WildEarth Guardians

Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Governor Richardson's River Restoration Program Creates Jobs and Income

WildEarth Guardians currently employs 14 people in New Mexico with state funds for rivers
Contact: WildEarth Guardians

SANTA FE, N.M. - Governor Richardson’s commitment to clean water and his efforts to restore degraded rivers in New Mexico is putting people to work in tough economic times even before the federal stimulus package is fully effective. WildEarth Guardians alone, one recipient of state funds, has employed 10 people to operate heavy equipment in order to plant native trees and vegetation on streams in New Mexico.

The Governor’s River Ecosystem Restoration Initiative (RERI) was established to protect and restore river systems across the state. This initiative was started as part of the Governor’s “Year of Water, 2007” legislative agenda, and is designed to sustain, re-establish and rehabilitate the integrity and understanding of New Mexico’s river ecosystems through the enhancement of physical, chemical and biological characteristics. The initiative has been funded in the amount of $5.3 million through capital outlay since its inception in the 2007 legislative session and an additional $1.5 million has been appropriated in the 2009 session but the governor has yet to sign the legislation.

“We’re putting people to work right here, right now restoring rivers and preparing for climate change,” said Bryan Bird, WildEarth Guardians’ Public Lands Director. “These are ‘green jobs” the Governor created with a state program and there is no shortage of restoration work in New Mexico.”

WildEarth Guardians has received nearly $400,000 in funds from the RERI grant program since 2007 for river restoration projects in Socorro County for La Jencia Creek and in Sandoval County for the Rio Puerco. The funds are generally to remove invasive vegetation such as tamarisk and Russian olive, re-establish native riparian trees and vegetation such as cottonwood and willow, increase natural river channels and improve water quality.

River restoration is a critical component of the state’s efforts to address climate change. The Nature Conservancy recently found that climate change is having an effect on the plants, animals and landscapes of New Mexico and has been for at least 15 years. Riparian ecosystems are especially vulnerable. By restoring native vegetation and wildlife, such as beaver, to the rivers and streams of New Mexico, WildEarth Guardians in cooperation with the state is building resistance and resilience to climate change for future generations.

“With climate change bearing down on our state, water and watersheds must be a priority for restoration funding,” said Bird. “There are jobs and income associated with this work for a long time to come. It’s an effective place to direct state and federal stimulus money.”

Further Information:

http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/swqb/reri/.

Statewide Map of RERI projects: http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/swqb/reri/statemap.html.

Please come see the restoration in action this Friday and Saturday (March 27th and 28th 10am-3pm) on the Rio Puerco northwest of Bernalillo.

1. From I-25, take Highway 550 east toward Cuba, NM.

2. Approximately 9 miles south of Cuba, look for the planting site just beyond milemarker 52.

3. Follow signs to parking and registration.