SAWC Annual Meeting April 11 2015

Help Us Stop the Water Mining in New Mexico

San Augustin Water Coalition
Annual Meeting of the Membership 2015
Saturday, April 11th, 2:00 to 4:00 PM at the Datil School Gym

Agenda

• Call to Order
• Presentation of the Last Years’ Activity
• Treasurer’s Report
• Election of 3 Board Members:  If you are interested in serving as a Board Member, please contact us sawcfight@gmail.com
• Presentation by Adren Nance, Catron County Attorney:  Procedure of an Evidentiary Hearing by the Office of the State Engineer
• Presentation by Dennis Inman, Retired Geologist:  the San Augustin Aquifer 

If They Take Our Water, Will Yours Be Next?

Catron County Solid Waste Update

by David Peters
Feb 3, 2014

The Catron County Commission has authorized a committee of citizens to investigate solutions to the solid waste problem in Catron County. A meeting was held on January 30, 2014 at the County Courthouse. The attendees were Cathlyn Snyder (county manager), Mark Atwood ( solid waste superintendent), Kate Fletcher ( accounts payable), Susan Johni Griffin ( county assessor), and Connie Shipley (county treasurer) representing the county. David Peters, Dell Gigante, Wayne Ashby, Bob Howell,Cindy Howell, and Charles Pollina representing the citizens. The purpose of the meeting was to establish the committee and gather background information to clarify the problems associated with solid waste disposal in Catron County.

We are in the process of forming this committee and are soliciting both your help and consideration. If you are interested in volunteering or have ideas or information you would like to share please contact Dave, Wayne, or Dell. (contact information below).

These problems have existed for many years and cannot be solved overnight. However, our objective is to have a solution before the next billing cycle which will occur in June, 2014. There is a lot of important information regarding the current situation that is too complex to discuss here. Dell, Wayne, and I are putting together plans for Town Hall meetings to explain the situation and answer questions. We plan for these to take place in Reserve, Glenwood, Datil and Quemado over the next few weeks.

We all want to be heard, but individuals taking an abusive attitude with the county will not help. Please be patient and allow this committee to work. We will find an answer. Carol Auffrey will be sending out more information when we nail down the Town hall Meetings. Please plan to attend and ask your neighbors to attend. Through Carol we will keep you updated as timely and accurately as possible. Accurate information, embracing creative solutions and the willingness to work together will get this job done. Thank you for being part of the solution.

David Peters
committee chairman
533 6027 coyotemoonranch@gilanet.com

Dell Gigante 772 5541 trailsend@gilanet.com

Wayne Ashby 533 6603

Carol Auffrey 7734991 himtnhideout@gilanet.com 

SAWC meeting Nov 18

The San Augustin Water Coalition will hold a Board meeting on Monday, November 18th, at 6 p.m. at the Datil Baptist Church. The Public is invited.

Reserve Bridge Replacement Project

Public Information Meeting

Date:  Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Time:  6:00 PM with presentation at 6:15

Location:  Catron Count Court Room, 101 Main Street, Reserve NM

NMDOT is developing plans for the replacement of the NM 12 Bridge over Starkwater Wash, approximately 5 miles east of the US 180 intersection with NM 12.

The purpose of the meeting is to present information on the condition of the existing bridge, discuss the recommended alternative, and receive comments from the public.

Written comments will be accepted at the meeting or can be mailed, emailed or faxed to:

Eric Johnson, Marron and Associates
7511 Fourth Street NW
Albuquerque NM  87107
EMAIL:  eric@marroninc.com
FAX:  505.897.7847

Panel Discussion in Silver City on Transfer of Federal Lands to State

Panel discussion on transfer of public lands from the federal government to western states.

WNMU Miller Library in Silver City October 24, 2013 at 5:30 pm

The panel contributors include NM State Representative Yvette Herrell, District 51, Otero County, Alex Thal, Joe Delk as well as other concerned New Mexicans from the local area who have been involved in the movement to transfer public lands from the federal government to the western states.

Yvette will give a presentation on legislation presented at the last legislative session in Santa Fe to address the federal government's overreach and restoring Constitutionally-limited government. She will also provide an update on the proposed legislation for New Mexico.

“The purpose of our meeting on 24 October 2013 is to help educate the state legislators, counties, soil and water conservation districts and other interested parties on the importance of passing legislation such as Utah's HB 148.

 New Mexico has over 45% of our public land managed by the federal government. We should have been given title to these lands at statehood according to our Enabling Act. As a state, we are sending OVER HALF of the revenues generated from royalties to the federal government. If we were managing our own lands, those dollars would stay in New Mexico and provide the revenues we need to provide adequate education, create jobs and manage our forests and other natural resources.

 Please visit http://www.americanlandscouncil.org/ to get more detailed information about the purpose of this bill. New Mexico is not alone. You will see that clearly the western states are at a disadvantage. Only 5% of the lands east of Colorado are controlled by the federal government and over 50% of the lands in the western states.

