The Gila Watershed Partnership meets at 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday of every month at the Graham County General Services Building.

Contact the Gila Watershed Partnership: Jan Holder, watershedholder@yahoo.com

Click here to check out New Mexico's Upper Gila Watershed Alliance website

April 2007 Newsletter

March 2007 Meeting Minutes

April 2007 Grant Status Report

Gila Watershed Partnership Goals:

• conserve natural resources
• enhance the environment for all users
• maintain or improve the local economy
• increase recreational opportunities
• increase water quantity
• improve water quality
• plan and act to avoid and minimize damage from large storms, floods, and other natural disasters

Objectives:

1. Prepare comprehensive lists of issues and concerns of the populace and of local, state and federal governments relating to natural resources in the watershed.

2. Promote and sponsor public education stressing awareness of

(a) inter-connections of all environmental factors,

(b) the domino effect of upstream changes on downstream areas,

(c) recognition of the power of a river at flood stage,

(d) finite levels of natural resources, and

(e) local solutions to local problems.

3. Conduct seminars and workshops for participants interested in learning details about the Gila Watershed, its natural resource issues, and possible solutions.

4. Provide a forum to foster continuous evaluation and improvement of environmental programs and regulations.

5. Identify and quantify the origins of nonpoint source pollution in the watershed.

6. Establish, or aid in the establishment of, monitoring programs for nonpoint source pollution.

7. Encourage action agencies, individuals, and other government and non-government entities to use locally appropriate management practices (lamps) to improve water quality.

8. Empower local communities in priority setting for environmental issues.

9. Encourage fair and equitable actions through public involvement.

10. Coordinate environmental planning and implementation with agencies, governments, environmental advocacy groups, and the private sector.

11. Align human and financial resources to achieve more efficient, effective, and responsive service.

12. Provide a sound technical basis to support environmental decisions.

13. Collect, organize, and store general watershed information such as upland areas, reaches of the river, urban areas, and valley areas.

14. Assist other groups and individuals in obtaining grants and contracts related to environmental resource issues and concerns.

15. Seek funding to address concerns.