Amigos Bravos - Friends of the Wild Rivers

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Once you click Send, a letter will be sent to the EPA and the New Mexico Congressional Delegation and your name and address will be entered at the end of the letter after Sincerely.

Because phone calls, faxes, and letters are more effective than e-mails, we encourage you to follow up on this action by contacting the decision maker directly.

August 21, 2008

Title: Urge Mayor Chávez to Support the Clean Water Restoration Act

Subject: Support the Clean Water Restoration Act

Dear Mayor Chávez:

I am writing to urge you, as co-chair of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Water Council, to support the Clean Water Restoration Act. The Clean Water Restoration Act is an important piece of federal legislation that would restore crucial Clean Water Act protections to many of New Mexico's rivers and streams.

Recent decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court and federal agencies have created confusion about whether certain waters will remain protected by the Clean Water Act – the nation's most important law limiting water pollution. New Mexico is much more at risk of losing clean water protections than other wetter states. As an arid state, with many small rivers and streams that do not flow year round, up to 94% of New Mexico's waters are at risk of losing Clean Water Act protections.  At risk include waters in closed basins, which make up 20% of New Mexico's land area, as well as smaller non-perennial rivers and streams. Many New Mexicans depend upon water in these closed basins and intermittent streams for drinking water, irrigation, and recreation. New Mexico's Playa Lakes, which provide drinking water and habitat for 59% of New Mexico’s vertebrate species are also threatened.

As New Mexico turns to river water for drinking water, it is even more important that we protect water quality in our state's rivers and streams.

The Clean Water Restoration Act would restore the Clean Water Act protections that applied to New Mexico’s rivers and streams before the recent Supreme Court decisions. These protections were in place for almost 30 years and we desperately need them back! The Clean Water Restoration Act does not create new protections, it merely restores historic protections that were in place from 1975 until 2001.

Please do all that you can to support the Clean Water Restoration Act. Our state’s waters depend upon it.

Thank you for taking the time to read this email and look into this issue.

Sincerely,

[Your name and address will be entered here]

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For more information about our current efforts, please contact:

Rachel Conn
(575) 758.3874

rconn@amigosbravos.org