Wild and Scenic River
Wild & Scenic Rivers should preserve, not harm, an area values.
Water and Property Rights
Water and property rights are essential to the success of a region to develop and prosper.
Land and Heritage
Our Western heritage is important because it serves as a reminder of our past, informing our present and influencing our future.
WE
THE PEOPLE WITH DIVERSE POLITICAL BACKGROUNDS
WHO LIVE ON THESE PROPOSED LANDS
OPPOSE…
S. 776, the M.H. Dutch Salmon Greater Gila Wild & Scenic River Bill
THIS BILL WILL TAKE AWAY YOUR
LAND & WATER RIGHTS
El Agua Es Vida ~ Water is life
OUR GOAL
We believe there are abundant legislation proposals, activist group actions, and social trends that can negatively impact our rural citizens. The S. 776 M.H. Dutch Salmon Greater Gila Wild & Scenic River Bill aims to take our water. Our goal is to provide an organized platform against these actions and to furnish a voice for rural people…
A voice that is often ignored and under served
We Care...
The members of Heritage Waters Coalition have cared for and protected our lands and waters for decades and we stand ready to work with New Mexico's Senators, County Governments and Federal agencies to continue good conservation of these waters. We are committed to ongoing protection and use of the rivers within the Gila watershed for the benefit of New Mexicans' and our economy. We will follow and support the current protection practices by the 1964 Wilderness Act, USFS and BLM conservation plans.
OUR MISSION
Educate our community to fully understand the risks they face in losing their traditional lifestyles and family heritage by depopulating our communities through the actions of greed to take control of our water, land and liberties.
It’s…
Our Water
Our Land
OUR HERITAGE
FOOD FOR THOUGHT…
This legislation is about CONTROLLING the Gila River Systems. In this time of crisis, recognizing how and where your food is produced should be understood. Fresh fruits, vegetables, grain and grasses all require water and soil. Water is the most essential nutrient in livestock production, which is a primary part of our diets. Food is grown with water, nutrients, land and care for the environment. All of which is developed by food producers for each of you. We- local ranchers and farmers, understand the importance of water. That is why we fight so hard to protect our water resources.
“A people’s relationship to their heritage is the same as the relationship of a child to its mother.”
-John Henrik Clarke
NM WILD ASSISTANCE
NM Wild assisted our Senators In drafting the M.H. Dutch Salmon Greater Gila Wild & Scenic River Act. They drafted this act to stop the AWSA (Arizona Water Settlements Act) from developing New Mexico’s water. The strategically located river designations, control current and future river development. It is a land and water grab to control ALL SOUTHWESTERN NEW MEXICO’S WATER. This proposed legislation will serve to reduce or eliminate logging, farming, grazing, and mining. It will cost jobs, shut down mining and logging operations, the family farm and ranch and other income operations that are left on and near the Gila River Systems. It will radically reduce the quality of life for residents of rural areas. Senators Tom Udall (former) and Martin Heinrich have collaborated with this activist group, New Mexico Wild, for over three years to draft this act. NM Wild and most of their supporters, do not utilize the land and water rights along the Gila River Systems for all or part of their income. The supporters of this act have no economic or vested interest in the rights that they desire to take away.
Agricultural Folks
There was a farmer, on the Gila, who had to help work some cattle,
He said, “It won't hurt me, to spend some time in the saddle.”
And a cowboy on the Ruidoso, was asked to help on a farm.
He responded, with a smile, “I guess that can't do no harm.”
See, it's all agriculture, about tendin' to life,
whether irrigatin' or ear markin' a calf with your knife.
Knowledge is passed down, be it a son or a daughter,
Like respect for the land, and all life requires water.
There's folks downstream that need water, too.
When there's plenty, let's store some, it's the right thing to do.
Seems common sense is common in agricultural folks,
Who forever have shared, in the work, food, or jokes.
Stuart Hooker (6/01/21)
Stuart Hooker was raised ranching along the Gila River. His book, “A Cowboy Spirit” chosen
“Best Western Poetry Book of 2013” by True West Magazine, is available at Amazon.
Follow him on Facebook – Stuart Hooker, cowpoet