Legislature Considers San Juan Stamp to Generate Habitat Improvement Funds

A new user fee for anglers who fish the San Juan River’s trophy, trout waters overcame its first hurdle in the Legislature this week with passage of House Bill 51 by the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee.

Under the proposed law a new habitat stamp would be added to state fishing licenses for those who wish to fish the San Juan River’s quality waters.

 

State residents would be charged an extra $5 a year on top of the usual cost of an annual fishing license while out-of-state anglers who want to the fish the state’s top trout fishery would have to pay an extra $10.

The stamp requirement would expire after ten years under a sunset provision and is estimated to generate between $225,000 to 325,000 a year.

Money generated from the extra stamp charge would be earmarked exclusively for habitat improvement projects on the San Juan River’s quality waters, where some say the fishing quality has declined in recent years.

The stamp idea grew out of stakeholder meetings last year to address issues regarding the fabled, blue ribbon trout stream including complaints about the degradation of fish habitat due to silt and sediment accumulation brought on by federally mandated, lower water releases from the dam at Navajo Lake.

The legislation comes on the heels of the loss of $250,000 in state capital outlay funds appropriated for habitat improvements on the river last year and supporters of the bill say it’s only appropriate for users of the river to now shoulder the burden for the improvements.

“We support it, there’s just no other way in this economic climate,” says Rudy Rios, president of New Mexico Trout. ” It’s a small price to pay for the quality they’re (anglers) getting.”

One priority project on the books that has been waiting on funding is diversion of a wash that drains directly into the top end of the river and is a major contributor of silt and sediment to the river at highly popular Texas Hole.

Other projects under consideration include increasing access and improving fish habitat in other sections of the river to reduce overcrowding and pressure on the more popular areas, says State Game Commission Chairman Jim McClintic.

“We want to make this one of the finest fisheries in the U.S.A.,” McClintic told members of the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee during their hearing of the bill at the state capitol on Thursday (Jan 28).

Angling on the San Juan River contributes anywhere from $20 million to $40 million to the state’s economy each year, according to the state Department of Game and Fish.

McClintic said in an interview prior to the committee meeting that he saw no other way to raise the funds needed for those improvements that anglers wanted.

“The people who use it should have to pay for it,” he said.

Greg McReynolds of Trout Unlimited complained that the extra charge to anglers would make it harder to raise fees in the future to support other initiatives like native trout restoration. He also argued for a shorter sunset provision of three years and asked that there be more public involvement and a clearer plan of action before proceeding.

“We may support this bill later,” he told the committee.

Larry Johnson of the San Juan River Guides Association and owner of Soaring Eagle Lodge says the stamp idea enjoys broad support among fishing guides, fly shops, and other business owners on the San Juan River at Navajo Dam.

“My clients tell me another $10 isn’t going to kill them especially after all the money they spent to come fish here in the first place,” Johnson says.

About 70 percent of those fishing the river come from out of state, according to state Department of Game and Fish statistics.

The bill enjoys the support of Governor Bill Richardson, according to his spokesperson, Alarie Ray-Garcia, because it provides targeted funding, is paid for by the anglers who fish the river, it allows the Department of Game & Fish to address recent concerns regarding fish habitat, angler access, and siltation and also allows the department to conduct habitat and fishery studies.

House Bill 51, sponsored by House Minority Leader Tom Taylor, R-San Juan, is slated to go next before the House Energy Minerals and Natural Resources Committee.

This article appeared also appeared in the Santa Fe New Mexican .

Cerrillos Hills State's Newest park

The coyotes started howling just as we crested the hill on this warm, sunny afternoon at the new Cerrillos Hills State Park south of Santa Fe.

But it was the panoramic views that captured our attention as the pack yipped and howled in what sounded like the next draw over.

Views that stretched for miles taking in snow capped mountain ranges, flat topped mesas and rolling pinon and juniper studded hills.

Here the ground was warm and dry, the trails clear and well maintained and the silence deafening.

“It’s one of the best things about this place,” says Sarah Wood, manager of the state’s newest park. “We’ve got five miles of good trails, great winter hiking and incredible views.”