 I look forward to this opportunity to visit with folks in southwest New Mexico about this very important effort.”

- State Representative Yvette Herrell

Bring your friends & food and join us for a potluck after the forum!

AZ Game & Fish Wolf Meetings This Week

Arizona Game and Fish Department to hold informational meetings this week on federal proposals regarding Mexican wolf conservation

Sept. 22, 2013

The Arizona Game and Fish Department will hold public meetings this week in Payson, Tucson and Pinetop to share information with constituents on two proposed U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rules dealing with Mexican wolf conservation, and how the public can provide comments to the Service.

The first federal rule proposes delisting the gray wolf from the federal list of threatened and endangered species but maintaining endangered status for the Mexican wolf. The second federal rule proposes expansion of the geographic boundaries of the Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area in Arizona and New Mexico, as well as modification of the 10(j) rule for managing the experimental Mexican wolf population. Public comments to the Service on both proposed rules are due by Oct. 28, 2013.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the agency responsible under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for taking comments from the public regarding the two proposals, but the Service is not holding any public hearings in Arizona. It has only scheduled public hearings in three out-of-state locations: Washington, D.C. and Sacramento, Calif., on the first rule, and Albuquerque, N.M. on both rules.

"Since the Service has not scheduled any public hearings in our state, we feel it's important for Arizona Game and Fish, as the state agency responsible for managing wildlife in Arizona, to meet with constituents so they are informed about these proposals and are aware of how they can provide formal comment to the Service," said Jim deVos, assistant director for Game and Fish’s Wildlife Management Division. "The questions and input we hear at these meetings will also continue to inform us of the desires and concerns of our diverse constituency."

The meetings will be held from 4-7 p.m. on the following dates:

• Monday, Sept. 23 -- Payson, Greater Payson Moose Lodge, 4211 E. Highway 260, Star Valley. 
• Tuesday, Sept. 24 -- Tucson, Arizona Game and Fish Department Region 5 office, 555 N. Greasewood Road. 
• Thursday, Sept. 26 -- Pinetop, Arizona Game and Fish Department Region 1 office, 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd. 

Each meeting will include a presentation at 4 p.m. that will be repeated at 5:30 p.m. There will be an opportunity for attendees to ask questions after each presentation. Information will be provided on how to submit formal comments to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the proposed rules.

Arizona Game and Fish also plans to post a video of the presentation on its website at www.azgfd.gov sometime the week of Sept. 23.

More information about the proposals and how to submit comments to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is on the Service's website at www.fws.gov/graywolfrecovery062013.html and http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/mexicanwolf/index.cfm.

SAWC Board Meeting July 23

The next San Augustin Water Coalition Board meeting will be Tuesday, July 23rd at 6pm at the Datil Baptist Church.

Agenda-----July 23, 2013
• Call to Order
• Additions or Changes to the Agenda by the Board
• Reading and Acceptance of the Minutes of the previous meeting
• Treasurer’s Report
• Public Comments (limited to 3 minutes each)

• OLD BUSINESS
 *Highway Signs
 * Election of Officers

• NEW BUSINESS
 * Reports from Board Members
 *Fund raising ideas.
 *Discuss possibility of monthly meetings
 * Other New Business

• Executive Session
• Motion to Adjourn

Public meeting - Motor Vehicle Department office in Catron County

Monday, July 15th 10am – Catron County Town Hall Meeting – Reserve Community Center. The Town Hall meeting agenda is the Motor Vehicle Department issue in Catron County. MVD Director Mark Williams will attend and listen to our concerns. This is your chance to voice your concerns. Everyone in Catron County is encouraged to attend. For additional information call Richard at 575-533-6744.

Silver Fire - Location change for Mimbres Public Meeting

From: Gila National-Forest [mailto:silverfiregila@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2013 9:12 PM
Subject: Location change for Mimbres Public Meeting

 The location of the Silver Fire Public Meeting for the Mimbres Valley has moved to the Round Up Lodge in San Lorenzo.  The time will still be at 6PM on Friday, June 28.

Silver Fire Receives Precipitation - 21,789 acres

For Immediate Release 

 Contact: Fire Information 575-536-3382

June 15, 2013, 10:30 a.m. 575-536-3285

SILVER FIRE RECEIVES PRECIPITATION

SAN LORENZO, N.M. – Small amounts of rain fell on the north and south side of the fire yesterday moderating fire activity. Firefighters expect the same weather patterns today which will continue to be favorable to suppression efforts. The fire is now at 21,789 acres.

The Northern Arizona Incident Management Team is hosting Congressman Steve Pearce, staff and his guests at the Silver Fire. A tour and briefing are planned at the Incident Command Post in San Lorenzo, N.M.

