The R

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exicans Speak for a Legacy

The Rio Grande del Norte One Hundred New Mexicans Speak for a Legacy

www.riograndedelnorte.org

Foreword: The Rio Grande del Norte in all its Splendor Why have New Mexicans come out in such great numbers to support the preservation of the Rio Grande del Norte? Is it because the economic health of our state depends on the preservation of our pristine lands? Is it because water is so critical to our survival? Is it because, very simply, we love this land? Our reason for speaking out for the Rio Grande del Norte encompasses all of these issues and more. Those of us who have been here understand: northern New Mexico draws one in. The land itself inspires a profound engagement with the natural world, a more holistic ethic, an intelligent humility toward our place in nature. The Rio Grande del Norte is a national treasure. It is here that we find the iconic landscapes that for centuries have shaped our nation’s vision of the West. Biologically diverse and spectacular, this swath of wilderness spanning 236,000 acres through rich wildlife habitat offers a paradise for backcountry hiking and fishing, an outstanding place for observing nature in all of its splendor, and a refuge offering solitude and spiritual rejuvenation. Significant tourism revenues flow from this area in a state where tourism is the economic spine. A $6.1 billion industry, tourism statewide generates $764 million in tax revenues and is the largest private sector employer in New Mexico. The Rio Grande del Norte’s unspoiled landscape is an important attraction, a chief reason why people travel here from across the country and around the world. Our wilderness attracts hunters, photographers, birdwatchers, artists, anglers and other river enthusiasts, and more. Here, people from all over bask in our wilderness, fish in our waters, and renew their spirits, losing themselves in this magnificent landscape. Traditional land uses also provide economic sustenance for our community. For generations our people have hunted and raised livestock here. The gathering of piñon nuts and firewood preserve tradition and provide jobs. Dan Barrone, a Taos County Commissioner and owner of a local lumber yard, tells us that “75% of Taoseños use firewood to heat their homes.” In addition, he says, “Lumber from this area provides material for building fences, sheds, and ceilings.” Stewardship efforts associated with these lands also provide jobs that support many families. Beyond economics, there is the issue of water. New Mexico is a desert state and these lands are a vital watershed. Water is a matter of life and death here. Any loss, no matter how small, is a fighting matter. Rudolfo Anaya, one of our most celebrated Chicano writers and author of Bless Me, Ultima, grew up along the Pecos River. “A river runs through my soul,” he writes. For years he has been supporting efforts to care for the Rio Grande and its tributaries because they are so vital to our existence. The Rio Grande runs through all of our souls.

Science teaches us that species are interdependent, and there is ample evidence of this here. Elk, pronghorn, bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and other wildlife form essential threads in the Rio Grande del Norte’s ecological blanket. If these lands were harmed, our community would be devastated. New Mexico would be severely impacted—economically, environmentally, spiritually—with demoralizing consequences. This is why so many of us are speaking out to protect these lands—because our survival depends upon it. What do we mean by survival? In part, we mean maintaining our economic well-being. But for us, the voices here in this book, along with thousands of others—families that live on this land and people who make their livelihood here—survival transcends economics, transcends simple questions of resources, transcends even the natural capacity of humans to attach themselves to nature, to land. Our connection to this land signifies something so precious as to be irreplaceable. Here, our lifestyle, traditions, and culture are all tied to the land. The Rio Grande del Norte is our refuge, our home, our spirit. In short, it is us. What price can be put on learning to select piñon deep in the forest near Ute Mountain, guided by the knowing eye of your grandmother? Or watching a bald eagle fetch food for her nest in the basalt walls of the Rio Grande Gorge? Or walking the Gorge’s rim in the glow of one of our spectacular sunsets, while listening to the rush of river water 800 feet below? Our children watch thunderstorms stride across the horizon like a giant letting down its hair. One of my most profound memories is of getting my first deer under those unsullied skies. This life, this way of being with the land, is a privilege—not in the way we talk about privilege in contemporary America, but an ancient idea of privilege. Footsteps in the silent forest, the cool river water on one’s fingertips, the scales of freshly caught trout shining in the sun, the red tail hawk’s nest high in a cottonwood. These are the treasures that transcend time, technology, and material gain. They nurture, they soothe, they sustain, they heal. They are the bedrock of our identity; they are ours to enjoy and to protect. We are wedded to the land; our lives are biocentric. The fountain of youth sought by early Spanish Conquistadores was never found. Maybe they didn’t look in the right place. Because there is a magical, healing fountain of rejuvenation here in these lands, and it is there for everyone. People will organize and vote to protect their livelihood, but they will fight still harder to protect their spiritual values and culture. Here in this book, we offer the words of some of those individuals for whom this land is vital. These people—ranchers, sportsmen, artists, and children—understand that this land holds within it a power far greater than themselves. If you have not been to our land, we invite you to come visit. You will be renewed, rested in your soul, and filled with profound tranquility. Perhaps you will be blessed with the view of a heron or eagle; perhaps an antelope will leave you breathless with wonder. Perhaps your imagination will be sparked by petroglyphs, or you will be intrigued by mystery and the handiwork of our ancestors.