Located just outside the historic mining town of Cerrillos, just 25 miles south of Santa Fe off State Rd. 14, management of the park was assumed from Santa Fe County by the State Parks Division of the state Energy, Mineral’s and Natural Resources Department in August.

Many of the state’s 36 state parks administer public lands for other agencies and generate much of their operating funds through user fees.

Much of Cerrillos Hills State Park’s existing trails, interpretive signs, a restroom and other features were already in place due primarily to the volunteer efforts of  the Cerrillos Hill’s Park Coalition along with assistance from the county and has been open to the public since 2003.

Granted some $1.4 million in legislative appropriations in recent years, State Parks acquired a .67 of an acre parcel of land in downtown Cerrillos for $672,000 upon which to construct a community and visitor center, according to Marti Niman, State Park’s spokesperson.

But plans for the community and visitor center have since ground to a halt after Governor Bill Richardson ordered a freeze on all capital outlay projects while he and the state legislature work on a fix for the state’s $650 million budget shortfall.

State Parks was however, able to renovate a house on the land for use as an office which sits just down the street from a historic landmark at the entrance to town, Mary’s Bar.

During a recent visit Wood said she hoped the park would draw more visitors to the old mining town and boost economic development for the rural area.

“We already get quite a few visitors,” she says “But we’re seeing even more mountain bikers, hikers and horseback riders as the word gets out.”

Wood noted that she spends a lot of time now notifying visitors that a $5 day use fee is required to utilize the park. It had been free to use before. A yearly pass can be for $40 at the office or by mail.

The park has recently played host to astronomy events, nature tours and other events to draw visitors and will conduct even more activities in the future, Wood said.

Wood, 47, of Los Alamos, has been with State Parks for eight years. She holds a Masters Degree in Biology from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces and a Bachelors Degree in Biology from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.

Wood formerly held the position of Northwest and Northeast Regional Educational Coordinator for State Parks where she oversaw educational and interpretive programs including star parties, wildlife tracking, plant and fauna identification and history programs for school groups and the public.

This is her first posting as a State Park Manager and is excited about the opportunity and possibilities considering the area’s natural and historical attractions and its proximity to a major tourism destination such as Santa Fe.

Less than a half hour away from Santa Fe, the park not only provides visitors with wide open spaces to enjoy but also a glimpse back in time of an era long ago.

Along many of the trails visitors will find numerous sealed mines, most with interpretive signs providing information about the region during its boom town days.

Cerrillos once was a town bustling with hotels, saloons and other businesses to support those who mined the hills during the 1800s for gold, silver, turquoise, zinc and  lead.

But today one finds mostly dusty streets, old boarded up store fronts and plenty of dogs roaming about the once busy town.

However, upon closer inspection visitors to Cerrillos will find some diehard businesses remain including the fun and informative, Casa Grande Petting Zoo and Turquoise Mining Museum, an intriquing What Not Shop and Mary’s Bar, a classic New Mexico drinking establishment.

The town also boasts a wonderful old church, some galleries and plenty of Old West atmosphere, the likes of which drew movie makers to the rural community to make films such as “Young Guns,”one and two.

All worth visiting while taking in the new state park’s great outdoor recreational opportunities which also includes a horseback riding concession, Broken Saddle Riding Co, that’ll take riders into the park and surrounding public lands.

It should be noted that Cerrillos lacks a restaurant but food and drink can be had in the funky little town of Madrid located just three miles down the road from Cerrillos, where one can eat, drink and shop.

This article also appeared in the Santa Fe New Mexican.

If You Go:

Those traveling out to Cerrillos Hills Park can make a roundtrip adventure of it by taking I-25 south to exit 267 located at the top of La Bajada Hill, just past the rest area.

Go under the highway and then head straight for the mountains on Santa Fe County Road (SFCR) 57, also known as Waldo Canyon Road.

This paved road turns to dirt after about a mile and one might see the Roadrunner train along the way. About six miles later one comes upon the old railroad siding of Waldo where the ruins of massive coke furnaces can be seen by the railroad tracks. The stop features the shade of several aging cottonwood trees and ruins of old buildings. Amtrak and freight trains still operate on these tracks, trespassing is prohibited and caution is advised.

