N.M. official: Headwaters deserve special protection

Nearly half of New Mexico's surface water comes from federal forest lands, and some of those headwater streams, lakes and wetlands deserve special protections to ensure they continue providing clean water for the state, a top official with the New Mexico Environment Department said Tuesday. Marcy Leavitt, head of the department's Water and Wastewater Division, was among the experts who testified before the Water Quality Control Commission at the start of a four-day hearing at the state capitol. The commission is considering a petition by the department that aims to designate about 700 miles of rivers and streams, 29 lakes and more than 4,900 acres of wetlands in a dozen wilderness areas as so-called "outstanding national resource waters." The designation would protect the waters by prohibiting any activities that would degrade water quality. Critics, including the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association and some local water groups, argue that resources in wilderness areas are already protected and that such a broad designation could harm rural New Mexico. Two state senators Democrat Phil Griego, of San Jose, and Republican Clint Harden, of Clovis also raised objections during Tuesday's hearing. They pointed to a joint memorial passed by the Legislature in 2009 that opposed the outstanding waters initiative until more scientific data could be collected. Officials with the New Mexico Game and Fish Department testified that providing additional protections to headwaters could benefit wildlife, including threatened and endangered species...more