Protect Pecos for future generations
AS A GRAZING permittee and a land grant heir, I want to protect the Pecos. I would like to add my thoughts to your recent article about the proposal to preserve the roadless areas surrounding the Pecos Wilderness (“Plan to expand Pecos Wilderness facing resistance,” Jan. 8).
My family has been living on this land since the mid-1500s, and keeping its rich historical and cultural values are incredibly important. Our traditions are what define us and it is important that they continue.
I am a third-generation cattle and sheep permittee in the Santa Fe National Forest and Pecos Wilderness, and I want to ensure that fourth, fifth and six generations can also carry on this Western tradition. I am also an heir and board member to the Santa Gertrudis de lo de Mora land grant. For both these capacities, our water comes from the watersheds protected by the Pecos and surrounding areas. And if we are to continue our traditions, it is important that these lands and waters remain protected for years to come.
Protecting the Pecos would preserve our grazing rights. Just as ranchers graze in the already designated Pecos Wilderness, permittees will continue to graze in the proposed roadless areas. Additionally, the proposal would safeguard our water rights and customary uses of the land, like irrigation. There are no acequias or headgates within the proposed areas, so maintenance and operations of acequias would not be impacted.
Recently, we have seen attacks on our public lands and waters that would forever change our communities and way of life. The rhetoric is scary, but what is scarier for me is envisioning a future without my birthright. RICHARD FRESQUEZ
Cleveland, N.M.