Trout Unlimited’s team in the Upper Rio Grande watershed is basking in the glow of major conservation wins at the close of 2024. These wins were years, sometimes decades, in the making and will advance TU’s conservation goals for native trout and clean water.
Win after win after win….and another win
In early December, the US Fish and Wildlife Service determined that the Rio Grande cutthroat is not in danger of extinction nor likely to become so in the foreseeable future, a testament to the progress being made by state and federal agencies and partners like TU to restore this iconic native trout species.
That same week, the state of New Mexico passed new water quality protections for over two hundred miles of wild and native trout streams in the upper Rio Grande watershed. The following week, the Biden administration announced its intention to restrict future mining development for approximately 165,000 acres of the upper Pecos River watershed. And then, after decades of advocacy by TU, President Biden signed the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024, a bill that makes it easier for groups like Trout Unlimited to clean-up abandon mine sites that pollute trout streams.
“It was a great end to the year for native trout conservation in the Upper Rio Grande,” said Kevin Terry, TU’s Southwest director. “One of these achievements would have been fantastic on its own, but all this good news in the span of a couple of weeks was truly something to hang your hat on.”
TU investments go a long way
Originating in the headwater streams of southern Colorado and New Mexico and flowing to the Gulf of Mexico, the Rio Grande watershed covers about 335,000 square miles and is relied upon for agriculture, industry and municipal water supplies in some of the driest areas of the country. TU’s work to protect and restore native trout populations in the upper watershed creates healthier watersheds and sends cleaner water downstream.
“In recent years, we’ve really invested in the Upper Rio Grande as a place where TU can make a difference. And we’re doing that in a variety of ways across the organization from growing our restoration project team to engaging in state policy work that benefits clean water and trout, all while accomplishing big things at a national level that benefit coldwater fisheries everywhere”, said TU’s New Mexico state lead, Dan Roper.
December’s big conservation wins demonstrate that TU’s conservation approach, one that focuses on collaboration with agency partners, local chapters and volunteers, is making a difference for native trout in the Upper Rio Grande.
Rio Grande cutthroat restoration
By hoof, foot and helicopter, TU and partners have been working closely for decades to restore native Rio Grande cutthroat (RGCT) populations.
“Our state agencies (Colorado Parks and Wildlife and New Mexico Game and Fish) have done a remarkable job leading cutthroat trout restoration activities throughout the watershed and leading a range-wide conservation team made up of federal agencies, tribes and partners like Trout Unlimited”, said Terry. “While the recovery efforts are far from over, one of the coolest parts of this story is how we have been able to increase accessibility and recreation opportunities adjacent to some of these populations through federal funding opportunities like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.”
This may be fine, but its a long quote and I’m beginning to wonder if we really need another keystone mention and hyperlink.
Pecos mineral withdrawal
After years of working with New Mexico’s Congressional delegation to prevent new hardrock mining in the headwaters of the Pecos River, TU celebrated the Department of Interior’s announcement to limit new mining claims in approximately 165,000 acres of the upper watershed, the first step required for a potential 20-year withdrawal designation. The watershed is home to genetically distinct populations of Rio Grande cutthroat trout and is one of the state’s most popular recreational trout fisheries, adjacent to the Pecos Wilderness and a short drive from Santa Fe.
“In addition to being a focal area for native trout restoration, the upper Pecos River is one of the state’s most popular fishing destinations and the watershed is an important water source for downstream communities”, said Roper. “This was a really big announcement for TU and our local partners and the result of years of advocacy to protect this special place.”
250 miles of Outstanding Waters
In December, The New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC) designated over 250 stream miles in northern New Mexico as Outstanding National Resource Waters, providing the state’s highest form of water quality protection under the federal Clean Water Act. The designations were proposed by the New Mexico Environment Department and widely supported by the angling community. Many of the designated streams are managed as Special Trout Waters by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, due to their fishing popularity or value to native trout conservation.
“The designations are a great thing for New Mexico’s angling community––they preserve clean water in many of New Mexico’s best trout streams while benefitting iconic species like the Rio Grande cutthroat trout,” said Roper “When we protect clean water upstream, we know it’s also good for anyone using water downstream.”
Good Samaritan legislation
Signed into law at the end of 2024 with bipartisan support, the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act will reduce the liability for nonprofits or other groups cleaning up abandoned hard rock mines. The law will also pilot a new permitting process with 15 abandoned mine sites, allowing entities who don’t own the abandoned mine to clean up the site without being responsible for cleaning up all the pollution at a site.
TU has been working on this issue for decades, and we’ve even completed a number of reclamation projects in Colorado and other western states already.
“We’re hoping to lean on the expertise of TU’s abandoned mine lands team to expand this work into New Mexico,” said Terry. “There are thousands of abandoned mines leaking pollution into our waterways and impacting native fish populations across the Southwest, and we are gearing up to reverse these historic trends.”
As we head into 2025, Trout Unlimited has more big things in store for native trout and the places they call home in the Upper Rio Grande. Follow along for updates on social media on Instagram for the Southwest region and New Mexico or via our newsletter.