Protecting What Matters Most in Rio Arriba County

The packed chambers in Tierra Amarilla said everything. People in Rio Arriba County are paying attention — and they care deeply about protecting what matters most: our water, our land, and our future.

The proposed uranium exploration near Canjilon has raised serious concerns, and for good reason. The Chama watershed isn’t just a resource — it’s part of who we are. It supports our communities, our agriculture, and our way of life.

We also can’t ignore the past. New Mexico has lived through the impacts of uranium development before, and those experiences still matter today.

At the same time, federal law — including the General Mining Act of 1872 — allows proposals like this to move forward into review. That’s why it’s so important that our federal delegation is engaged, because decisions at that level will ultimately shape what happens here at home.

As national demand for domestic resources grows, rural communities like ours can’t be overlooked. Our voices matter—and they must be part of any decision that impacts our future.

Joshua M. Martinez

Rio Arriba County treasurer