I take this opportunity to endorse, and to urge others to endorse the initiative regarding expansion and enhancement of water quality standards for streams in the upper reaches of several streams in our northern New Mexico forests. Additional protection of these water sources is in the best interest of everyone including ranchers — that in any way depends on or benefits from these streams. All rural residents, particularly those of us that concern ourselves with the well-being of our acequias and community drinking water systems should be participating in this dialog that will ultimately determine the outcome of this initiative. There is adequate time between now and the final determination for all concerned to make their independent voices heard on this matter.
Unregulated and under-regulated human activities such as mining, logging, recreation and ranching have tremendous potential for degradation of not only the water but also the land itself. Only by accepting the need for setting standards and by enforcing needed regulations can we assure that future generations can inherit a planet that has not been totally trashed by previous generations. Mining, logging and some forms of recreation can be particularly destructive. Cattle grazing too, if not regulated or if coupled with other destructive practices can also be quite harmful but it is much easier to regulate grazing practices then it is to regulate the other aforementioned activities. In short, cattle are much easier to regulate than humans. Cattle can be regulated with physical barriers (fences) and by direct management such as herding. Humans on the otherhand will always find ways to go around or destroy physical barriers, for humans we have to rely on government regulations and the willingness of society to participate in the development of these regulations and then to abide by them. I can appreciate some peoples’ misgivings about regulations; it would be great if we could do without regulations. Unfortunately human history is replete with examples upon examples of our propensity for exploitation and destruction. It is this human
condition that has led to our need for and system of government and its attendant regulations.
My personal interest in protecting stream water quality is rooted in my childhood and a life-long career of working in the mountains. I grew up in a high mountain valley here in northern New Mexico and up until about the time I was 10 years old we took our drinking water directly from a pristine stream that came off the mountain behind my parent’s home. Today the water in that stream is not fit for human consumption without prior treatment. The degradation of that stream is directly attributable to abusive logging and grazing practices. The mountain that shelters the headwaters of this stream was heavily logged during the 1960 with little or no regulations and thus began the downward spiral of degradation. Subsequent inadequate enforcement of regulations and abusive grazing practices added to the destruction. In recent years I have been working in the mountains here in Rio Arriba and Sandoval counties I have observed horrendous environmental destruction caused by recreationalists, mainly ATV users. Evidence of this type of destruction is most apparent in the mountains around Los Alamos but I have no reason to believe that in a few years if left unregulated it won’t be just as bad in many other places.
The decision on whether or not to move forward with this initiative will be made sometime in the not too distant future by the New Mexico Water Quality Commission. I again urge all residents of northern New Mexico, particularly rural residents, many of whom identify themselves as ranchers to participate fully in and listen carefully to the discussions regarded this matter. I caution you not to allow yourselves to be swayed by unsubstantiated arguments and most importantly not to allow anyone to limit your right to represent yourself in this decision making process. An informed public is the basis of a true democracy.
Luis S. Torres
San Pedro