By Mary Alice Murphy

The Southwestern County Commission Alliance members met in a short meeting today, Monday, Dec. 15, 2014, to hear public input and address two resolutions.

The first to speak during public input was Nancy Kaminski, Southwest Audubon Chapter president.

"I want to comment on the resolution the Travel Management Plan," Kaminski said. "I think you need some history. President Richard Nixon issued Executive Order 11644 in 1972 to protect the forests from the estimated 5 million off-road recreational vehicles. Now there are 40 million off-highway vehicles."

She said they cause unacceptable erosion, degrade water quality and damage the watershed.

"The Travel Management Plan process here started on July 15, 2005, with thousands of participants giving input," Kaminski said. "There were 74 public meetings, which did not include the many times off-highway vehicle users and environmentalists scoured the forest to determine damage. They often found common ground in wanting to take care of the forest.

"This TMP leaves 3,300 miles of roads open, which is the number of miles between San Diego and Maine," she said. "The national forest understands fiscal responsibility, because it cannot afford to maintain and repair the whole forest. I expect you don't know that New Mexico is second in the country in its rate of poverty. I suspect you don't want to understand fiscal responsibility and take care of that problem instead of suing the federal government.

On the other hand, and she said she would call it insanity, she said the group wants to take water out of the Gila River.

The next speaker was Carol Fugali of the Upper Gila Watershed Alliance. "The Upper Gila Watershed Alliance supports the Travel Management Plan, which is closing redundant roads. We support protecting the San Francisco River and getting rid of the road in the riverbed. "

She said the nature of democracy is that people have to compromise. She said her organization, as well as Grant County and Catron County appealed the Travel Management Plan. "The Southwestern County Commission Alliance wants to protect less than we do. We need functioning watersheds. Tourists come to the Gila National Forest for recreation. If we don't protect the forest, we are shooting ourselves in the economic foot. I believe your stand is ideologically driven. I ask you not to pass this misguided resolution."

Under old business, Catron County Commissioner Van "Bucky" Allred said he had some input from the Santa Fe lawsuit against the Santa Fe National Forest Travel Management Plan. "I would like to facilitate a meeting with them."

Under new business, Luna County Manager Charles "Tink" Jackson said it appears the Interstate Stream Commission passed its resolution to send a letter to the Secretary of the Interior indicating New Mexico's intent to use the entire extent of the water and funding available through the 2004 Arizona Water Settlements Act. He said he had been told that Gov. Susana Martinez had sent the letter to the Secretary.

He noted the Gila/San Francisco Water Commission would meet tomorrow, Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 10 a.m. to discuss the issue.

The first resolution to be considered was one authorizing the Southwest Center for Resource Analysis to prepare a notice of intent to sue the U.S. Forest Service in relation to the Travel Management Plan, to be paid for in equal shares by Catron, Luna, Grant and Hidalgo counties.

It was moved and seconded to table the resolution.

SWCCA Chairman Gabriel Ramos recommended the second resolution asking the governor to send a letter to the Department of the Interior authorizing the department to release monies for projects also be tabled, as the governor had already sent the letter.

During county requests and comments, Ramos noted there have been a lot of arguments on both sides of the Travel Management Plan. "I'm a native, and I've been able to enjoy the forest my whole life. My family, friends and I have used these roads, and I would like to see our community continue to be able to use these roads. I represent my constituents. The vote to keep me in office tells me people want to keep the roads.

"Being from here, we protect the water and the forest," Ramos said. "When the copper rules came out, you screamed there was not enough water. With the diversion issue, you say we have too much water. Make up your minds."

Hidalgo County Commissioner Darr Shannon said the SWCCA has been consistent in its stance. "We truly believe in what we stand for, and we stand for the rights of people to be able to come to the Gila National Forest. Hidalgo County residents come to the forest and spend money in Silver City."

Luna County Commissioner Javier Diaz said: "We're the flatlanders. We come up to the hills. The majority of the people want to take advantage of the forest."

Allred said: "In Catron County, we've suffered the loss of access to the forest, as well as our forest industries, which were a big part of our revenue. Our livestock numbers have dropped due to bad science. We take in $13 million for hunting. Not all roads were inventoried. The process was not to our advantage."

"What has been demonstrated with the 'new' way of thinking is that prescribed burns get out of hand and have done damage," he continued. "The wolf issue has brought horrific destruction in our county."

Ramos said that before the Forest Service made its decision, "we asked the Forest Service to take the economic impacts of hunting and fishing and other recreation. We never were heard. On the first page of the New Mexico Game & Fish Department website, it gives the economic impact of hunting and fishing in New Mexico. The Forest Service didn't seem to take into account the more than $13 million brought into Catron County. It should, especially when we are on the low end of per capital income in the state."

The next meeting was set for the same time as people would be attending the New Mexico Association of Counties meetings in Santa Fe, immediately preceding the legislative session. It was set tentatively for 11 a.m., Jan. 20, in Santa Fe, at a location to be determined.

Allred said the newly elected Sierra County commissioners had shown interest in being part of the alliance, as have those from Socorro County.

After the meeting, Ramos said the reason the Travel Management Plan was tabled was because a lawsuit has already been filed on the Santa Fe National Forest TMP. It did not prevail in district court, but has been appealed. "The outcome of that lawsuit might also affect us."

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