New Mexico native returns after 60-year absence

A native New Mexican once found in streams and rivers throughout the state has returned home after a 60-year absence. Five river otters were released today in the waters of the Rio Pueblo De Taos on Taos Pueblo.

The wild otters were trapped and transported from Washington by USDA Wildlife Services and Taos Pueblo as part of a larger otter reintroduction program organized by Taos Pueblo, The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, and the New Mexico Friends of River Otters, a coalition of citizens, agencies and conservation organizations dedicated to restoring otters to the state.

"Protecting and restoring native wildlife is important to the heritage and ecology of New Mexico , and one of the main roles of the Department of Game and Fish," Department Director Bruce Thompson said. "Today’s release is a positive first step in an effort to return otters to watersheds across the state."

River otters are highly social, playful, semi-aquatic members of the weasel family. They are believed to have once inhabited the Gila, upper and middle Rio Grande , Mora, San Juan and
Canadian river systems and occasionally were mentioned in the journals of early settlers.

There have been no confirmed sightings of river otters in the state since 1953. Decades of trapping and habitat loss are believed to be two factors in their disappearance. Current regulations require trappers to release any otters caught in traps.

"We are so thrilled to see this species back in New Mexico ," said Linda Rundell, state director for the Bureau of Land Management. "We’re working with partners throughout the state to restore watersheds and wildlife habitat; the icing on the cake comes when we can restore species like the river otter to their rightful place in New Mexico ."

Twenty states, including Arizona , Colorado and Utah have successfully reintroduced river otters. River otters and other predators play important roles in keeping communities of native species robust and diverse.

"We are extremely excited that Taos Pueblo has taken the initiative to ensure that our playful furbearing friends are once again diving and swimming in the Upper Rio Grande Watershed," said Melissa Savage with the New Mexico Friends of River Otters.

In 2006, the State Game Commission directed the Department of Game and Fish to initiate efforts to restore otters to state waters. A Department study identified several rivers as suitable restoration sites, including the Upper Rio Grande, White Rock Canyon and Middle Rio Chama in the Rio Grande Basin ; and the Upper Gila, Lower Gila and Lower San Francisco rivers in the Gila River Basin.

A second, larger release is scheduled on the main stem of the Upper Rio Grande in November.

The New Mexico Friends of River Otters, a coalition of government agencies and conservation organizations, plans to release additional otters. Members include Amigos Bravos, Earth Friends Wild Species Fund, Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, Four Corners Institute, New Mexico Wildlife Federation, Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club, Upper Gila Watershed Alliance and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

A Colorful Weekend in Taos, New Mexico!

UPDATE:
Click the Flickr button to see a photo set from this trip.





It's our favorite time of the year. We all love Fall's spectacular colors.

Now, everything is peaking, so we’re packing up, and heading north, to escape our frenzied world.

We'll recharge our spirits in Taos, New Mexico.

On Saturday, we're planning to stop by and pick up newly harvested apples in Dixon, check out all the talented artists at the Falls Arts Festival, and then travel deep into the forest, with a llama to look at the fall foliage before having a few friends over for an evening cocktail party here and dinner here.

Then Sunday, after visiting Taos Pueblo we'll meander back to town on the high road (between Taos and Chimayo), to check out more local art.

If you have family stories of apple picking and fall foilage treks please send us a comment with your own tales.

Then on Monday, we'll be rested, and ready to hit the campaign trail again for the final stretch of name-calling, petty accusations, and distractions by many of the campaigns who appear to be distracted from some of the serious issues facing the region, country and world.

Plus, we'll be finalizing our on-line voter guide with audio interviews with each of the congressional candidates.

Remember to ask your friends if they are registered to vote. Deadline is October 7th.

UPDATED - Tuesday Septeber 30th

I received this note from one of my traveling partner's. She loved Taos and enjoyed getting away for the weekend. Dad kept her little one and Jen told me this was her first weekend alone in a couple of years.

