Gila Resources Information Project

06/05/2026

The legislature passed Senate Bill 21 that created a state permitting program to protect rivers, streams, and wetlands from pollution. Now strong implementation rules are needed as federal rollbacks have stripped protections from 95% of New Mexico’s streams and 88% of its wetlands. Without decisive state action to implement strong protections, these waters, and the communities that depend on them, remain at risk. The Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC) will hold hearings on the draft surface water quality permitting implementation rules, and we need you to make your voice heard by providing a public comment in person or virtually and signing a petition. Speak up for clean water by submitting your public comment in support of strong protections for New Mexico’s waters! https://secure.ngpvan.com/_A8U59tutU2Kww9ljzQ5mw2?sourceid=1026751&emci=42ff8989-3459-f111-8fcb-000d3a18905c&emdi=5d164788-4f59-f111-8fcb-000d3a18905c&ceid=2256957.

06/01/2026

Thank you to the 13 volunteers and staff who helped with a restoration project at Dorsey Spring on Bear Creek recently. The team built 7 check dams and 2 media lunas for erosion control and planted 222 coyote willows for streambank stabilization. These efforts will help restore habitat for the endangered loach minnow and the Chiricahua leopard frog.

05/27/2026

A giant thank you to the 20 youth interns this spring who worked on Big Ditch Park revitalization and completed the design and painting of a beautiful mural through the Youth Mural Program and Adam Gulick's Silver High art class. Thank you to NM Clean and Beautiful, the Town of Silver City and the Youth Murals Program for your partnership. Together, we are keeping Silver City clean and beautiful!

05/22/2026

Don’t forget to register your child for the Nature Discovery Summer Camp! Session one is full, but there’s still room in sessions 2 & 3!

This free summer camp, open to rising 4th-6th graders, features experiential outdoor lessons and field trips that lead children toward a positive, confident relationship with nature. Three week-long sessions will be provided, each running 9am-3pm, Monday-Friday.

05/20/2026

GRIP is proud to be a co-founder and steering committee member of New Mexico Mining Watch, a statewide coalition working to protect water, community health, and environmental justice in mining decisions across New Mexico. We invite you to follow New Mexico Mining Watch on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/nmminingwatch) for updates, plain-language explainers, community perspectives, and opportunities to take action on mining issues affecting New Mexico communities. A new website for the coalition is still to come. Stay tuned!

05/18/2026

Check out the op-ed on the importance of environmental justice in NM, signed by GRIP board member Eduardo Arguello. To read the op-ed, visit https://sourcenm.com/2026/05/06/environmental-justice-protections-still-matter-for-new-mexico-communities/. (Photo by Eli Cahan/Capital & Main)

05/14/2026

Through a partnership with the New Mexico Clean and Beautiful program and the Town of Silver City, GRIP and the Youth Mural Program worked with local youth interns this spring to help beautify and revitalize Big Ditch Park. As part of this project, 11 youth interns helped care for and improve the park. Their work included planting trees, improving erosion control features, picking up litter, removing graffiti, and watering and weeding the park’s extensive native plantings. At the same time, the Youth Mural Program is working on a mural in the park. Next time you visit Big Ditch Park, take a moment to check out the incredible work these talented young people are accomplishing in our community!

05/13/2026

Don't forget to register your child for the Nature Discovery Summer Camp that starts June 1! This FREE week-long day camp is open to rising 4th - 6th graders. Click on the link below.

This free summer camp, open to rising 4th-6th graders, features experiential outdoor lessons and field trips that lead children toward a positive, confident relationship with nature. Three week-long sessions will be provided, each running 9am-3pm, Monday-Friday.

05/11/2026

The Bureau of Land Management announced a request for public input on Freeport-McMoRan's proposal to disturb additional acres at the existing Santa Rita Mine (Chino Mine). The 30-day public scoping period began May 8. The proposal would facilitate the management of waste rock and would include ancillary facilities like roads, utilities, drainage and water storage. Head to https://eplanning.blm.gov/Project-Home/?id=D76D2304-8449-F111-88B4-001DD804183B to submit your comments by June 7, 2026.

05/08/2026

We're celebrating Air Quality Awareness Week with a community litter cleanup on Saturday, May 9th. We invite you to steward our local environment by joining a community litter cleanup. Litter can contaminate soil, water, and even our air. You can help protect the health of our community and environment by joining a community litter cleanup!