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Diverse Stakeholders Applaud New Mexico Delegation for Reintroducing Bill to Protect the Gila River
Small business owners, Tribes, land owners, and others have been working on community proposal for nearly a decade

A diverse coalition of local residents in southwest New Mexico today is applauding the reintroduction of the M.H. Dutch Salmon Greater Gila Wild and Scenic River Act by Representative Gabe Vasquez and Senator Martin Heinrich, and co-sponsored by Senator Ben Ray Luján and Representatives Melanie Stansbury and Teresa Leger Fernandez. The bill—which has been previously introduced twice—would protect portions of the Gila and San Francisco Rivers and their tributaries as Wild and Scenic to conserve their outstanding values. The local community has been advocating for the protection of these waterways for nearly a decade which led Senator Heinrich and former Senator Tom Udall to first introduce the bill in May 2020. Because of the strong local and diverse support, the bill moved closer to becoming law last Congress when a bi-partisan group of Senators voted to pass the Gila bill out of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

“Now more than ever, New Mexicans want to ensure that future generations will be able to experience the full glory of a protected wild Gila River: clean drinking water, wildlife habitat, and a huge driver of outdoor recreation,” said Grant County Commissioner Chairman Chris Ponce.  “Thank you, Senator Heinrich, Senator Luján, and Representatives Vasquez, Leger Fernandez, and Stansbury for working to preserve these incredible waters.”

The community-driven proposal would secure the future of segments of the Gila River located primarily in the Gila Wilderness—America’s first Wilderness—by designating nearly 450 miles of the Gila and San Francisco Rivers as Wild and Scenic under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, ensuring traditional and current use of the waterways, while protecting critical wildlife habitat and growing New Mexico’s sustainable outdoor recreation economy. 

“We believe it is vitally important that we protect these critical watersheds and rivers that have been very meaningful to our people for centuries,” said Fort Sill Apache Chairwoman Lori Gooday Ware, who was also in Washington, DC last week. “Designating these rivers as Wild and Scenic will protect them for future generations and allow those who come after us to reconnect to those who came before us.”

The local community has been advocating for the protection of these waterways for nearly a decade. When first introduced, Senator Martin Heinrich and former Senator Tom Udall and their staff hosted numerous roundtable discussions, negotiated with landowners and public land users to ensure their interests were taken into account, conducted a lengthy and comprehensive public comment period, and incorporated the ideas and hopes of the community into the legislation.

“For generations, my family has been visiting the Gila and San Francisco Rivers to fish, hunt, and picnic. I am thankful that Representative Gabe Vasquez, Senator Martin Heinrich and the entire New Mexico delegation re-introduced legislation to safeguard our time-tested traditions,” added Larry McDaniel, a hunter in Silver City. 

It’s important to note that this legislation would not affect existing uses of the land and waters it would protect. For example, grazing operations would continue on lands surrounding the segments designated as Wild and Scenic. Additionally, development on roads to private land would not be impacted. Hunting and fishing access would not only be ensured, but the designation would safeguard critical habitat needed to sustain land and water wildlife populations. 

Rocky Mondello, owner of Morning Star Sports, added, “In 10 years, I want to be certain our four sons can still bring my grandchildren to the river. I want them to have a place to teach our grandchildren patience as they wait all morning for the first hit of a Gila Group on their line. I want to be sure they can learn resilience as they hike through a crossing of the last free-flowing river in the state. I want to thank Representative Vasquez, Senator Heinrich, and the whole New Mexico delegation for helping me realize this future. ” 

Designating the rivers and tributaries as Wild and Scenic will contribute to durable and diversified local, rural economies that depend upon time-tested traditions like grazing, ranching, hunting, and fishing. It will also enhance those economies through increased outdoor recreation activities like rafting and paddling, horseback riding, wildlife watching, and hiking and camping. Outdoor recreation is big business in New Mexico: Every year it generates nearly $10 billion in consumer spending, roughly $3 billion in wages and salaries, $623 million in state and local tax revenues, and directly employs 99,000 people.