There are 552 firefighters working the fire which include five helicopters, eight 20-person hotshot crews, five 20-person hand crews, 16 engines, two dozers and 11 water tenders.

A public meeting will be held in Silver City today, Saturday, at 6 p.m. at the Grant County Administration Building located at 1400 US Highway 180 East. Additional meetings are held each morning at the Hillsboro Community Center at 10 a.m.

Gila National Forest officials want to remind the general public that the forest is open except in the restricted fire area.

Several agencies are assisting with the Silver Fire, they include the Grant and Sierra County Sheriff’s Departments, NM State Police, Las Cruces BLM District, NM State Forestry and NM Department of Transportation.

To ensure public safety, the Aldo Leopold Wilderness has been closed east of NM State Highway 152 from the Continental Divide National ScenicTrail #74 south to Reeds Peak. NM State Highway 152 from San Lorenzo to Hillsboro remains closed. The road closure is for east and westbound traffic from 35 miles east of Bayard at mile marker 16 to 10 miles west of Hillsboro at mile marker 40. Trail #79 and the Royal John Mine Road are also closed for public safety. For more information see http://fs.usda.gov/gila or www.nmroads.com.

Silver Fire updates can be found on Inciweb at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3414. For additional fire information visit the following websites: www.facebook.com/SilverFireNM, www.flickr.com/gilaforest, www.twitter.com/SilverFireNM.

Map [PDF]

Moisture, Humidity Help Silver Fire Crews

For Immediate Release                                                            
 Contact:  Fire Information     575-536-3382 575-536-3285        

June 14, 2013,  9:30 p.m.                                                                                                          

Moisture, Humidity Help Silver Fire Crews

SAN LORENZO, NM – The Silver Fire received moisture over most of the fire today and as a result fire behavior remained  moderate.  Higher humidity helped crews battle the 21,400 acre fire.

 Firefighters continue to focus on protection of structures and construction of containment line. Late today crews conducted two small firing operations one mile north of Kingston near the Black Colt Mine reinforcing structure protection. To date firefighters have constructed approximately 20 miles of fire line with an additional 15 miles scouted.  Silver Fire resources also assisted  the Gila National Forest on a new fire near Georgetown.

There are 552 firefighters working the fire which include five helicopters, eight hotshot crews, five 20-person hand  crews, 16 engines, two dozers and 11 water tenders.

A public meeting will be held in Silver City tomorrow, Saturday, at 6 p.m. at the Grant County Administration Building located at 1400 US Highway 180 East. Additional meetings are held each morning at the Hillsboro Community Center at 10 a.m.

Gila National Forest officials want to remind the general public that the forest is open to recreation except in the restricted fire area.

Several agencies are assisting with the Silver Fire, they include the Grant and Sierra County Sheriffs Department, NM State Police, Las Cruces BLM District, and  NM State Forestry.

To ensure public safety, the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Area has been closed east of NM State Highway 152 from the Continental Divide Trail #74 south to Reeds Peak. NM State Highway 152 from San Lorenzo to Hillsboro remains closed. The road closure is for east and westbound traffic from 35 miles east of Bayard at mile marker 16 to 10 miles west of Hillsboro at mile marker 40. Trail #79 and the Royal John Mine Road are also closed for public safety. For more information see http://fs.usda.gov/gila  or www.nmroads.com

Silver Fire updates can be found on Inciweb at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3414. For additional fire information visit the following websites: www.facebook.com/SilverFireNM, www.flickr.com/gilaforest, www.twitter.com/SilverFireNM.

# # #

SAWC Annual meeting May 11

The San Augustin Water Coalition will hold its annual meeting on Saturday, May 11th. at 3 p.m. in the Datil school gym. Doors open at 2 p.m. A. Blair Dunn will be our keynote speaker. He is a water attorney and will speak on current water issues in New Mexico.

Please plan to attend. All are welcome.

Eileen Dodds, Treasurer, SAWC

Public Meeting Feb 15 - Predatory Animal Issues

Beth Bond

Apache County

Asst. Clerk of the Board

P.O. Box 428

St. Johns, AZ  85936

928-337-7502

Notification of a Public Meeting

Apache County has received inquiries and concerns from citizens regarding predatory animal issues. These questions and concerns, coupled with the recent announcement from The Southwest Region of The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service of the release of another adult Mexican Wolf in east-central Arizona, has prompted the County to host a public meeting in an effort to gather factual data and citizen’s experiences on this matter. Information gathered from this meeting, along with data gathered by our research team, will help our Board of Supervisors as they consider a resolution or ordinance addressing the safety, health, and general welfare of the citizens of our County. The meeting will take place at the Alpine Community Center, 42627 U.S. Highway 180 in Alpine, Arizona at 6:00 p.m. on February 15, 2013. For any additional information prior to the meeting, contact Beth Bond 928-337-7502.