New Mexico Protects Waterways Critical for Local Economy and Way of Life

In a move that will preserve fish and wildlife habitat, strengthen the outdoor recreation economy, and safeguard sources of clean drinking water, New Mexico on Dec. 10 approved new protections for more than 250 river miles within the Rio Grande, Rio Chama, Cimmaron, Pecos, and Jemez watersheds.

The decision, by the state’s Environment Department, designates sections of waterways as Outstanding National Resource Waters, or ONRWs; states can make ONRW designations under the federal Clean Water Act.

An ONRW destination stipulates that the state must manage the waterway to prevent any additional degradation in water quality that is already not occurring—an important distinction in areas where new threats, such as increased industrial activity, could arise quickly. These waters typically already have significant value. As the Environment Department says on its website, “Waters eligible for ONRW designation include waters that are part of a national or state park, wildlife refuge or wilderness areas, special trout waters, waters with exceptional recreational or ecological significance, and high-quality waters that have not been significantly modified by human activities.”

Among states, New Mexico has been a leader in recent years in identifying and protecting waters important to people and biodiversity. In fact, in 2022, the state protected hundreds of miles of the state’s most pristine waters as ONRWs.

In the more recent case, the Environment Department solicited feedback on its ONRW nominations from the public and received more than 1,000 comments and signatures in support of those nominations. And once the agency published the proposed designations it received another 1,000-plus comments from community members, local governments, farmers, ranchers, and water conservation groups favoring protection. ONRW designation is an important tool to protect water quality, particularly in the wake of the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision (Sackett v. the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) that stripped protections from an estimated 95% of New Mexico’s streams.

Here are four benefits of New Mexico’s most recent designations:

1. Support local economies and communities

Courtesy of Garrett Veneklasen

New Mexico’s rivers, waterways, and surrounding public lands draw locals and visitors from around the world to boat, camp, fish, hunt, horseback ride, and more. These activities help to fuel the state’s booming $3.2 billion outdoor recreation economy and to sustain local businesses, including outfitters, restaurants, hotels, and retail shops. Additionally, fishing and hunting support almost 8,000 jobs in New Mexico and contribute more than $51 million in state and local taxes.

2. Sustain traditional uses

Courtesy of Jim O’Donnell

3. Conserve fish and wildlife habitat

Courtesy of Jim O’Donnell

New Mexico's waterways provide critical habitat for a range of wildlife—including Rio Grande cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, hundreds of species of birds, and elk—a biodiversity that is key to healthy natural ecosystems.

In fact, the New Mexico Game and Fish Department manages many of the newly protected rivers and streams as Special Trout Waters, so named for their high value to recreational fishing and regional biodiversity.

4. Safeguard the environment and combat climate change

Courtesy of Saba Ijadi

New Mexico is experiencing one of the worst megadroughts in human history, which experts say is driven by human-caused climate change. Aside from sustaining local communities and wildlife habitat, safeguarding waterways is critical to mitigating the worst impacts of climate change.

For example, as the climate warms, so do rivers and streams. High stream temperature is especially dangerous to aquatic life, which can lead to less oxygen, less water, and reduced water quality. But healthy waterways can weather such changes better than can unhealthy ones.

The Pew Charitable Trusts applauds the New Mexico Environment Department and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s administration for safeguarding more than 250 miles of waterways for current and future generations and looks forward to the state’s continued leadership on river and stream protection.

Patrick Lane works on The Pew Charitable Trusts’ U.S. conservation program