The current protections prohibit new pollution of water quality in these outstanding waters except for very specific allowances for short term pollution from restoration activities that have a long term goal of improving the overall health of the water body. Historic pre-existing activities such as grazing and recreational practices are not negatively impacted by these protections as long as these activities do not increase discharges to the designated river. In fact, pre-existing activities such as grazing and recreational opportunities are protected by an ONRW designation because pollution from new sources such as drilling for oil and gas would be prohibited and thus water quality would be protected for ongoing activities.

Unfortunately, NMED is proposing to weaken current protections to allow temporary degradation from all kinds of pollution sources. In addition, the strong language for long-term protections has been watered down. Amigos Bravos is opposing these changes and is advocating for keeping the language as is. Weakening the protections for our state’s most special waters because of irrational fears and political pressures does not make sense. Not one case has been brought forth to date showing an on-the-ground conflict with the current regulations, which are being applied to 19 rivers and streams statewide. If it isn’t broken, why change it?

Overview of ONRW Protections and History in New Mexico

Under the Clean Water Act, there are several categories (or levels) of protection available for surface waters (rivers and lakes). The highest level of protection comes from a designation as an Outstanding National Resource Water (ONRW). ONRW status means that no activity is permissable if it will result in lower water quality than already exists in the affected water.

As part of the State's 2005 Triennial Review of Water Quality Standards, Amigos Bravos nominated the Río Santa Barbara as an Outstanding National Resource Water (ONRW) (27.5 MB pdf). The state designated the Río Santa Barbara as an ONRW river in 2004. This was the state’s first ONRW designation.

The next petition was aimed at protecting the Valle Vidal, a pristine area of the Carson National Forest that the Bush administration has ordered the Forest Service to put on a “fast track” for coalbed methane (CBM) drilling. American Rivers nominated McCrystal Creek in 2005 as one of this country’s “Ten Most Endangered Rivers”. Amigos Bravos worked closely with Governor Richardson’s administration to push for designation of all rivers in the Valle Vidal as ONRWs. This effort succeeded in December 2005. Permanent protection of the Valle Vidal from oil and gas exploration was passed and signed into law in December, 2006.

With these successes, Amigos Bravos has started a movement for creating ONRWs in special places throughout the State. Amigos Bravos is available to give workshops on how to nominate your favorite river as an ONRW. As with so much that Amigos Bravos is doing, our use of ONRW status has attracted national attention.

Nominate Your Favorite River!

Amigos Bravos works with groups and individuals to identify and nominate recreationally and ecologically important rivers, streams, and lakes in New Mexico as Outstanding National Resource Waters. Please contact Rachel Conn at 575-758-3874 for more information. 

The New Mexico Environment Department has developed a template for putting together Outstanding National Resource Water nominations. This template along with other ONRW  tools and resources can be found at NMED’s Surface Water Quality Bureau’s website:

http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/SWQB/ONRW/index.html#Essentials