From the Upper Pecos to the Gila River, New Mexico’s rivers sustain ancient acequias, critical wildlife habitat, and a thriving outdoor economy in addition to our modern communities and industries.

Yet this precious resource faces ongoing threats, including aridification, climate change, and short-sighted policy change. The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Sackett v. EPA, the latest in a string of narrowing of federal protection, removed federal Clean Water Act protections for up to 95% of New Mexico’s surface waters, leaving the vast majority of its streams and wetlands vulnerable to pollution, development, and degradation. This legal rollback creates an urgent need for state-level solutions to protect vulnerable waterways for future generations.