For many of us, life consists of a constsnt hustle and bustle...work, kids, deadlines, etc. So when you come to the El Monte Sagrado in Taos, NM, that all changes. You are instantly encapsulated in a serene setting. It's a scheme of vibrant colors reminiscent of an Inger Jirby painting, a local Taos artist. The colors were like a painted sunset made up of leaves. Shiny gold, radiant orange, and fiery red were amongst a wave of green- it was like summers last attempt at hanging on. And from check in to check out at the El Monte Sagrado, you feel like royalty. The staff are exceptional,and once opening the room door to the global suite it was like being thrust into another country- we were in Morocco. The room was a masterpiece and I felt the stress just melt away from my body. From the intricate designs inside the suite to the hot tub and lovely courtyard outside,you almost don't have a reason to leave your room...that is until you discover the Living Spa and the Anaconda Bar- the unique ambiance and lively spirits complete your fantasy getaway! These experiences at El Monte Sagrado are like the perfect apple pie. But unlike other hotels and resorts, when you stay at the El Monte Sagrado you don't get a piece of the pie, you get the whole pie. Enjoy!

Jeniffer Davis

N.M. Senators Recommend Action on Aamodt & Abeyta Indian Water Settlement Bill

U.S. Senators Pete Domenici and Jeff Bingaman today advised that the Bush administration’s ongoing opposition should not dissuade Congress from moving forward on legislation authorizing Indian water rights cases in northern New Mexico.

Listen to Domenici questioning Interior Department witness on northern New Mexico water settlements legislation.

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee today received testimony on the Aamodt and Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2008 (S.3381), legislation introduced by Domenici and Bingaman in July. Domenici serves on the committee, and Bingaman today testified at the hearing on behalf of the bill.

S.3381 would resolve Indian water rights claims associated with the Rio Pojoaque Basin (Aamodt case) and the Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement (Abeyta case).

At the hearing, Interior Department officials, as they have with other New Mexico Indian water settlements, explained the Bush administration’s opposition to S.3381—primarily citing cost concerns raised by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This opposition comes despite the fact that the two statements include an agreement by the state and local parties to contribute 33 percent of the implementation costs—a substantially higher percentage than other enacted settlements.

“I’m not very happy. After years of difficult negotiations, all the give and take, and all these very real changes to reach this point we only hear about opposition from the administration,” Domenici said. “We ought to approve this bill despite the administration’s opposition. We do not believe we can negotiate for any lesser amount of money and I believe the OBM is making some bad mistakes in its judgment of this bill.”

“The Bush administration’s opposition to this carefully negotiated bill is disappointing but not surprising. These settlements cost less and require a bigger state and local contribution than water rights settlements that this administration has supported in the past,” Bingaman said. “I see no reason for us to stop building support for our bill’s passage. We have a few weeks left in this session and Senator Domenici and I will work hard during that time to gain strong Congressional support for these important water settlements.”

S.3381—as well as a companion House bill (HR.6768) introduced by Congressman Tom Udall—is based on years of extensive negotiations between many parties, including Indian, local, state and federal parties.

The outcome of those talks, reflected in S.3381, will assure water resources for the pueblos while providing for the current and future water needs of non-Indian interests in north-central New Mexico. It would also resolve litigation that has been pending in the federal courts since the 1960s.

The bipartisan legislation would authorize the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Commissioner of Reclamation, to develop water infrastructure in the Rio Grande Basin, and to approve the settlement of the water rights claims of the Nambé, Pojoaque, San Ildefonso, Tesuque and Taos pueblos.

The Aamodt settlement includes the construction of a regional water system in and around Santa Fe County that will benefit the pueblos and their non-pueblo neighbors. Project construction plus other benefits to the pueblos are expected to cost the Federal government approximately $160 million within the next decade. The state of New Mexico and Santa Fe County are expected to contribute approximately $117 million towards the cost of the project.

Implementing the Taos Settlement requires funding a number of small projects to help improve water use efficiency; groundwater management; and improve water quality in the Taos Valley. The pueblo will also receive direct funding to manage its water resources. In total, the Taos settlement is expected to cost the Federal government approximately $114 million. The state of New Mexico is expected to contribute another $20 million to the effort.

The Aamodt-Abeyta settlement legislation represents two of the three pending Indian water settlements pending in New Mexico. In April, the lawmakers introduced legislation to authorize the settlement reached to resolve the Navajo Nation’s water rights claims in the San Juan River Basin.

At today’s hearing, testimony was also received from Charles J. Dorame, chairman of the Northern Pueblos Tributary Water Rights Association, and Gilbert Suazo Sr., councilman, Taos Pueblo.