This post is to solicit your support on a Annual Trout Stamp Bill benefiting the San Juan River Watershed currently in several committees within the New Mexico Legislative session. This Stamp and proceeds will benefit the San Juan River 100%. The funds raised by this Stamp will be utilized in 3 major categories, Trout Stocking, Stream Improvement and Enforcement. None of the funds will end up in a ? general fund ? and will be allocated solely for the benefit of the San Juan River.

Several prominent groups already support this initiative. New Mexico Trout, San Juan River Guide Association, San Juan River Foundation, Federation of Fly Fishers and the Tri-cities of Farmington, Bloomfield and Aztec support this fully. The impact to the consumer will be and annual fee of $ 5.00 for New Mexico residents and $10.00 for Non-residents. This will be charged when licenses are purchased or renewed and will be for fishing the San Juan River Quality Waters only.

We last week received a 100% positive response to this bill and are sending hard copies of this email campaign to Santa Fe so the committees will see the overwhelming opinion of the sportsmen who frequent the San Juan. I just received notice that the Concerned Citizen's Group has emailed their contingency to ask the State to table this bill. This stance continues to disappoint many of us in the community. It is apparent the only thing the Concerned Citizen's care about is to have a platform to lay blame and lobby against the Oil and Gas Industry. They are aligned with Oscar Simpson with NM Wildlife Federation and Trout Unlimited Nationally. If they cared about the river like they say the do, they would be behind this positive contribution for the river 100%.

In addition, the Concerned Citizens were part of the initial idea to sponsor such a bill. Now that want to change their mind. We have wanted to say this for a long time but is their agena about the river, or it is about ego ?

In closing, the current economic climate has prevented the State of New Mexico from funding improvements and projects on our beloved San Juan. This is a way for us sportsmen who love the outdoors and the San Juan to make a difference. In the grand scheme of things, this is a nominal way for us all to contribute to the continued improvement of our watershed for generations to come.


San Juan River Foundation
www.sanjuanriverfoundation.org