If you see a human being at all, it will only be a solitary fisherman at peace with himself, a couple of hikers, joyful and renewed, or a family gathering firewood. You will be overwhelmed by the magnificence of the landscape and the grandeur of the silence and solitude. You will be filled with reverence and love for the beauty of our Mother Earth. You will know what is meant by “a state of grace.” Imagine, now, this beautiful place strip-mined, eroded and contaminated. Imagine a world without such places, a world where the animals have disappeared, where the trees have been razed, where there is no silence, where nature has been sacrificed for the chimera of profit. In this world, our humanity is diminished. Money and technology leave us hungry, longing for meaning, for inspiration, for the very experiences that make life worth living. Imagine living with the knowledge that, under your watch, an irreplaceable treasure, a community’s connection to the past and the future, were irrevocably ruined—for you, your children, and all your descendants. We New Mexicans love our land. Our passion for our Mother Earth is in our blood; our roots and our ancestors are buried in Her. Listen to us! As you hold this book in your hands, you will hear just a few of these voices—urgent, proud, and concerned—speaking out for this land that is more than land, this priceless swath of our beautiful Mother Earth. In the words of Dr. Chellis Glendinning, we urge you, “Look at this book with an eye to the future.”

Anita Rodriguez (pictured right), Ranchos de Taos Artist, Writer

Introduction: The Call to Protect a Legacy I live in a corner of the American West comprised of spectacular lands and vistas known as the Rio Grande del Norte. Like many who live in northern New Mexico, I couldn’t describe the richness of my life here without describing these lands. The Rio Grande del Norte is bounded on the north by the New Mexico-Colorado border, on the east by the east rim of the Rio Grande Gorge, on the south by a jutting line running several miles north of Highway 64, and on the west by Highway 285. Its northwest portion crosses over Highway 285, encompassing the San Antonio Wilderness Study Area. It also includes the Rio Grande Gorge south to the Taos Junction Bridge. Much of the Rio Grande del Norte is public land, managed by the federal Bureau of Land Management. Efforts have been underway since the mid 1990s to secure protection of the Rio Grande del Norte by working with New Mexico’s congressional delegation. In recent years, New Mexico Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall and Representatives Ben Ray Luján and Martin Heinrich have introduced legislation to protect 236,000 acres of federal public lands in the Rio Grande del Norte as a National Conservation Area.

However, efforts to move this legislation through Congress and to the President have not yet been successful. President Obama could also use his authority under the Antiquities Act to designate federal public lands in the Rio Grande del Norte as a national monument. This would allow continued vehicle access and public uses including hunting, fishing, mountain biking, livestock grazing, and firewood gathering. It would also protect these lands from new oil and gas drilling, mining, and other development, ensuring that future generations of Americans have the opportunity to enjoy the Rio Grande del Norte as we do today. Healthy public lands are crucial to a healthy New Mexico economy, attracting tourists who keep area cash registers ringing. These wild areas are known nationwide for hunting and fishing, and New Mexico’s hunters and anglers together spend $326 million annually pursuing these sports and support some 8,000 jobs. More than 100 local businesses support permanent protection for the Rio Grande del Norte, as do the Hondo Mesa Community Association and Latino Sustainability Institute. Other supporters include the Taos Chamber of Commerce, the Mora Valley Chamber of Commerce, the San Antonio del Rio Colorado Land Grant, and the Taos County Commission. Rio Grande del Norte: The Land Just north of the New Mexico border with Colorado, toward the south end of the sweeping San Luis Valley, the Rio Grande cuts into the Servilleta lava flows that make up the Taos Plateau. As the river enters New Mexico, the Rio Grande Gorge is 150 feet across, the river 200 feet below. The Rio Grande Gorge expands as it continues south. West of Questa, where Big Arsenic Spring bubbles from the rock, the river is a glinting green ribbon 800 feet below the rim. The Gorge is over half a mile wide here where, on summer mornings, bald eagles soar in pairs. At John Dunn Bridge the river enters the Taos Box, an 18-mile stretch of 900-foot cliffs, famous among rafters and kayakers for its churning rapids. Away from the edge of the Gorge, vast grass and sagebrush mesas mix with forested slopes of mountainous volcanic intrusions. Some 30 miles northwest of Taos lies Ute Mountain, a scenic icon of northern New Mexico. This forested extinct volcano rises 2,600 feet above the surrounding sagebrush plain to an elevation of 10,093 feet. Matching these significant ecological and scenic resources, the Rio Grande del Norte boasts 11,000 years of human history, and a broad variety of archeological and historic resources to tell that story. The Rio Grande del Norte offers myriad opportunities for recreation and solitude. Areas within the Gorge offer prized opportunities for whitewater boating, climbing, bird watching, relaxing, and enjoying the scenic beauty. Other popular activities in the Rio Grande del Norte include hiking, camping, horseback riding, wildlife viewing, and stargazing.

