May 10, 2008
8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
at the Mimbres Valley Learning Center,
Pine St., Deming, New Mexico
In this report of the meeting there is a brief summary of the interests presented at the last meeting. Check them out to see if we got it right. Send in any others you heard or that you think the group should keep in mind.
Come to the meeting with ideas for projects that you believe should be undertaken by the Stakeholder Group.
Send additions or corrections to carl@thecommunitystore.com, 505.820-6826.
Click here to read workshop reports and materials.
Gila Conservation Coalition presents
with Dr. David Gutzler
Professor of Meteorology & Climatology
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences
University of New Mexico
June 5, 2008; 7:00 pm
Silco Theatre, Downtown Silver City
Click here to find out more about this event!

Press Statement
4/23/08
The Gila River, New Mexico’s last free-flowing river, has been named one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers, by the organization American Rivers. In making the announcement last week, Governor Bill Richardson pledged his support to protect the Gila by considering statutory protection to prevent construction of a dam or diversion project on the river. Read more here.
Press
Release
CONTACTS:
Allyson Siwik
Executive Director
Gila Conservation Coalition
(575) 538-8078
(575) 590-7619 cell
Water Development Threatens
New Mexicos Last Free-flowing River
April
17, 2008; Silver City, NM The Gila River, New
Mexicos last free-flowing river, has been named one
of Americas Most Endangered Rivers, by the organization
American Rivers. The Gila is threatened by a major water
development project that could double the amount of water
currently withdrawn from the river, degrading this ecological
jewel and imposing hundreds of millions of dollars of cost
on taxpayers for an unnecessary project. The river has long
been eyed for its water development potential, but estimated
costs, environmental impacts, and community opposition have
precluded previous projects from moving forward. Read more.
Richardson to fight Gila River diversion
Barry Massey | The Associated Press
for the Santa Fe New Mexican
4/17/2008 - Gov. Bill Richardson said Thursday that he'll consider proposing a statutory protection for the Gila River in southwestern New Mexico to block the construction of dams or water-diversion projects on what he calls the "state's last free-flowing river." The Gila has been named as one of the nation's most endangered rivers by American Rivers, a conservation group. Read more.
Gila River makes country's endangered list
N.M. water use could drain desert oasis, group says.
by Shaun McKinnon | The Arizona Republi
April 17, 2008 12:00AM
Growing demands for water in southwestern New Mexico are threatening the survival of the Gila River and have landed the iconic desert waterway a spot on the annual list of the country's most endangered rivers. Read more.
Governor pledges to fight Gila River diversion
By Levi Hill | Sun-News Bureau Chief
Article Launched: 04/18/2008 01:00:00 AM MDT
Silver City Sun-News
SILVER CITY — Gov. Bill Richardson said Thursday that he will consider proposing a statutory prohibition on building dams or diversion projects on the Gila River. Read more.
Governor
named a 'Champion of the Gila River'
By Rebecca Johns | Sun-News
reporter
Article Launched: 01/30/2008 01:00:00 AM MS
Silver City Sun News
SILVER
CITY -- Gov. Bill Richardson was named "Champion
of the Gila River" in a ceremony held Tuesday afternoon
at the Rotunda in Santa Fe.
The
award honors Richardson for work he did to protect "New
Mexico's last wild river," said Gila Conservation Coalition
Executive Director Allyson Siwik. Read more
|
The 2nd Annual Gila River Day was sponsored by the Gila Conservation Coalition in partnership with local, state and national conservation groups including the Center for Biological Diversity, New Mexico Wildlife Federation, Gila Resources Information Project, Upper Gila Watershed Alliance, Gila Native Plant Society, Southwest New Mexico Audubon, Amigos Bravos, Environment New Mexico, The Nature Conservancy, Rio Grande Restoration, Far-Flung Adventures, Audubon New Mexico, and Conservation Voters of New Mexico.
 |
| Gila
Conservation Coalition chair Dutch Salmon, left, poses
for photographs with Governor Bill Richardson as he
accepts the award for "Champion of the Gila River".
Photo: Van Clothier. |
 |
| Gila
River Day participants listen to remarks made by Representative
Mimi Stewart; Ron Curry, Secretary of the NM Environment
Department; Bruce Thompson, Director of the NM Department
of Game and Fish; Estevan Lopez, Director of the NM
Interstate Stream Commission; and Sandy Buffett, Director
of Conservation Voters of New Mexico. Photo: Van Clothier. |
 |
| A
Gila River Day attendee enjoys Gila River photographs
and educational literature describing conservation efforts
of the Gila Conservation Coalition and its many partners. Photo:
Van Clothier. |