WildEarth Guardians

Monday, June 1, 2009
Cities of the Rio Grande Call for Clean Water Protection

Officials and Citizens Support Governor Richardson's Initiative to Protect New Mexico's Headwaters
Contact: WildEarth Guardians

SANTA FE, N.M. - WildEarth Guardians thanked leaders of cities along the Rio Grande today for their support of Governor’s Richardson’s effort to protect over 5,300 miles of the most pristine rivers and streams in New Mexico.

“Protecting New Mexico’s headwaters as ‘Outstanding’ will guarantee clean water in perpetuity. Following the lead of other western states and securing water quality protection in New Mexico is in the best interest of our wildlife, traditional communities and all downstream New Mexicans,” said Bryan Bird, Public Lands Director of WildEarth Guardians.

Standing behind statements of support from over 5,000 New Mexican citizens, Mayor Martin Chavez of Albuquerque held a press conference along the Rio Grande drawing the connection between municipal prosperity and preservation of New Mexico’s headwaters.

Noting the increased reliance on our surface waters for municipal uses and representing the interests of over 750,000 New Mexicans, Mayor Chavez referenced additional statements of support from other mayors of cities along the Rio Grande including Las Cruces, Santa Fe, Espanola, Belen, Bernalillo, Rio Rancho, Los Lunas and Corrales.

“In Albuquerque we share the belief that clean water is one of our greatest assets and that we should be pro-active in securing the quality and quantity of our water supplied for our own health and the health of our landscapes, by settling the highest water quality standards possible for our very best waters…The statewide 'Outstanding Headwaters' petition has the potential to keep the cleanest waters in New Mexico clean in perpetuity and maintain the health of our landscape in the Land of Enchantment, and I strongly encourage the Water Quality Control Commission to adopt the statewide headwaters designation,” Mayor Chavez stated.

Attendees of the conference gathered in front of a 30-foot banner showcasing support for the Outstanding Waters initiative including: petition signatures, handwritten letters, thank you notes and citizen-submitted photos of wild places and water worth protecting.

The Sierra Club, also present at the event, stated their support and the need for clean water protection:

“Protecting headwaters is certainly important. Protecting the water as it proceeds along its path as it flows from rivulets to tributaries to major streams and rivers is also important especially now that many large communities are depending on river water as part of their water supply. We need to become one of the last few states to establish by law buffer zones around the waterways that are part of our drinking water supply,” stated Sigmund Silber, Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter Water Issues Chair.

From acequia farmers to metropolitan water users to sportsmen and fisherman, everyone in the state of New Mexico relies on the pristine and abundant waters that flow from high-mountain forests. These headwaters found in roadless and wilderness areas across New Mexico are in largely unspoiled condition with less than 10% of these waters considered impaired by the state. The “Outstanding” designation will ensure that number does not grow and could assure that polluted streams are cleaned up and restored to their pristine condition with state funds.

The headwaters under consideration flow generally from forests that cloak our peaks and capture, store, filter, and slowly release clean water. These are the cleanest waters and quite possibly the greatest assets of all New Mexicans residents and generations to come.

”Prompt action from New Mexico’s leaders securing water quality will guarantee a legacy of clean water for future generations,” added Bryan Bird. “The preservation of our culture and communities is at stake. New Mexicans are lucky to have bold leaders willing to take the steps necessary to create a lasting clean water legacy.”