Traditional uses of the Rio Grande del Norte that go back centuries are still going on today. Descendants of the Hispanic land grantees run cattle along the Gorge and out into the mesas between the Gorge rim and Highway 285. Area residents rely on these lands for firewood, piñon pine nuts, and medicinal plants and herbs. There are also many important traditional cultural and religious sites in the Rio Grande del Norte. The Rio Grande del Norte is a haven for its wildlife and a mecca for quality hunting and fishing opportunities. The vast mesas found west of the Gorge are excellent pronghorn and elk habitat, providing food and rearing grounds for offspring. Bighorn sheep, cougars, bobcats, river otters, and threatened species such as Rio Grande cutthroat trout also make their home here. Rich in botanical diversity, the area boasts meadows of blue grama, western wheatgrass, and Indian ricegrass. This area is also part of the Rio Grande Migratory Flyway—one of North America’s great bird migration routes. Eagles, falcons, and hawks make the basalt walls of the Gorge their nesting homes. Osprey, scaup, hummingbirds, herons, avocets, merlins, and willets all traverse the Gorge. The sound of sandhill cranes migrating from the San Luis Valley to places like Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge can be deafening on an October hike in the tablelands west of the river. Rio Grande del Norte: A Life When I first topped the rise heading into this valley so many decades ago, I gazed into the mysterious Taos Box winding northward through the plain. I was instantly ruined for other landscapes. I’m a man of the outside and the dramatic allure of this mighty canyon slicing under white mountains has sustained me both physically and spiritually ever since. Shortly thereafter, I worked surveying the no man’s land of the Rio Grande from the Colorado border south. We followed scribed rocks that cut out the vast Spanish land grants centuries before. But encounters with animals usually mark time in this wild territory, and in the middle of a talus slope I found myself on a rock surrounded by a nest of buzzing rattlesnakes. I had to be rescued by my crewmates from this “spaghetti” of denning rattlers. My crewmates fashioned long hooks at the end of range poles and cleared a path for me. But we weren’t the first to map the area, as once while hunting geese I ended up trapped below sheer cliffs and found my way out by the aid of a map chiseled in the rock, no doubt by another hunter some thousand years before. The higher slopes of the Rio Grande watershed have fed us with deer, antelope, literally tons of elk meat, and this past year, a bighorn sheep. The coup for me was not killing the sheep itself but mustering 65 years worth of my brittle old bones uphill thousands of feet and carrying the meat some seven miles out.

All in all, I have spent so much time in the Gorge that by now I have seen hunks of cliff randomly fall into the void as the hole so slowly fills. I’ve seen eagles chase geese, watched eagles and osprey hunt as a team, and once saw a bald eagle drop a fish from 500 feet and then fold its wings and catch it again before it hit the ground! And the waterways of the Rio Grande have made me—and the half a dozen guys who guide for me—a living. We fly fish small streams in the higher drainages in summer and climb into the mighty Rio Grande Gorge in cooler weather. The Wild Rivers portion is famous for its huge trout and pike, and we have helped thousands of people catch—and release—the biggest trout of their life from there.

