By Ralph Vigil, Northern Organizer for New Mexico Wild
In the heart of New Mexico’s Pecos Valley, a powerful collaboration has emerged, uniting local voices and national allies to protect one of the state’s most pristine watersheds. The Stop Tererro Mine Coalition has joined forces with Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO), working in unison to advocate for the Pecos Watershed Protection Act, a crucial piece of legislation designed to shield the region from the devastating impacts of mining.
As the Northern Organizer for New Mexico Wild, a member of HECHO’s Hispanic Conservation Leadership Council (HCLC), and former Chair of the New Mexico Acequia Commission, I recently led a delegation to Washington, D.C. Alongside dedicated HCLC members from Arizona, Colorado, and Utah, we met with officials from the Council on Environmental Quality and the Department of the Interior to seek support for an administrative mineral withdrawal. This action would prevent new mining activities from disrupting the Pecos River Watershed, a region vital not only for its natural beauty but also for its ecological, cultural, and economic importance to surrounding communities.
Our efforts extended to meetings with our congressional delegation, expressing gratitude for their work on Senate Bill 3033 and House Resolution 5943 – the Pecos Watershed Protection Act. We also sought their help in building broader support for the administrative withdrawal and securing backing from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
The Pecos Watershed is more than just a natural resource; it’s a cornerstone of New Mexico’s Hispanic and Indigenous cultural heritage, a source of clean water, and vital wildlife habitat. Allowing mining interests to threaten these resources would have devastating long-term effects on the environment and the way of life for many New Mexicans.
As we continue this fight, we call on all who cherish this land to join our advocacy efforts. Whether through supporting the Pecos Watershed Protection Act, participating in public comment periods, or spreading awareness, everyone has a role in ensuring the Pecos River remains untouched by mining for generations to come.
For more information on how you can get involved, please visit www.stoptererromine.org.
