Amigos Bravos - Friends of the Wild Rivers

In March 2003, Amigos Bravos convened an Advisory Council of 40 representative constituents, our Board of Directors, and staff, for a three-day strategic planning retreat. The purpose of the retreat was to review our progress, assess areas needing refinement or new direction, and formulate a new three-year Strategic Plan. In line with our previous Plan, retreat participants specified that our priorities for the next three years should be to: 1) Restore watershed health; 2) hold polluters accountable; and, 3) build a river protection movement (see below for an elaboration of our objectives under these broad goals).

The planning process provided a vital infusion of community and programmatic direction from Amigos Bravos’ constituency: land-based local communities, Native American tribes, urban environmentalists, a variety of professionals involved in the field of natural resources, legislative policy, science, health, education, and regional and national conservation organizations. In addition to confirming our own impressions and evaluation of our success in reaching and exceeding our previous goals and objectives, retreat participants confirmed the importance of a continuation and refinement of our work on mining reform and water quality standards – both on a statewide level and in empowering specific communities with the tools to protect and restore their own resources.

Participants also identified two additional areas in which to focus or enhance our work. Specifically, they identified a priority need to address the environmental legacy of Los Alamos National Laboratory and possible contamination of the surrounding watershed, and the need for a more defined and robust media effort to enhance public awareness of critical issues and the importance of our work. Since the retreat and the initial drafting of our new Strategic Plan, the threat of coalbed methane gas development in the Valle Vidal has added an additional project and priority for our work in the coming years.

We firmly believe that this integrated and pragmatic agenda to restore, protect, and sustain our State’s rivers and streams is what sets Amigos Bravos apart. It is just such an approach that will preserve our health, cultures, and livelihoods for generations to come.

Strategic Plans are developed within a backdrop of current events and influences. The backdrop for this strategic plan includes:

Our own fifteen years experience of building an organization with credibility and staying power rooted in the diverse culture and communities of New Mexico
Our own successes with the Molycorp Watch Project, Somos Vecinos, the Clean Water Circuit Rider Program, and the Mining Reform Campaign
In Washington, an aggressive anti-environment agenda
In Santa Fe, a new administration
Statewide and nationally, a challenging funding environment
Nationally, a proliferation of campaigns seeking our participation for their legitimacy
Nation wide, a proliferation of media messages pitting the environment against people and jobs
In New Mexico, the state’s water crisis and drought
Globally, the war in Iraq
Globally, the privatization of water

Mission

It is the mission of Amigos Bravos to:

Return New Mexico’s rivers and the Rio Grande Watershed to drinkable quality wherever possible, and to contact quality everywhere else;
To ensure that natural flows are maintained and where those flows have been disrupted by human intervention, to advocate that they are regulated to protect and reclaim the river ecosystem by approximating natural flows;
To preserve and restore the native riparian and riverine biodiversity;
To support the environmentally sound, sustainable traditional ways of life of indigenous cultures;
Ensure that environmental justice and social justice go hand in hand.

Vision

Communities throughout New Mexico and the Río Grande watershed working to preserve and restore the legacy of healthy rivers.

Purpose

Amigos Bravos: Friends of the Wild Rivers is a New Mexico state-wide river conservation organization guided by social justice principles, and dedicated to protecting both the ecological and cultural richness of the Río Grande and its tributaries.

Overarching Themes of This Strategic Plan

Media/Outreach: By incorporating media outreach into all of our projects, we will get out the message that “The River Lives!” An informed public is essential for protecting our rivers.

Capacity Building: By inspiring others to become active and effective river protectors, we can multiply our effectiveness in preserving and restoring the ecological and cultural richness of the Río Grande.

Diversity: By including many voices in our projects, the buy-in and success of our work will be increased. Intercultural communication and understanding is essential for a healthy river movement.

Objectives for Each Project

Hold Polluters Accountable
Restore Watershed Health
Build Capacity and Provide Assistance to Communities
Develop Policy Initiatives
Build a Voice for the River and create a diverse rivers movement
Link environmental impacts to human health issues

Criteria/Principles for Amigos Bravos Projects

Amigos Bravos applies the following principals to its work both internally and externally:

All projects must support and further the Amigos Bravos Mission
All communities impacted by our projects and work should be informed and included when possible.
All projects should recognize the important role of land-based communities in preserving the quality of life and characteristics of the landscape of New Mexico.
New projects should build on prior successes and lessons learned.
All projects must be do-able, win-able and measure-able.
Where practicable, projects should build capacity in communities, as the communities see the need.
All projects should further intercultural communication and understanding.
All projects must have integrated media outreach and funding strategies.
Projects should leverage the collective resources of the organization.