My family was raised by the Rio, and my granddaughter Taylor has already caught her first trout from there. She’s not the only one who thrives on our outdoor paradise: my son Nick’s Taos Fly Shop outfits thousands of happy tourists who visit our area. They come not only for the fishing but for the valley’s beauty and unique culture as well. With development in one form or another encroaching on our public lands from all directions, let’s continue to respect this harsh, yet delicate, place with the protection it deserves and needs, and support the Rio Grande del Norte. I still have one grandkid who has yet to catch a fish in the canyon. Speaking to Protect a Legacy This book is an outgrowth of the efforts to protect the Rio Grande del Norte. It brings to our leaders in Washington the faces and voices of 100 New Mexicans who play and work in, who love and cherish, and who live in or near the Rio Grande del Norte. They have shared in their own poignant words why these public lands must be protected. We have also brought together 100 New Mexicans in this book to commemorate 2012, the centennial anniversary of New Mexico’s statehood. In our opinion, nothing could be a more fitting recognition of this centennial than for our leaders in Washington to take decisive action that would protect the public lands of the Rio Grande del Norte as a legacy for our children and grandchildren.

Taylor Streit, Taos Owner/Operator of Streit Fly Fishing,

Member of the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame

One Hundred New Mexicans Speak for a Legacy

The greatest favor we can do for our children is to preserve what remains of our wilderness areas for posterity.

Tony Huston

Falconer and Writer, Taos

The Rio Grande is more than the source of my income. It’s where I go for happiness and spiritual satisfaction.

Francisco Guevara

Owner and Guide, Los Rios River Runners, Ranchos De Taos

The Rio Grande del Norte has deep cultural significance in northern New Mexico. We must protect

its land, water and culture. We must also preserve traditional land uses, including grazing, hunting and wood gathering. We have a moral and legal obligation to protect this landscape, preserving it for current and

future generations.

Erminio Martinez Northern New Mexico Grazing Permitee,

Arroyo Seco

The pristine wilderness of northern New Mexico is part of our heritage—a heritage that has afforded the culture of our great state to live and flourish.

William J. Knight Financial Consultant, Knight Financial Limited and

former Taos County Democratic Party Chair, Taos

I have a slogan that was inspired by President Obama: "Where there is coffee there is hope!" Our

sacred lands must be preserved.

Elizabeth Burgess Owner of Black Diamond Espresso, Taos Ski Valley

My grandma and grandpa met here. Their story ties us to the land, which is, literally, the lifeblood of our rich culture. For all the pueblos, the Rio Grande del Norte has been our place for time immemorial. This place has sustained our people forever, and we each play a role in sustaining the communities that rely on the

land and the water here. Tributaries that run into and from the Rio Grande feed our medicinal herbs, our livestock, our corn. We cannot afford to allow any more desecration of the land and water here. We must preserve and protect this culture, our way of life, the soul of our people.

Marian Naranjo with her grandson Ethan

Executive Director of H.O.P.E. (Honor Our Pueblo Existence), Española

I chose to retire here because it's so different from any place I've ever known. I like the solitude and pureness of the land.

Dr. Ed Kollar

Retired Dentist, Taos

I invite people from all over the world to come to Taos. This area is one of the last wild, precious, sacred parts of our country.

Richard Spera (right)

Innkeeper, Casa Gallina Bed and Breakfast, Taos

Also pictured is J. Matt Thomas, Architect, Taos

The public lands of the Rio Grande del Norte have been our family’s heritage for eight generations. As a sportsman and former hunting

guide, this area has been my livelihood and my way of life. Please protect these lands—they are as important to me as the clean air I breathe.

Mark Casias

Sportsman and Owner of New Mexico Healthy Home Builders, Inc.,

Ranchos de Taos

The Rio Grande Gorge is New Mexico’s Grand Canyon. This area attracts visitors from around the world, who come for the spectacular

scenery and the unique blend of desert and mountain ecology. For outfitters and guides like me, this translates into sustainable economic

development that benefits our entire community.

Stuart Wild Outfitter, Wild Earth Llama Adventures, Questa

This is the lifeline of our people and the lifeblood of our Mother Earth. We must pray upon

and protect the life waters, the spirit of water, for our people’s past, present and future.

Corrine Sanchez (pictured left)

Executive Director, Tewa Women United, Española

The holistic teachings and ecological wellness of the Rio Grande del Norte exists for Mother Earth and all

her children and all relations.

Kathleen Sanchez (pictured right) Founder of Tewa Women United, Española

The beauty of our natural environment is one of the precious gifts we are given in this life. It's our duty to make sure these natural wonders remain unspoiled, not only for generations

to come, but for other creatures to enjoy.

