Creative ways to use Section 319 funds

If you could hire an enforcement officer to protect your watershed, would you do it? Amigos Bravos of New Mexico found a creative way to do just that…and more. With a three-year $75,000 Section 319 grant and $50,000 in matching funds, Amigos Bravos will tackle pollution problems in the Red River watershed.

Their project will address off road vehicle (ORV) use, which contributes to erosion and runoff problems in the watershed. Because of these problems, a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) clean up plan was created for turbidity and stream bottom deposits on the Red River.

As is true in many states, New Mexico's 319 grants are closely tied to the TMDL program. In fact, New Mexico only grants 319 funds for on-the-ground projects in watersheds with a watershed restoration action strategy and a TMDL in place.

“I think many of the reasons our 319 proposal was successful are very basic,” says Rachel Conn, Clean Water Circuit Rider for Amigos Bravos. “We talked with the agency staff before submitting our proposal, shared a draft with them, and made sure our request was on target. We made sure we provided the specific details the state requested in the same format they needed for easy review. And Amigos Bravos has a good reputation as a group who can get the work done.”

The Red River Project will reduce pollution problems and help implement the TMDL for the watershed by reducing illegal ORV use. Amigos Bravos plans to implement three main strategies in this project: mapping and reclamation of existing illegal roads, public outreach and education, and enforcement of ORV regulations.

Amigos Bravos and their partners— which include the U.S. Forest Service and the Red River Watershed Group — will reclaim and close two to three illegal roads annually. They will host two public education meetings and distribute educational materials to ORV users at gas stations, hotels and other venues. Amigos Bravos and the Forest Service will also partner to hire a seasonal enforcement officer charged with educating ORV enthusiasts and, where necessary, fining irresponsible ORV users. This combination of hands-on work, education and enforcement will mean the Red River will again flow clear. With creative thinking, Amigos Bravos has turned the voluntary 319 program into a multifaceted tool for river restoration.

For more information, contact Rachel Conn with Amigos Bravos (rconn@amigosbravos.org).