Priority Rivers

Río Grande and the following tributaries in New Mexico -- Red River, Río Gallinas, Río Pueblo/Embudo, Río Costilla, and Río Chama.
All designated and eligible Wild and Scenic Rivers in New Mexico.
All rivers in New Mexico found to have suitable habitat for the Rio Grande cutthroat trout and the river otterStrategic Plan Outline (Goals and Objectives)

Goal #1 – Restore Watershed Health

As an arid State in the throes of a multi-year drought, our watersheds have not only suffered the strain of inconsistent or below average flows, but have also borne the brunt of careless industrial practices, unchecked urban growth, and short-sighted cuts in regulatory protection. This has served to degrade the quality of the water we depend on in our homes and has impacted the beauty, useful purposes, and quantity of the fish and wildlife contained in the rivers and streams central to New Mexico’s identity and culture. In line with Amigos Bravos’ mission, our primary goal is to restore New Mexico’s impaired rivers and streams to drinkable quality where possible, to contact quality elsewhere, and both directly and indirectly protect and restore key native species indicative of the health of our watersheds. We aim to accomplish this goal through a variety of mutually-supportive education and outreach, legislative and policy, and research and on-the-ground restoration initiatives.

Project	Objectives/Tasks
Río Grande Campaign	Develop a comprehensive restoration strategy for the Río Grande and its tributaries from the CO/NM border to Velarde Provide leadership for Alliance for Río Grande Heritage national campaign Help implement ARGH diversity, media, and water quality strategies Pursue legal and negotiation strategies regarding Albuquerque and Santa Fe water diversion projects
Clean Water Policy Initiative	Pursue river-friendly changes to state and federal water-related laws and regulations Nominate New Mexico’s first Outstanding National Resource Water Assure stringent application of state and federal clean water laws and regulations (TMDLs, CAFOs, antidegradation, mixing zones) Set precedent by including mandatory Best Management Practice as part of a permit Participate in the state’s Triennial Review of Water Quality Standards (change the definition of “waters of the state” to be more inclusive and protective of all waters in the state) Participate in state, regional, and local water planning and regulations (ISC/OSE/WQCC) Oppose detrimental water transfers Link water quality and quantity, help define “public welfare” and water commodification issues Link water quality to human health and economic development Focus on land use, urban sprawl, and river corridor zoning Defend state and federal environmental laws and promote environmentally-friendly legislation and regulations
Native Species Initiatives	Río Grande Silvery Minnow Recovery Represent environmental interests on the USFWS Río Grande Silvery Minnow Recovery Team Coordinate recovery and enhancement strategies with ARGH River Otter Restoration Coordinate and help lead a river otter restoration strategy for New Mexico Restore river otters in the Río Grande, San Francisco and Gila watersheds within three years Bosque Restoration Develop volunteer program for ongoing river clean-ups and riparian enhancement projects Replace tamarisk with willows and cottonwoods within the Orilla Verde Recreation Area Río Grande Cutthroat Trout Enhancement Enhance Río Grande cutthroat trout populations on the Río Costilla and Río Santa Barbara watersheds

Goal #2 – Hold Polluters Accountable

Complementary and essential to restoring watershed health, we will hold polluters accountable for the harm they cause and strive to prevent any further degradation of our rivers and streams. The cornerstone of our efforts includes continuing our highly successful 15-year struggle to hold the Molycorp molybdenum mine in Questa accountable for the damage done to the Red River and for its clean-up, monitoring ongoing threats to the health and welfare of the citizens of Questa, and reclamation of the mine-site itself. To leverage our experience and success in dealing with Molycorp, we have also launched a multi-year initiative examining the potential that radioactive and other toxic discharges from Los Alamos National Laboratory are seeping into surface and groundwater downstream. In both instances, the federal Clean Water Act and state discharge permit processes remain our most effective means of protection. The third tier of our work in this area, also building on our work in Questa, focuses on defense of the New Mexico Mining Act and its bonding provisions (among the most stringent in the county), and support for a broader regional and national campaign to reform mining laws and practices.

