Minnow Fight Brings Congressmen to Belen

...The fight between fish and people continued Saturday morning in Belen as members of the U.S. Congress held a hearing about the endangered silvery minnow.
The chairman of the committee on resources listened to stories from farmers who are struggling to make a living.
"When it comes to water it's very difficult to try and deal with the endangered species and deal with the need people have for water," said Rep. Richard Pombo of California.
The republican legislator says the endangered species act needs to be changed considering a recent ruling which allows the federal government to use water to protect the minnow in spite of long-standing water rights.
Pombo said that in some cases, the endangered species act "just got off what Congress originally intended."
Farmers from Belen testified about their current woes brought on by the drought and told legislators that they were concerned that protecting the minnow would make matters worse.
"It's caused families to change much of their livelihood, how they support their families," said Yolanda Tabet, whose family grows alfalfa.
Tabet's husband Phil says that his ancestors have farmed in Belen for a century, but he decided farming was too unpredictable anymore, and made his family’s primary income a restaurant.
He says that it seems legislators are finally listening to the people.
"It's finally sinking in," said Phil Tabet. "They're finally hearing us. And I really believe that this meeting was a very good meeting"...