Las Vegas, N.M., experienced the destruction caused by the largest wildfire in state history last year. Mayor Louie Trujillo acknowledged the progress made in restoring their water source but highlighted the ongoing work required to ensure the city's water supply remains secure.

He discussing the new water filtration plant recently with state lawmakers at the state legislature’s Water and Natural Resources Committee.

"Needless to say, what a difference a year makes," Trujillo said at the meeting, quoted in a July 10 KRQE report.

The devastating impact of the wildfire resulted in the destruction of a crucial watershed that provided water for tens of thousands of people, the report said. Although Las Vegas managed to successfully restore its water source against the odds, Trujillo emphasized that the work is not yet complete in ensuring a secure water supply. He reflected on the challenges his community endured for several months during the previous spring.

"It was a year of anomalies, right?" Trujillo said, according to KRQE. "The largest forest fire in New Mexico history, the windiest ever recorded in state history. We had 27 days of red flag weather during the fire."

Trujillo expressed particular concern about the Gallinas Watershed as the Hermits Peak Calf Canyon fire raged. He explained that their water filtration system, which was initially constructed for the region, was specifically designed to accommodate the water flow from the Gallinas River.

"As you know, the Gallinas River is our lifeline," he said. "So, we only have one lifeline. We don’t have multiple.

"The type of water that was coming down the Gallinas River was somewhat pristine. You could drink the water right out of the river. It was that delicious."

But that was no longer the case after the wildfire.

"The fire devastated a good portion of the watershed, which effected the quality of water," Trujillo said. "We had 21 days of water left in Las Vegas last year at this very time."

The residents of Las Vegas had to limit their water usage to 40 gallons per person, which is significantly less than the average daily consumption, the mayor said, according to the report. But emergency funding helped bring the water filtration system under control. Currently, the City is focusing on implementing a new filtration system with increased capacity to meet the growing demands for clean water.

"We’re building a brand new one that will handle the type of water that’s going to be coming down the river for ten years more," Trujillo said in the report.