Project	Objectives/Tasks
Clean Rivers Initiative	Red River Campaign (Molycorp Watch) Stop acid mine drainage by requiring the resloping and revegetation of waste rock piles Stop contamination of the Red River through the NPDES and tailings (DP-933) discharge permits Re-negotiate the mine permit White Rock Canyon Campaign (LANL Watch) Collect data, develop long-term advocacy strategy, and identify funding mechanisms Assemble legal/technical/policy campaign team, develop media messages, and obtain standing Pursue legal/regulatory options to stop pollution from reaching the river
Mining Reform Campaign	Provide leadership for the New Mexico Mining Act Network and the Mining Impacts Communications Alliance Assure enforcement of, and counter any attacks on, the New Mexico Mining Act (focus on financial assurance, reclamation issues) Develop and implement a strategic plan for reclaiming abandoned mines in New Mexico (hard rock, uranium, and sand and gravel) Develop, and advocate for, ‘bad actor’ provisions applicable to all state environmental permits Provide leadership for, and coordinate with, the Western Mining Reform Campaign Develop public/congressional support for reforming the 1872 mining laws Advocate for mining reform policies and legislation to stop mining in ecologically important and sacred sites Assist mine-affected communities with technical, research, and capacity-building needs

Goal #3 – Build a River Protection Movement

Our third goal focuses squarely on the sustainability of our efforts elaborated above. In order to build a sustainable rivers movement for the future, Amigos Bravos dedicates a considerable share of its energies to outreach and education, technical assistance to communities, and membership development. The foundation of these efforts is reaching and being responsive to the affected and diverse communities that constitute the fabric, character, and culture of New Mexico. The overall purpose of these efforts is to reach, teach, empower, and grow our constituency to ensure that our efforts, and the contributions of charitable foundations and individual supporters, are self-sustaining.

Project	Objectives/Tasks
Media and Communications Initiative (tell stories and dispel myths)	Develop clear and concise organizational and issue-specific messaging Strengthen local, and develop national, positive media presence Enhance real-time responsiveness to emerging issues and press inquiries Refine print and electronic means of capturing and promoting organization's mission, work, and effectiveness
Environmental Justice, Diversity, and Youth Initiative	Environmental Justice Initiative Participate in coalitions linking river health and sustainability to human health and economic justice issues Provide political and technical assistance to EJ groups dealing with water quality issues Build relationships with marginalized groups and communities dealing with water pollution issues Diversity Initiative Organize diversity workshops at the local, regional, and national levels to ensure a diverse voice speaks for the river Produce presentations/workshops on river protection that resonate with a broad constituency (chambers of commerce, civic clubs, land trusts, etc.) Work with land-based communities (pueblos, acequias, farmers, and land grants) to build on Somos Vecinos initiatives RIO (Recognize Itís Ours) Youth Initiative Build on the success of the RIO CD, mural, and performances to advocate for river conservation Provide educational and leadership training opportunities aimed at youth Provide opportunities for youth to participate in river conservation activities Organize a statewide Youth Symposium on Water and document youth perspectives

Project

Objectives/Tasks

Capacity-Building Initiative

External ñ Technical Assistance

Internal ñ Organizational Development

Provide start-up and capacity-building assistance to individuals and groups wanting to protect their watershed
- Present Clean Water Act workshops
- Develop tool kit of services we can provide to communities and groups
When requested, provide or locate technical assistance to community groups dealing with water quality issues
Organize opportunities for group and individual participation in the public review process (Triennial Review, DEIS, NPDES)
When requested, provide diversity assessments and trainings for environmental and land-based groups
Build and maintain an active and engaged membership base
- Increase general membership to 2,006 by 2006
- Increase business membership to 206 by 2006
- Provide educational opportunities and special events for members
- Organize action response teams within our membership (phone trees, letter writing campaigns, alerts, etc.)
- Involve volunteers and members in all aspects of the organizationís work
Provide Board and staff leadership and financial management trainings aimed to strengthen organizational infrastructure
Undertake annual financial audit
Develop and implement a three-year fundraising and development plan
- Create stable funding base for organizational needs, and a sustainability plan within each project area
- Actively pursue and maintain diverse funding to include foundations, government grants, and corporate sponsorship
- Host fundraising events aimed at generating income and enhancing public awareness of our work
Undertake an organizational diversity assessment and develop a strategic plan to further diversity

About Us | Annual Report | Strategic Plan | Staff | Board of Directors