New Mexico’s newest representative, Gabe Vasquez, has long been a champion of the Gila River as well as the interests of anglers and sportsmen. His early adoption of this effort is a clear indication that he will continue to fight for the things that matter most to New Mexicans.

The Wild Gila River coalition urges the relevant House and Senate Committees to move the M.H. Dutch Salmon Greater Gila Wild and Scenic River Act swiftly through Congress this year. 

 

Most Recent News

Diverse Stakeholders Applaud New Mexico Delegation for Reintroducing Bill to Protect the Gila River – Press Release | March 15, 2023
New Mexicans Travel to D.C. to Advocate for Protections for the Gila River – Press Release | March 7, 2023 
National Rivers Month hearing should lead to Wild and Scenic protection for our Gila River – Alicia Edwards, Silver City Daily Press | July 1, 2022
Protecting the Gila River is the Right Thing to Do – Lori Gooday Ware, Santa Fe New Mexican | January 16, 2022
Support Grows For Wild & Scenic Designation To Protect Gila River – Senator Martin Heinrich, Silver City Daily Press | October 13, 2021
River confab aims to ‘reengage’ community – Silver City Daily Press | October 12, 2021
Gila River remains a wild and free powerful resource – Kat Jacaruso, Las Cruces Sun-News | September 19, 2021
Group pitches deal on Gila Wild and Scenic segments – Silver City Daily Press | April 12, 2021
Let’s push for Wild and Scenic Gila – Grant County Commission Chairman Chris Ponce, Silver City Daily Press | March 1, 2021
Preserving the Gila River: Conservatives turn over a new leaf – Zorine Bhappu Shirley, Washington Times | January 18, 2021
Not “the Usual Pie in the Sky” | Study: Outdoor economy poised to grow with Wild and Scenic designation – Silver City Daily Press | November 27, 2020
Why I support a Wild and Scenic Gila River – NM Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard, Silver City Daily Press, November 24, 2020
Clean, protected waters will help New Mexico recover – Axie Navas, Santa Fe New Mexican | November 21, 2020
Study finds wild Gila and San Francisco rivers greatly contribute to local economy  – Silver City Daily Press, November 24, 2020
Support is broad for Wild & Scenic – Harris Klein, Silver City Daily Press, November 6, 2020
Clock is ticking in fight for Gila River – Brett Myrick, Albuquerque Journal, October 18, 2020
Celebrate the Gila River during this year’s wilderness anniversary – Larry McDaniel, Silver City Daily Press, September 11, 2020
New StoryMap Highlights Proposed Protections in Wild Gila River Bill – Wild Gila River Coalition Press Release, August 10, 2020
Our wild lands and rivers are some of the best places for us to invest – Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, Las Cruces Sun-News, July 13, 2020
Wild and Scenic designation was right call by Udall, Heinrich – Mayor Martin Chavez, Albuquerque Journal, July 13, 2020
City of Bayard celebrating Wild and Scenic bill – Mayor Chon Fierro, Silver City Daily Press, July 13, 2020
Celebrate the Gila for Nat’l. Rivers Month – Rep. Rudy Martinez, Silver City Daily Press, June 22, 2020
Wild and Scenic column got it wrong – Grant County Commissioner Alicia Edwards, Silver City Daily Press, June 22, 2020
Wild and Scenic designation will benefit Silver City – Silver City Town Councilor Guadalupe Cano, Silver City Daily Press, May 20, 2020
Conservationist supports Gila bill – Ray Trejo, Silver City Daily Press, May 19, 2020
Wild and Scenic a benefit to all – Holley Hudgins, Silver City Daily Press, May 15, 2020
Udall, Heinrich introduce Gila ‘Wild and Scenic’ bill – Silver City Daily Press, May 13, 2020