Roxanne Swentzell Sculptor, Santa Clara Pueblo

I live and dream bright red chiles; they are an essential part of our culture and history. If there is no water, our chile will not be able to

grow. Protecting this area will preserve the water that sustains us, our food and our culture.

Ynacio Alvarez

Ristra Peddler, Santa Fe

Yesterday I fished in the Rio Grande. I had miles of the river all to myself. When I hooded a big rainbow trout and it ran off downstream, I laughed and screamed out loud! That's why the Rio Grande del Norte is my favorite place in the world. It's is as wild and free as it gets.

Taylor Streit

Fly Fishing Guide, Taos Fly Shop, Taos

This ancient area has enriched the minds, bodies, hearts and souls of New Mexicans for generations. Protecting this land will mean the enhancement of many more lives to come.

Lilia Diaz

Job Placement Coordinator, Youthworks, Santa Fe

The Rio Grande del Norte landscape is a unique national treasure with high elevation volcanic domes, spacious views of high alpine Sangre de

Cristo peaks and the deeply incised 800 foot deep Rio Grande basalt Gorge. This is an important corridor for migratory birds, a nesting area

for hawks, falcons, and eagles, habitat for Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, antelope, deer and elk, and now habitat for river otter swimming

within the waters of the Rio Grande Gorge. This area provides breathtakingly beautiful recreation for all ages. Let us protect it now for

future generations to enjoy as we have.

Roberta Salazar Executive Director, Rivers & Birds, Arroyo Seco

Without land you have nothing. Without water there is no life. Agua es la vida! (Water is life!)

Ester Garcia

Mayor of Questa / President, San Antonio del Rio Colorado Land Grant, Questa

Water connects us to the past, present and future. We need to protect the Rio Grande so our grandchildren’s children may enjoy the Rio Grande as we do.

Louie Hena Lieutenant Governor, Teseque Pueblo

The Rio Grande del Norte is the thriving heart of New Mexico. This is where our living landscape intersects with our complex and creative cultures.

James Gollin Board Member, Democracy Alliance; Businessman, Santa Fe

The Rio Grande Gorge is one of the natural wonders of the world. Left undisturbed, it is both a wildlife habitat and a place for continuing this region’s traditions of harvesting wood and collecting piñon nuts.

Luciano Vigil

Retired US Air Force Inspector, Taos

This land—and the water that flows through it—is precious. I want to protect it—from development, from mining and from drilling.

Amado E. Mares

Retired Parole Officer, Taos

This land is beautiful. Let's keep it that way. Let’s protect it from drilling!

Brad Nestell

Artist, Taos

Because our water is quickly becoming scarce, especially here in the Southwest, this area is especially vital—to our health,

our culture and our environment.

Sherif Musaji Eco-schools Outreach Educator, Santa Fe

Why protect the Rio Grande del Norte? Because it is exceptional. Preserving it is critical to our health and

well-being.

Rebecca Keller Middle School Teacher, Tesuque

Since I was 11 years old my favorite place has been the spot where you come up the horseshoe and see the Rio Grande and the beautiful mountains. This is God's Country.

Mary Jane Estrada

Business Owner and Chef, Mary Jane's Home Cooking, Taos

The Rio Grande del Norte has taught me a rare kind of humility. This landscape is not background; it is foreground. It's a constant reminder of how small we humans are.

Connie Josefs (center)

Teacher and Writer, Albuquerque Also pictured are Mollie Bloom (left) and Rosa Haas (right)

My family ethic is to honor and live in concert with these wide open spaces in which our wild game roam. As a sixth

generation from northern New Mexico, traditional uses like hunting are key to preserving this fundamental tradition that

stems back to my great great great grandfather!

John Olivas Managing Partner and Owner,

JACO Outfitters, LLC Mora County Commissioner, District 2, Holman

This is the most exquisite place I've ever lived in.

Chris Carney Retired Firefighter, Dixon

I am an architect and love New Mexico. The Rio Grande is one of the greatest resources we have. We must protect this precious resource. I support this project and hope that my support can help in any way.

José La Cruz-Crawford

Architect, Santa Fe

When I fish I like to watch all the dabbling ducks floating down the river. This is the best place to be, the first place I

come to relax.

April Ulibarri (pictured left) Bank Teller, Española

I love this place with all my heart. I've lived here all my life and I still find it wonderful and amazing. It's my home—

the only one I've ever known.

Alena Serna (pictured right) Manager, Chevron Gas Station, Española

This land is amazing. There's rock climbing, rafting, hunting and fishing everywhere. It's fantastic. Tomas Medina Ski Tech, Taos

The Rio Grande del Norte gives us so much. It deserves to be protected!

Dr. Spike Lynch Medical Doctor, Mogul Medical, Taos

Climbing, boating, hiking and fishing are ingrained in this community. This is how we live. Eya MacCollum Seamstress, Arroyo Seco

I am the heir of the Taos Indian Horse Ranch. My grandfather has maintained our horseback riding business

for 41 years. I was the first Native American Taos Pueblo Horseback Riding Champion.

My family unequivocally expresses our solidarity as

Indigenous Peoples living in areas that are vulnerable to the impacts and root causes of climate change.

My sister and I reaffirm the unbreakable and sacred

connection between land, air, water, forests, plants, animals and our human communities as the material and spiritual

basis for our existence.

Sunbow (left) and Alex (right) Gomez Equestrian Barrel Racing Champion,

Taos Indian Horse Ranch, Taos Pueblo

I'm a firm believer in preserving the land and wild rivers of northern New Mexico from any form of exploitation. Enough is enough. Wings Silversmith, Arroyo Seco

I spend my spare time fishing the Rio Grande. That water is precious: it feeds the aquifers for Cerro, where I live.

Juan Gonzales

Owner and Mechanic, JB and CO Auto Repair Shop, Cerro

The Rio Grande del Norte supports a unique suite of flora and fauna species that is an essential part of the wildlife

habitat. Preserving this area would protect an important wildlife migration corridor.

Matt Gould

Graduate Research Assistant with New Mexico State University, Sangre de Cristo and

Sacramento Mountains Black Bear Project, Las Cruces

Let's protect these wild lands and the animals that live here.

Andy Orlando Seasonal Wildlife Technician, Hair Analysis Technician,

Black Bear Study, Questa

I have lived in New Mexico my entire life. Right now I'm assisting with a non-invasive black bear study in the Rio Grande del Norte. Because this area is a rich and diverse habitat for so much of our wildlife, I would like to see it protected from any further mineral, oil and gas development.

Trey Turnbull

Biology Student Participating in Black Bear Study, Alamogordo

The Rio Grande I know is a unique and narrow river, confined between steep canyon walls, full of white water, large

boulders, and many trout.

Wildlife abounds from bears, bobcats, and big horns, to swallows, great-horned owls, tarantula hawks, and oodles of

poison ivy. Some of it is intermittently accessible, much of it isn’t. Let's keep it that way.

John Nichols

Author of 19 books of fiction and nonfiction, including The Milagro Beanfield War, Taos

The Rio Grande del Norte is part of our natural heritage that keeps us all healthy and alive. It is important to keep our rivers and watersheds clean and protected for all generations.

Frank Garcia (pictured left) and Scott Salazar (pictured right)

Ranchos de Taos

Our family believes in preserving the earth for all generations to enjoy.

Stephanie Nathan with her son Josh

Family on Vacation from El Paso, Texas

I've been a river guide on the Rio Grande for 21 years. This place is my livelihood, and I'd like it to remain as majestic as it is today. Billy Miller Big River Raft Guide, Embudo Rafting on the Rio Grande offers a fantastic view of the native vegetation here, like the marvelous hedgehog cacti. This place is too glorious and serene to go unprotected. Andy and Iris Lehrman Rafters Visiting Taos, Santa Fe

The Rio Grande del Norte is an extraordinary area, rich in history and culture. My family and I have had many

adventures exploring this great land.

Mayor David Coss Mayor, City of Santa Fe

I love this stretch of land, with its isolated extinct volcanoes rising above the plains where cattle graze

and antelope play. It has always seemed to me a land of harmony, where man and nature can live in

balance. Here, the powers that have shaped the planet —from volcanoes to inland seas to the tectonic plate

shifting that formed the Rio Grande rift —also shape the evolution of human history. I would be proud to be

part of an endeavor to protect this part of New Mexico forever.

Kathy Fitzgerald

Film Producer and Philanthropist, Taos

I have never given up the tradition of irrigating from an acequia as my ancestors did in the early 1800's here,

even at my age of 96 years.

Water is life. It is important that we protect the upper Rio Grande area for the next generations to come.

Manuel Jose Archuleta

Rancher, Des Montes

Northern New Mexico is such a special place. It's a destination for so many people. By protecting this area, we can make it a great place for locals, tourists and businesses.

Ann Huston Painter, Taos

Protect our land and keep it safe.

