AWC folks – we know many have already headed out for the holiday, some have to be at work but if you can take some time to come it would be very much appreciated.
Thanks for your patience with all the emails this past couple of months! !!!
WE NEED YOUR ATTENDANCE ON MONDAY TO BEAR WITNESS TO THE ISC'S GILA RIVER DIVERSION DECISION AND CONTINUE THE FIGHT TO PROTECT THE GILA RIVER!
What: ISC Decisi...on Meeting on the Gila River Diversion
When: Monday, November 24 @ 10 am, Agenda
Press conference at 1:30 pm immediately following decision
Where: Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Government Center, Vincent Griego Chambers,
1 Civic Center Plaza, Albuquerque.
Below – a Note from Joanne:
Below also is the Gila Conservation Coalition letter
Ø Action Options – Write a letter to the Governor …. Again.
Ø
Ø Attend the Monday Meeting of the ISC Decision
Ø
Ø Media round up listed below
From: JoAnne Allen [mailto:joanneallen789@gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, November 22, 2014 10:25 AM
To: celia Southwick
Subject: Fwd: TRO Dissolved, ISC to Make Gila Diversion Decision on Monday
Maybe best to warn folks that we are expecting a YES vote on the diversion.
I's important to witness and stand up for our Gila River and the state of New Mexico once again.
I would like to see a good turn out. The ISC has to know that WE ARE NOT GOING AWAY.
Thanks again for all the AWC help,
Subject: Fwd: TRO Dissolved, ISC to Make Gila Diversion Decision on Monday
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Dear Friends of the Gila River: Yesterday Judge Francis Mathew dissolved the temporary restraining order that barred the Interstate Stream Commission (ISC) from making a decision under the Arizona Water Settlements Act. Although the Open Meetings Act law suit filed by former ISC director Norm Gaume continues and will be heard in April, yesterday's decision clears the way for the ISC commissioners to vote on the ISC staff recommendation to notify the Secretary of the Interior that New Mexico will move forward with a Gila River diversion project. The ISC commissioners will make their Gila River diversion decision at a meeting on Monday, November 24. WE NEED YOUR ATTENDANCE ON MONDAY TO BEAR WITNESS TO THE ISC'S GILA RIVER DIVERSION DECISION AND CONTINUE THE FIGHT TO PROTECT THE GILA RIVER! What: ISC Decision Meeting on the Gila River Diversion When: Monday, November 24 @ 10 am, Agenda Press conference at 1:30 pm immediately following decision Where: Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Government Center, Vincent Griego Chambers, 1 Civic Center Plaza, Albuquerque. PLEASE CONTACT GOVERNOR SUSANA MARTINEZ TODAY AND TELL HER TO SAY "NO" TO A GILA RIVER DIVERSION BILLION DOLLAR BOONDOGGLE! Please call the Governor TODAY at (505) 476-2200. (If you prefer to email, follow the links in action alert below) |
Background In 2004, Congress passed the Arizona Water Settlements Act (AWSA) that authorized diversion of the Gila River if New Mexico agreed to buy water from Arizona to replace what we take out of the river. $100 million (2004$) has been made available through the AWSA. $66 million of this is available to meet local water needs in southwest New Mexico without diverting the Gila River. A diversion project is expensive with costs now estimated at over $1 billion (construction, OM&R, exchange costs), will yield little to no water, and will negatively impact the hydrology and ecology of the Gila River. In recent weeks, the extent of back room dealing over a Gila River diversion project has emerged. It's a shame that so much work is going on behind closed doors that citizens have to resort to Open Meetings Act challenges to shine a light on what's really going on and to hold public officials accountable. Read the news articles below for more of the details. |
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| TELL GOVERNOR MARTINEZ "NO" TO A GILA RIVER DIVERSION
The time is now for the future of the Gila River, the last major undammed river in New Mexico. At the end of 2014, the state of New Mexico must notify the Secretary of the Interior if it will move forward with a diversion project under the Arizona Water Settlements Act (AWSA). It is difficult to imagine how the wild Gila here in New Mexico could be reduced to an industrialized zone with diversions, canals, access roads, reservoirs and fences like it is in Arizona.
A Gila River diversion doesn't make sense. It is infeasible - it is too expensive, with costs over $1 billion, will yield little water after evaporation and leaky reservoirs, and it will negatively impact the Gila's fragile ecology including six threatened and endangered species. The answer is simple. Meet southwest New Mexico's long-term water needs by using AWSA funding to implement local community water projects that will save the taxpayer money and protect the Gila River for future generations. |
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Gila Resources Information Project | 305A North Cooper Street | Silver City | NM | 88061
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