Saturday, May 17, 2014

Pearce statement on Otero Co. situation

Washington, DC (May 16, 2014) Congressman Steve Pearce is disappointed by the Department of Justice's inability to recognize the constitutional property rights of citizens in the ongoing dispute over access to water for cattle ranchers in Otero County. The U.S. Forest Service continues to deny the Goss family access to the Agua Chiquita, after two court rulings have declared this family's right to access that water for their cattle.

"The Department of Justice and the U.S. Forest Service have acted with contempt to the findings of these courts. They have also failed to cooperate today with elected officials of Otero County, as they attempted to mediate the property rights issues surrounding the opening of the gates at Agua Chiquita," said Congressman Steve Pearce. "The DOJ's actions in this matter demonstrate that our constitutional protections have no value to this administration. I will immediately request a Congressional field hearing to address the U.S. Attorney's failure to uphold the private property rights of citizens, and an additional hearing on the USFS's taking of private water rights."

The New Mexico Supreme Court ruled that if a person has water rights, they have the right to convey that water over private or public property to their livestock. The USFS has not allowed the Goss family this ability. Federal claims court ruled in their favor after the USFS denied the longtime ranching family the ability to access water in another area of the national forest. The New Mexico State Engineer has also agreed that the Goss family maintains water rights to the Agua Chiquita.

Congressman Pearce has stood by Otero County ranchers and elected officials during this dispute. He will continue to stand by the county and its citizens. The USFS and US District Attorney refused a request by the county attorney who asked for Congressman Pearce to be present at today's mediation hearing.

Source

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

This Tea Party Congressman is a disgrace. I guess it is OK for these ranchers to destroy a developing watershed with their cattle. The Agua Chiquita stream project includes assessment and monitoring, improvement of pool structure and fish habitat, restoration and enhancement of a critical associated wetland, and fencing to provide protection of the site from cattle along the upper portion of the project area. This important project will restore a perennial headwater section of stream following a major fire event that eliminated an existing fishery, and will provide a potential site for reintroduction of native Rio Grande Cutthroat trout. It is just anti-Federal government rhetoric. This does not have to do with property rights. Mr. Pearce is dead wrong.

Frank DuBois said...

You totally ignored the water rights issue, so it has everything to do with property rights.