Efrain Quintana Mechanic, El Prado

Our cultures, human and environmental health, human rights, well-being, traditional livelihoods, food systems and

food sovereignty, local infrastructure, economic viability, and our very survival depend on the land.

The essence of conservation biology requires attention, care,

diversity and resilience.

Donna House Botanist, Alcalde

I have been swallowed by the gorgeous walls of the gorge while swimming in the cool waters of the Rio Grande. This soil has fed me: I have harvested, picked and gathered from it. I have been kissed by the sun; I have ridden on the wings

of the mountain peaks. I have laughed, loved and cried under these stunning skies. And I have never felt luckier than

when I have marveled at this landscape from a bird's-eye view or from the ground, amongst the roots.

Lisa Donahue & Megan Donahue

Students Visiting from Chicago, Illinois

It's impossible to express the importance of this place on canvas. The beauty is beyond our dreams. This place is

a natural wonder of the world.

Ed Sandoval Contemporary Artist, Taos

I grew up by the Rio Grande, and I want my children to be able to enjoy the river and all its wonder the way that I did.

Kristin Hennelly with her son Rowan Brewer and Owner of Blue Heron Brewery, Rinconada

I have walked this sacred land for 18 years, basking in the beauty of the pristine land. My hope is that future

generations will also enjoy this privilege, this blessing.

Lenny Foster Photographer,

Winner of the Taos Living Master award, Taos

I have been fortunate to be the BLM Archaeologist for this area for the last 25 years. My favorite archaeological sites are the numerous petroglyphs that are usually located in the spectacular Rio Grande Gorge and its tributaries. These petroglyphs provide a visual peek into the lives of the people who created them hundreds and even thousands of years ago. Protect this wonderful landscape and its important cultural resources. Paul Williams Retired BLM Archaeologist, Taos

Water quality, ecosystem stability and biological diversity are key to insuring our future. Protecting the Rio Grande del Norte will help us benefit economically from the landscape in a way that is sustainable.

Miguel Santistevan

Chairman of Acequia del Sur del Rio de Don Fernando de Taos and Executive Director of Agriculture, Implementation, Research, and Education, Taos

I love the open space. I want it to be there for my kids and grandchildren.

Melinda Bateman Organic Farmer and Seed Saver, Morningstar Farm, Arroyo Seco

The Rio Grande del Norte is my backyard. I want it protected.

Thomas Montoya

Road Maintenance Worker, Taos County, Des Montes

This is our land. I am against any action that would change it irreversibly.

Scott Carlson

Scott Carlson Pottery, Arroyo Seco

I work as a trekking guide in Peru, and for 35 years I've made the Rio Grande del Norte my home. I love the outdoors,

and I love this place.

Andrea Heckman Owner, Andean Software; Wilderness Guide; and

Anthropology Professor, Taos

Wow! Joyousness, laughter in the wild, imagining, playing, somersaulting in the meadows, smelling gorgeous wildflowers,

mimicking the birds, being small in the face of majestic mountains and 50-foot trees that sway in the wind, free in

the clean air ... this is how I see my child in this paradise.

David Nanasi, father of Lila Sophia Nanasi (pictured) Consulting Producer, POV, American Documentary, Inc.,

Visiting from New York, New York

I live here and I fish here. This is my home.

Sal Policasstro Fisherman, Arroyo Hondo

As an art dealer, I have seen the way this area inspires artists. The art they make comes from the land.

Michael McCormick

Gallery Owner, Taos

This land is rich in so many ways. Protecting it will allow for wildlife conservation and promote eco-tourism.

Dan Holden Owner, Sundance Fly Fish Company, Taos

I love Taos for the Mountain, the Sky and the River. They have attracted and nurtured the most creative and rich community of people I have

ever encountered. Preserving the River enriches the People.

Janet Webb Owner, Webb Design, Taos

Having grown up in northern New Mexico, I have an inherent bond with the land here. It has a lifelong importance for me, both recreational and spiritual. I come here to reflect and to be in awe: these are the same mountains, valleys and rivers our ancestors saw. Conserving the land and its history is vital, so that my

grandchildren will be able to experience it the way I have.

Olivia Sloan Navajo/Tohono O'odham Nursing Student at Santa Fe Community College, Santa Fe

As a picture framer, I see what people love most. People bring me photographs and artwork of this land. This land is in

their homes and their hearts.

We need these open spaces preserved.

Renze Nesbit Business Owner and Manager,

Creative Framing and Crafting, Taos

When all the holy land is gone, man is next.

