Amigos Bravos - Friends of the Wild Rivers

≈ Write a letter to the Water Quality Control Commission in support of maintaining strong water quality protections for Outstanding National Resource Waters (ONRWs) such as the waters of the Valle Vidal and the Rio Santa Barbara.
≈ Contact the Congressional Delegation (Bingaman, Udall and Lujan) and ask them to support the Clean Water Restoration Act of 2009 and the Hard Rock Mining Act of 2009
≈ Sign up to volunteer at Amigos Bravos – We organize summer river clean up and river restoration efforts, river otter and water quality monitoring opportunities (we provide training), and we occasionally need help with research and in-house mailings.
≈ Help further our mission by becoming a steward of your own watershed – let us know about issues important to you, and if you have questions about how to protect and restore your river.

If you are not a member, please become one now [click here] -- by doing so you will be adding your voice to a growing number of families protecting New Mexico's rivers and the communities that depend on them.

Thank you for taking action!

ACTION ALERT - MAINTAIN WATER QUALITY PROTECTIONS IN RIO SANTA BARBARA AND VALLE VIDAL

1. Write a letter to the Water Quality Control Commission to express your support for maintaining current ONRW water quality standards for all ONRWs including the waters of the Valle Vidal and Rio Santa Barbara.

2. Provide public testimony. The WQCC will convene several days of hearings beginning on September 14th. Members of the public will be able to give public testimony at 1pm on every day of the hearings (September 14-17). The hearings will be in Rm. 307 of the State Capitol Building (the Roundhouse).

Please send your written comments to:

Water Quality Control Commission
1190 St. Francis Dr., PO Box 5469
Santa Fe, NM 87502
Tel: (505) 827-2425
Fax: (505) 827-2836
E-mail: joyce.medina@state.nm.us

Thank you for taking part in this important issue! Protection of our water is essential

Urge New Mexico's Congressional Delegation to Support the Clean Water Restoration Act.

The Clean Water Restoration Act is THE most important piece of federal legislation that would restore crucial water quality protections to New Mexico’s waters.

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. 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.

New Mexico is much more at risk of losing critical clean water protections than other wetter states. 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.

The Clean Water Restoration Act would restore 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! Please call Mayor Chávez and urge him to support the Clean Water Restoration Act.

Call and/or email your Senators and Congressman and let them know how important the Clean Water Restoration Act is for protecting New Mexico’s rivers and streams.

The message is simple: Here is what you can say – Please support the Clean Water Restoration Act of 2009 (S1870) NOW. The Clean Water Restoration Act will provide environmental protection for ALL of our nation’s waters. The Act will ensure protection of waterways in all of the communities in New Mexico. The House and Senate need to pass this bill ASAP.

Let Us Know How the Calls Go!

Thank you very much for taking action to protect clean water.

We would appreciate hearing about your telephone conversations with Members of Congress and staffers. You can send any and all reports to Rachel Conn with Amigos Bravos at rconn@amigosbravos.org. The information you send will be used to help pass the bill.

Welcome to the Amigos Bravos Take Action center.

Take Action Email Form:

Previous Actions: