Western Resource Advocates

New Mexico is one of the states most impacted by the Supreme Court ruling which rolled back Clean Water Act protections, and WRA is working with partners and the New Mexico Environment Department to create a state-level program to protect the so-called "gap waters" most at risk. Chair Brenda Mallory of the White House Council on Environmental Quality visited Albuquerque for an event with stakeholders to hear about the impacts of Sackett v EPA on New Mexico waters. Acting State Engineer Tanya Trujillo announced New Mexico's commitment to the America the Beautiful Freshwater Challenge, a national goal which seeks to protect, restore, and reconnect 8 million acres of wetlands and 100,000 miles of our nation’s rivers and streams by 2030."

WRA filed a petition with the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) today requesting the Commission reconsider its 4-1 decision to allow UniSource Electric to build a 200-megawatt methane gas plant expansion without obtaining a certificate of environmental compatibility. The decision, which overturned a 9-2 decision by the state’s Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee, creates a troubling new precedent for gas and electric utilities seeking to build new generation facilities and eviscerates an oversight process that has been in place in Arizona since 1971. “The Arizona Corporation Commission places utility profits over the people of Arizona by exempting the UniSource gas plant, and other plants like it, from this environmental review process.” Says WRA’s Emily Doerfler, Clean Energy Attorney. “The people of Arizona, its local governments, and interested stakeholders deserve a voice in the siting of large energy projects and the Commission’s decision limits the opportunities for these voices to be heard by both Arizona’s utilities and the ACC alike.” https://lnkd.in/gSiNbd_g

Colorado’s Sawatch Range stretches north to south over 80 miles and reaches elevations as high as 14,400ft. In the winter it becomes mostly impassable as the high roads close due to deep snow. The Continental Divide follows the crest of the range. Snow on the West side melts to become the Colorado River which is the life force of the seven state region WRA works to protect. Key Upper Colorado River tributaries, like the Gunnison and Roaring Fork, find their start in the Sawatch Range. Swipe for some scenes from a recent journey through the range! →

Via the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund, New Mexico now has funding to preserve four Archaeological Sites. “The Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund will be a critical tool for New Mexico to achieve the state’s conservation, preservation, restoration, and climate resilience goals,” said Dr. Brittany Fallon, western lands senior policy manager at WRA. The newly funded project will “Identify, document, stabilize, and interpret four Bee Holdzil (Navajo defensive structures) in the Dinetah region, in alignment with the Office’s goals for the identification and protection of cultural resources on State Trust Land.” https://bit.ly/4cPFhI3

“This is a significant win for the climate and affordable energy in Colorado,” said Meera Fickling, a sustainable buildings manager for WRA. “We’ve wound up with a plan focused on the most cost-effective way to reduce emissions, which is electrifying buildings.” Michelle Aguayo, an Xcel Energy spokesperson, said the utility already helps customers buy electrical appliances and cut their energy use. She expects the recently approved plan will allow the company to expand those incentives. https://bit.ly/3WbAz1I

“Electric utilities could now build large methane gas facilities in your neighborhood without engaging with the public or local governments or assessing environmental compatibility through this process.” WRA’s Emily Doerfler writes. “The core purpose of the Arizona Corporation Commission is to regulate monopoly utilities to protect Arizonans — both our health and our pocketbooks. But the commission is increasingly abandoning this watchdog role.” https://bit.ly/3RSyANe

At WRA, The West is our passion. Here's some scenes from the seven states where we live and work. enjoy the long weekend and we hope you find yourself somewhere beautiful!

Colorado River coalition gains funding to purchase of 1 million acre-feet of Shoshone water rights. "The Shoshone water right plays a critical role in compliance with the federal Endangered Species Act. The Keep Shoshone Flowing coalition says more than 1,250 Colorado water projects on both sides of the Continental Divide rely on the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program to maintain compliance with the law. That's tied to instream flow rights, which is water that protects the environment, including fish and riparian habitats, according to WRAs' Bart Miller." https://lnkd.in/gYqhRm4H

FirstBank, WRA’s Impact sponsor, is recognized as a top corporate philanthropist and focuses on “banking for good”. When you open a FirstBank checking account this summer (June 1 – August 30), the bank will donate to causes that help save bees, conserve water, and plant trees. WRA is proud to be one of those nonprofits. FirstBank prioritizes its customers, employees, and communities and is committed to doing what’s right for the planet. We greatly appreciate our partnership. Learn more at efirstbank.com/green. #GoGreen #ConserveWater #BankingForGood

River flows can be a proxy for ecosystem health. WRA’s Bart Miller, the healthy rivers director, said stream flow recommendations are the bedrock for protecting the environment. WRA is helping to facilitate the new cohort. “Flow has an impact on water quality, temperature, habitat — everything from spawning cues for fish to just keeping them alive when flows are getting low at the end of the summer,” Miller said. “There’s a wide range of benefits from having a clear picture of what stream needs are and articulating recommendations on how to improve or protect what the flows look like.” https://lnkd.in/gS4i47fR