The Valencia Water Watchers have raised concerns about the ongoing work on the River Mile 163 Project along a section of the Rio Grande Bosque near Los Lunas. The group is calling for assistance to halt what they describe as destructive activities, which include the cutting down of mature cottonwoods and clear-cutting access roads.

"Our friends at Valencia Water Watchers are asking for help to get the word out about destruction that is happening along a stretch of the Rio Grande Bosque near Los Lunas," states a message from local residents. The project has allegedly exceeded its original scope, prompting calls for an Environmental Impact Statement before further work proceeds.

Local residents are urging the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) to pause tree cutting and begin mulching or removing fallen trees and vegetation to mitigate fire risks. They emphasize that no Environmental Impact Statement was completed despite significant concerns from community members. "Residents gave extensive feedback, and BOR reassured property owners that they would minimize cottonwood removal," but substantial tree clearing has already commenced.

Concerns focus on ecological impacts, including threats to migratory bird habitats provided by sandbars and increased fire risks due to uncleared slash. Residents are advocating for immediate action: "Pause the project to allow for...clean up [of] the slash that has already been cut."

They encourage contacting relevant authorities like BOR at 505-462-3540 or MRGCD at 505-247-0234, attending an MRGCD meeting on March 10th, or joining via Zoom. They also stress compliance with environmental protections such as the Migratory Bird Treaty Act as nesting season approaches.

For more details, links have been provided regarding project assessments and reports, although some documents remain in draft form without finalization.