Governor Richardson States Policy to Protect Gila and San Francisco Rivers for Future Generations
Governor redirects process to analyze range of water supply/demand alternatives
June 29, 2007, Silver City, NM – On Tuesday, Governor Richardson issued a policy statement regarding water resources planning under the Arizona Water Settlements Act, stating his desire to protect the Gila and San Francisco Rivers for future generations. In addition, the Governor’s statement redirects the Gila-San Francisco Coordinating Committee process to study the range of alternatives to meet water supply needs, “with the ‘no diversion’ option as an essential part of the analysis.”
“We are happy to see that Governor Richardson recognizes the value of the Gila River to New Mexico and the Southwest and that he is committed to no planning for a dam,” stated Dutch Salmon, Chairman of the Gila Conservation Coalition. “We are also pleased to learn that the Governor will redirect the Gila-San Francisco Coordinating Committee process to include study of a range of alternatives. It’s important that other options to meet the future water supply needs of our region-and not just the diversion alternative– are assessed. An alternatives analysis will allow the communities of southwestern New Mexico to objectively judge the costs and benefits of a variety of water supply and demand management options so that we can make the best decisions for our water future.”
Organized in 1984 to protect the free flow of the Gila and San Francisco rivers and the wilderness characteristics of the Gila and Aldo Leopold Wilderness areas, the Gila Conservation Coalition (GCC) is a partnership between the Gila Resources Information Project, the Upper Gila Watershed Alliance and the Center for Biological Diversity that promotes conservation of the Upper Gila River Basin and surrounding lands.
READ GOVERNOR RICHARDSON’S FULL STATEMENT HERE.