Wild and Scenic designation offers area a munch-needed win – Cissy McAndrew, Silver City Daily Press, May 13, 2020
Legislation Introduced to Protect NM’s Gila, San Francisco Rivers – Public News Service, May 13, 2020
New Mexico’s U.S. senators propose Gila River protections – Santa Fe New Mexican, May 12, 2020
Udall, Heinrich introduce bill to protect Gila River – Albuquerque Journal, May 12, 2020
New Mexico senators unveil legislation to designate Gila River as ‘wild and scenic’ – Silver City Sun-News (via AP), May 12, 2020
The Gila is the backbone of our community – let’s keep it strong – County Commissioner Harry Browne, Silver City Daily Press, March 11, 2020
The Rio Chama proves value of Wild and Scenic designations – Mike Neas, Silver City Daily Press, March 4, 2020
Wild and Scenic a boon to business – Diana Ingalls Leyba, Silver City Daily Press, February 11, 2020
New Mexico deserves a Wild and Scenic Gila River – Howie Morales, Las Cruces Sun-News, February 9, 2020
Gila River’s Middle Box Home to Rare Species, Experiences – Silver City Independent, December 26, 2019
Some Wild and Scenic river facts – Larry McDaniel, Silver City Daily Press, November 6, 2019
Governor, protect our Gila River – Diana Ingalls Leyba, Silver City Daily Press, October 2, 2019
Outdoor rec and the governor – Shelby Hallmark, Silver City Daily Press, October 2, 2019
Wild and Scenic vote was an informed one – Tim Matthes, Silver City Daily Press, October 2, 2019
A win for the state’s last wild river – New Mexico Political Report, September 19, 2019
Credit due to Commissioner Ponce – County Commissioner Harry Browne, Silver City Daily Press, September 17, 2019
County votes to support Wild and Scenic Gila River – Silver City Daily Press, September 13, 2019
Grant County Votes to Support a Wild and Scenic Gila River – KRWG, September 13, 2019
Grant County Votes to Support a Wild and Scenic Gila River – Coalition Press Release, September 12, 2019
Time to support Wild & Scenic designation – Rocky Mondello, Silver City Daily Press, September 11, 2019
Wild and Scenic move a win-win – Kim McCreery, Silver City Daily Press, September 10, 2019
A perspective from over the hill – Randy Gray, Silver City Daily Press, September 6, 2019
Support Wild & Scenic designation – State Representative Rudy Martinez, Silver City Daily Press, September 6, 2019
Gila unites family, community – Vyncent Bourne, Silver City Daily Press, August 23, 2019
Keep Gila River wild and scenic – Jeff Arterburn and David Carmichael, Las Cruces Sun-News, July 28, 2019
Latino Conservation Week aims to get locals outside, speaking up – Silver City Daily, July 22, 2019
New Mexico Celebrates Latino Conservation Week – Public News Service, July 15, 2019
Gila gives life to the Mimbres Valley – Daniel G. Salais, Silver City Daily Press, June 18, 2019
Let’s preserve the Gila as Wild and Scenic – John Harned, Silver City Daily Press, June 5, 2019
Luchan por la preservación del Río Gila – Telemundo 48 El Paso, May 21, 2019
Gila River makes communities whole – Mayor Chon Fierro, Silver City Daily Press, May 15, 2019
New Mexico filmmaker screens ‘Hearts of the Gila’ during one-night only event – KRQE, May 2, 2019
Riding a river of grief – Albuquerque Journal, April 30, 2019
Regional screenings of upcoming film to include updates on Gila River Wild and Scenic proposal – KRWG, April 19, 2019
‘Hearts on the Gila’ focuses on mothers of children who died in Silver City plane crash – Silver City Sun-News, April 18, 2019
A wild Gila River, for the present and the future – Town Councilor Guadalupe Cano, Desert Exposure, April 1, 2019
Gila needs Wild and Scenic status – Chris Schlabach, Silver City Daily Press and Independent, March 16, 2019