Stan Natchez Artist, Shoshone Tataviam, Santa Fe

Out here in the West we are an oasis society. You might think we’d be more grateful for the sources of water that make our

oases possible, but that's not always the way. Now we’ve got a chance to say “thank you” to the Rio Grande. Let's do it before

we miss our chance.

William deBuys Author, Santa Fe

As a young Diné (Navajo) mother, land preservation is deep rooted in our Din’e teachings. Land is sacred and all natural

habitats are critical to preserve.

It is all we have left of the natural and wildlife world, which was given to us by the holy ones.

Krystal Curley

Student and Filmmaker, Chichiltah

Flipping in the fresh air. To be alive in this awesome place. It all makes sense.

Daniel Donahue Chicago, Illinois

I worry that if it’s not protected, corporate greed will eventually ruin this treasured place.

Jack Hill

Stone and Metal Sculptor, Arroyo Seco

As a radio station powered by solar energy, KTAO is built on sustainable practices. As a local business, we’re a part of this community. We support interconnected local living economies that function in harmony with local ecosystems.

Aidan Bain

Engineer and Co-owner, KTAOS, solar radio station, Taos

I believe the Rio Grande del Norte is worth protecting.

Peter Daquanni Ski Instructor at Red River; Wildland Firefighter, Taos

This is my home. How blessed I am to live in such a wonderful and stunning place! God himself would choose to

live here and protect this land.

Judith Cantu Property Manager, Taos

Northern New Mexico has long been a haven for the creative soul. Since the arrival of literary notables Willa Cather and

D.H. Lawrence in the early twentieth century, literature has played a prominent role in the area’s rich cultural landscape.

Dori Vinella

Executive Director of S.O.M.O.S. (Society of the Muse of the Southwest), Taos

I love to snowboard here. This land is too beautiful not to protect.

Raquel Lawson Student

I inherited this land from my mother. We till, plant, and grow here. We have fruit trees. We share and trade with our neighbors. Being in harmony with the land includes ensuring the health of our plants, water, animals, and neighbors. Anthony Padilla (pictured left) Farmer, San Cristobal This land is our way of life. Damian Trujillo (pictured right) Student, San Cristobal

I paint these sacred lands. The uninterrupted views here are

an essential part of northern New Mexico’s beauty.

If this area were destroyed, the damage would be irreversible.

We could not go back.

Tony Abeyta Artist, Santa Fe

It’s important to preserve and protect these pristine and wild places for current and future generations. There is no way to undo damage that we cause today, but we can do something to ensure that the damage never happens in the first place.

Max Trujillo

Sportsman Coordinator, New Mexico Wildlife Federation, Las Vegas

The Rio Grande del Norte, with its clean air and hiking and camping, helps strengthen our community’s physical and mental health.

Tamara Stephenson

Health Insurance Agent, Taos

As a poet, I have devoted my nearly forty years here to inspiration. The Rio Grande Gorge is a wild treasure

deserving of measures to preserve, celebrate, designate and protect it, keeping the wild imagination alive for all of us.

The awe of this powerful place is essential for forty years hence—for the kids and poets, the artists and daydreamers,

the river raft runners and tourists, the indigenous people and transplants seeking a home.

Joan Logghe

Educator and Santa Fe Poet Laureate, Santa Fe

Wild places have sustained us for generations. We go to these spectacular places—the Rio Grande Gorge, Ute Mountain, the Rio San Antonio, and the places in between—for support, for enjoyment, for solace. Now we must protect and nurture them for those who will come after us.

The Honorable Peggy Nelson

Retired District Judge, Eighth Judicial District, San Cristobal

The mountains of the Upper Rio Grande Watershed sustain our communities in many ways. Our family has enjoyed backpacking, collecting edible plants, snowshoeing and skiing. The precious water is integral to it all. We have one opportunity to protect and preserve this irreplaceable resource. Chris Pieper Science Teacher and Business Owner, Mudd-N-Flood Mountain Shop, Taos Pictured from left (top row): Ian Wilson, Suzanne Wilson, Chris Pieper and Elena Pieper Pictured from left (bottom row): Jade Wilson, Gwendolyn Pieper and Reed Pieper

The Rio Grande is the source of everything. It is the life force that flows through this dry, beautiful and unique land. When this land is protected, we will know our way of life is safe.

Pamela Pereyra

Jeweler, Taos Also pictured are Ilana (center) and Jason Weisfeld (left)

Teacher, Enos Garcia Elementary School, Taos