Page 6 - BRN April 2021
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  Even within one year, the variability of our streams is significant, as indicated by this data from United States Geological Survey, Water Resources.
  If you look close, it’s easy to say, “What’s the use?” But that ain’t going to work, is it? And those who have been working at saving a sick earth — rather than a dying one — need to stick with their job and not go to that dark place. While adults are bickering about another little ugly matter, the youth of the world might win over the powers that run the universe. Save the world, kids. Adults are incapable.
Steve Harris brought me to this conclusion too. His 501(c)(3), Rio Grande Restoration, has done decades of work to protect many aspects of the Rio Grande and Chama Rivers. He is also the owner of Far Flung Adventures — support him in all forms, please. (Cisco Guevara of Los Rios River Runners is another man in the rafting business who does great work for the environment.)
High Country News printed: “It’s hard to pin accomplishments on Steve Harris because he usually works behind the scenes. While other environmentalists make headlines, Harris toils quietly, in search of nuts-and-bolts solutions.” That was written almost 20 years ago, and Steve has been “pinned” with many medals since — all while working for the rivers of New Mexico.
Here are a few items that my years outdoors in New Mexico have taught me need special attention.
Grazing is a monster that devastates trout waters, their riparian areas, and the entire watersheds of rivers. Nowadays, so few people are aware of what’s happening outside that few know what a healthy range looks like: where vegetation is full, green, and varied. Look at the sides of an un-mowed highway — and then look over the fence to where the cows are. Startling contrast — especially if you are looking at federal land! New Mexico state land is going to look a lot healthier than federal land because the state charges four times as much to graze a cow/calf unit than the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, or Forest Service does. That’s $5.50 per head per
month rather than the sweetheart deal of $1.35 on federal lands. That usually turns out to be about $8 per year per cow because cows do not graze on the allotments during all months!
Grazing fees are so cheap on “Multiple Abuse” federal lands that cattlemen can run too-high numbers of cows, hope it rains, and then check and see how many are left standing at roundup. If it doesn’t rain, no worries; the minuscule “fee” then qualifies the grazer for emergency green — in the form of free feed programs, wells, loans, and grants. For your $1.35 per month, you also get predator control with antiquated tools, like cyanide canisters, and the corresponding mentality.
Real estate development is a real heartbreaker to me personally; I become depressed when I visit a place I used to frequent that has been ruined by building. When I moved to New Mexico 50 years ago, houses didn’t litter the countryside but were in town where they belong. It would be rare to even see a house out in the sagebrush back then. When all the ranchettes are added up, they cause a lot of damage, including erosion, habitat
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The article is a reprint, with modifications, from Taylor Streit’s most recent book. Graphics included here were not included in the original publication.
   























































































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