Water levels on the Rio Grande River dropped so low
in 1988, says rafting guide Steve Harris, that his business almost
came to a screeching halt. He and another El Prado, N.M., outfitter
then began asking each client to contribute $1 each for
conservation programs, and in two years they raised more than
$30,000. Other companies have joined up since, and the nonprofit
group, Rio Grande Restoration, was launched. The group distributes
money for Rio Grande Basin projects, such as water-quality
monitoring programs with student and community groups, and
on-the-river education trips for policy makers. The group’s major
goal is to increase water flow near the New Mexico-Colorado border
to protect threatened fish populations. For more information,
contact Rio Grande Restoration, P.O. Box 1612, El Prado, NM 87529
(505/776-1369).
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Restoring the Rio Grande.
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