Five river otters - a species once found in streams and rivers throughout New Mexico - were released last month on Taos Pueblo in the water of the Rio Pueblo de Taos. The otters were trapped in Washington state under a reintroduction program that involves the pueblo, the state Department of Game and Fish, the U.S.

After decades of litigation that produced the largest water-rights settlement ever in Indian country, the Indians here are getting some of their water back.

Gov. Bill Richardson said Thursday he'll consider
proposing a statutory protection for the Gila River in southwestern New
Mexico to block the construction of dams or water diversion projects on

Editor’s note: This is a well-written, timely, and informative article related to American Indian Water Rights on the Gila River Reservation to include, though not limited to, agriculture, irrigation, and the Central Arizona Project. It is worthwhile reading, but due to its’ length (six pages), it is too extensive to summarize here.

The last free-flowing river in the southwestern desert begins in Sonora, Mexico, and runs 140 miles north to the Gila River. The U.S.