The road then cuts through a narrow, twisty gorge and eventually comes out at Cerrillos where one takes a left onto SFCR 59, which leads up past the village cemetery to the Cerrillos Hills State Park kiosk. The office is located in downtown Cerrillos on Main Street.

Upon leaving town, visitors can head back to Santa Fe through Cerrillos on State Road 14 and take SFCR 45, also known as Bonanza Creek Road, just outside of Lone Butte, for a scenic side trip into the foothills and past the Bonanza Creek movie ranch where from the road visitors can sometimes see movie sets. Stay on SFCR 45 to the frontage road at I-25 and follow it north back to State Road 14 and on into Santa Fe.

Winter Fishing on the San Juan - Bring it On!

There's a reason savvy travelers love the off-season and the same goes for those who love to fish, especially on the fabled San Juan River in northwest New Mexico.

“I really like the winter fishing here because you don't have the crowds and you can fish pretty much anywhere you want,” says Mark Wethington, a state Department of Game and Fish biologist stationed on the San Juan River at Navajo Dam. “And what's so nice about New Mexico, you get a lot of really nice sunny days between November and March.”

I met up with Wethington during one winter fishing trip to the San Juan River. He was out counting beaver dams and I was chasing trout, we both had little or no competition on the river that day.

And, sure enough, the day started out sunny and warm, and the fishing was fine.
But as can be expected on the San Juan River in the winter, the wind kicked up, the clouds rolled in, and it turned cold, as did the fishing.

So we hiked back to the parking lot where the conversation turned to the much anticipated resumption of the annual spring release of irrigation water from Navajo Dam.

Several years of drought has severely reduced the amount of water typically sent downstream each spring and the river, the fish, and the bugs they eat have suffered some because of it.

“But we'll get a big flush this year,” Wethington said. “And it'll really benefit the river by pushing downstream a lot of the sediment that's been deposited over the last four years. It's needed and should really improve the aquatic life and fish habitat.”

The Bureau of Reclamation, which operates the dam, is expected in April to start increasing its release of water from the dam from a current level of 350 cubic feet per second to a high of five thousand cfs by May. It will be maintained for several weeks at that level until dropping again to 350 cfs.

The big flush, a man-made version of nature's own spring runoff, would blow out the river and mark the beginning of the official fishing season on the San Juan river.

The drift boat guides, the tackle shop owners, and the summertime anglers will be wringing their hands with glee. The flush is expected to stir things up good, including a lot of bottom-hugging lunkers.

But for me there'll be no more long days of hiking and fishing the river without fear of heatstroke.

No more hanging out in the parking lot at the end of the day, having a cold beer and realizing you don't have any ice and really don't need it.

It'll be the end of no waiting for a table at the cantina and dinner served up hot, fast, and friendly.

And there'll certainly be no more rolling into the campground at dusk and having my pick of the sites and finding a pile of leftover firewood to boot.

Those are just some of the primary reasons for fishing the San Juan in the winter, but there are others, too.

Like just lying down at streamside and letting the winter sun warm your face while layers of wool, canvas, and rubber keep the cold and wind at bay.

Or letting the dog roam free without worrying someone might think she's a stray and take her home when I'm not looking.

And then there's the occasional thrill of a big brown trout snatching my drifting-egg pattern off the bottom and running clear upstream and across to the other bank in a big show of strength.

And one more thing, maybe the best, is watching a snow squall roll in.

As the water darkens, the Bae tis begin to hatch, and the fish begin to rise.

They come up slowly, sipping the fluttering bugs off the surface, and now you can tie on a dry fly.

It's what fly fishing the San Juan River is all about.

Big fish on small, dry flies smack dab in the middle of the winter. It's why you'll see so many out of state plates in the parking lots.

I guess the only real problem I can think of with winter fishing on the San Juan River is there's rarely anyone else around to witness your good luck.

Originally published in the Sandoval Signpost, April 2005.


