WildEarth Guardians

Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Governor Richardson Praised For Announcement to Protect New Mexico's Headwater Streams and Wild National Forests with Outstandin

Announcement widely supported
Contact: WildEarth Guardians

Santa Fe, NM - Governor Bill Richardson today announced that he will seek permanent protection for over 5,000 miles of New Mexico’s most pristine rivers and streams. Invoking one of the most powerful provisions of the Clean Water Act, Governor Richardson announced that all of the state’s headwaters in roadless and wilderness areas of the national forests will be designated “Outstanding Waters.” Once in place the designation, which requires action by thestate Water Quality Control Commission, will further protect some of the state’s most precious waters from threats such as oil and gas drilling, logging, road building and off-road vehicles.

This innovative approach to secure the state’s water future and protect more than 1.6 million acres of roadless national forests demonstrates Governor Richardson’s dual commitment to clean and abundant water and the wild natural heritage for all New Mexican’s. The announcement immediately received widespread support (see statements of support below) from mayors, watershed restoration groups, faith-based groups, anglers and conservationists.

“We commend Governor Richardson for using every tool at his disposal to protect ourcleanest waters and wildest forests; the title of outstanding guarantees these waters willremain pristine for future generations,” said Bryan Bird, Wild Places Program Director atWildEarth Guardians. “The Governor deserves the gratitude of all New Mexicans for this boldand visionary move to assert the state’s authority to protect its native waterways during timesof climate change and uncertainty.”

All of the streams and rivers that would be protected by the designation are on the Gila, Lincoln,Cibola, Carson and Santa Fe national forests. Some of the state’s best known waters would beprotected by the designation including the headwaters of the Gila and Pecos Rivers. Many lesserknown gems like the headwaters of Animas Creek, portions of the San Francisco River and theSanta Fe River would also be protected.

From acequia farmers to metropolitan water users to sportsmen and fisherman everyone in thestate of New Mexico relies on the pristine and abundant waters that flow from high-mountainforest. The headwaters found in undeveloped forests across New Mexico are in largely unspoiledcondition with less than 10% of these waters considered impaired by the state. The“Outstanding” designation will ensure that number does not grow and could help guarantee thatpolluted headwaters streams are cleaned up and restored.

With more than 3,000 miles of New Mexico’s perennial rivers and streams currently polluted ornot meeting surface water quality standards-mostly downstream of headwaters-WildEarthGuardians believes that it is critical to protect headwater streams and guarantee a clean waterfuture for New Mexico. The group cites the difficult and mounting cost of restoring degradedrivers as one reason why the Governor’s Earth Day announcement is so important.

“In an arid state like New Mexico, where the affects of climate change could be acute, forestsand water are inseparable,” said Bird. “Our state is a leader in recognizing this relationshipand demonstrating our commitment to both. Governor Richardson has just taken a big steptowards securing New Mexico’s water future.”

The headwaters under consideration “Outstanding” flow generally from forests that cloak ourpeaks and capture, store, filter, and slowly release clean water. These are the cleanest waters andquite possibly the greatest asset of all New Mexicans and generations more to come. They flowfrom federal lands and benefit all the state’s citizens. The designation as Outstanding wouldapply to over 5,000 miles of perennial and ephemeral waters of the state.

Though New Mexico has consistently lagged behind other western states such as Colorado andMontana in using the outstanding designation to protect headwaters, the Governor’sannouncement will make New Mexico a leader in the West in using the Clean Water Act toprotect the state’s waters.

See today's statements of support

See recent statements of support (PDF)

Contact: Bryan Bird, (505) 988-9126 x1157