U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, a New Mexico Democrat, has invited U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz to visit the Upper Pecos watershed following reports that the federal government has reversed a former moratorium on new mining operations.
Heinrich sent a letter to Schultz highlighting the importance of the watershed to tribes and other communities in New Mexico. In the letter, he wrote about the impacts that a 1991 mine spill had on the area.
“To New Mexicans who are facing a threat to their way of life and cultural heritage, there is no doubt that this area should be permanently protected,” Heinrich wrote. “The spill in 1991 left scars on the landscape and with those who depend on the river.”
The watershed was withdrawn from mineral leasing in 2024. In April, the U.S. Department of Agriculture — which oversees the Forest Service — sent out a press release about expanding timber production. At the bottom of that press release, it mentioned that the agency “also canceled two mineral leasing withdrawals on Forest Service land that will help boost production of critical minerals.”
Source NM reported that those two mineral leasing withdrawals were the Upper Pecos Watershed and the Ruby Mountains in Nevada.
In addition to reports that the federal government reversed the withdrawal, the land management agencies cancelled a meeting with impacted communities. Heinrich wrote that that meeting would have “allowed for discussion of the administrative withdrawal and demonstrated to your agency that this community is united by the beauty and health of the Pecos River.”
“Therefore, I would like to extend an invitation to you to visit New Mexico and the Pecos area so you can hear firsthand from local leaders, Tribes, community members, farmers, business owners, recreationists, and others while experiencing the beauty of this watershed,” he wrote. “While there, you can see why this river is so valuable and witness the very real threat of mining pollution that still exists.”
The Pueblos of Jemez and Tesuque have also both extended invitations to Schultz asking him to visit.
In his letter, Pueblo of Jemez Gov. George Shendo Jr. wrote about the importance of the region to his people.
“These lands and the waters flowing from them have sustained and nurtured our people since time immemorial,” Shendo wrote.
Pueblo of Tesuque Gov. Earl Samuel also wrote about ancestral ties to the region and watershed, as well as current uses.
“The Watershed plays a key role in delivering clean water to our community and our farmers,” Samuel wrote. “Our citizens continue to access the area for ceremonial purposes, hunting, fishing, and gathering medicinal and sacred plants.”
He highlighted that cleaning up after the mine spill in 1991 cost New Mexico $8 million and, more than 30 years later, remediation is not complete.
“Water is the blood of the Pueblo and all nearby communities. We cannot afford to again place our life-giving waters in the hands of foreign-owned mining corporations,” Samuel wrote.