If you go winter fishing on the San Juan River:

Try to drive up in clear weather and don't worry about it once you get there.

From Albuquerque take I-25 to 550 in Bernalillo and it's about a two-hundred-mile trip through a lot of remote, rural, Indian country with the little town of Cuba providing a good, half way, rest stop. Save your appetite and stop at El Bruno's for classic New Mexican fare at an old, family owned local restaurant that does it right.

Everything you need for a sucessfull trip the San Juan River including fishing licenses, gear, equipment, food, and lodging—can be had at Navajo Dam, that's all they do there.

Just bring your checkbook.

Otherwise, take all the equipment and winter gear you've got and sort it all out once you get there.

You'll probably want to bring a pair of neoprene waders because this water is cold. Breathable waders will work, just bring long johns and a pair of thick fleece pants to wear underneath. And don't forget to bring a couple pairs of good thick wool socks for your feet.

Don't skimp on clothing. It can be sunny and warm one minute and windy, cold, and wet the next. Dress in layers with lots of polar fleece or wool and top it all off with a good windbreaker/raincoat to ward off the wind.

A wool watch cap or fleece beanie will be useful for pulling down over your baseball cap. Take a pair of fingerless gloves too. Just remember to push up your sleeves and remove your gloves before working with a wet,netted fish.

Wear a baseball cap and polarized sunglasses to ward off the sun, and most importantly, don't fall in the water. If you do, quickly return to your vehicle and get out of those wet clothes fast. Pack an extra outfit for these occasions because if you don't, you'll need them.

To stay warm and keep your motor humming eat plenty of energy foods like trail bars, beef jerky, peanuts, candy cars, dried fruit, etc.

It's also important to stay hydrated and because of the cold, you'll have to force yourself to take in adequate amount of water. A water purifier makes life on the river easier while a flask of whiskey makes it a lot more enjoyable.

One last thing, bring and use lip balm and skin lotion, the wind, sun and cold will result in cracked, painfull chapped lips and burnt skin that only shows up days later when it's too late to prevent it. Don't be a fool, use the tool!

And don't be afraid to camp out, it's not as cold as you think, and once you're inside a couple of sleeping bags, you'll warm up fine. I find a couple of hand warmers in the bottom of the bag help keep the foot area toasty.

Bring your beanie to bed to keep your head and ears warm through the night and your fingerless gloves too, so you'll be comfortable while reading. Don't forget that book and a reading light.

And guys, keep an empty water bottle inside the tent, it'll save you the hassle of getting up in the middle of the night to take a piss. Just don't mistake it in the morning for your other water bottle, the one you kept under your bags so it wouldn't freeze.

And don't forget a headlamp and extra batteries, it gets dark here early and bumbling around with a flashlight clamped between your teeth gets old real fast.

That's why in the winter I shun a lot of cooking and opt instead for heating up a can of Campbell's Chunky soup, Dinty Moore beef stew or a can of Hatch Brand green chile stew.

Just don't forget a box of crackers, you'll want them for sure.

Pack hot cocoa, tea, instant coffee, non dairy creamer, sugar, a small cooking pot and a good sized coffee mug so you can have a hot drink in the morning to get you going.

I use a burner and stand that attaches to those one pound, propane canisters and it lights up quick, burns hot and lasts a long time. My wife turned me onto these and I haven't used my white gas stove much since.

And lastly don't pass up any loose firewood you come across, grab it because there's nothing like a roaring campfire to warm those tired bones and lift the spirits as the sun drops behind the mesa and the day fade away.

On the way home make an adventure of it by taking the back way. It tacks about fifty miles on to the drive home to Albuquerque, but makes for a more scenic and memorable trip.

Head up to and over Navajo Dam to US 64 for the trip home through Dulce, Chama, Abiquiu, Española and Santa Fe. Need I say more.

For a great meal stop in Española at the first light on the edge of town, Fairview Lane, and take a left towards the river. You'll see Angelina's restaurant just down the hill and on the right at the corner of Railroad Ave. The organic lamb chops here are to die for, as is any of the traditional New Mexican food offered by this longtime, fabled, family owned, eatery.