http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001CKHWXisifs5B_nlpwAeaa2X1XQjFQEr-UdmG1pOmAtUTjogaK... Upcoming Events July 24: Form-Based Code Hearing August 7: Sustainable Transportation: Paying Our Way From Here to There, with NMDOT http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001CKHWXisifs4pqzgP8K0CVq-rKqdoivCI_pZa10mDeOzgtGrGT... -know of an event or important meeting? - let us know! Get to Know 1000 Friends of New Mexico