BACKGROUND: On April 12th and 13th, the New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC) will hold a hearing on the Pecos ONRW (Outstanding National Resource Waters) Petition.

NMAA joined Village of Pecos, San Miguel County, Upper Pecos Watershed Association, and Molino de la Isla Organics LLC in requesting the Pecos ONRW designation. The waters of New Mexico’s Upper Pecos Watershed are the lifeblood of the region’s acequia system, sustaining and enriching centuries-old acequias and farming and ranching traditions that depend upon clean water.

ONRW designation will protect traditional community water uses, and safeguard waterways from degradation like mining, development and transportation, waste disposal, recreational overuse, and the impacts of climate change.