Announcements:
Art said 1,000 pounds of trash had been collected on the Epic Day Of Service. He also announced a new restaurant in Silver City at Scott Park Golf Links, open for lunch starting today with the hope to be open soon for supper. Next week will be club assembly if the equipment situation is worked out, Peter Falley will give us a talk on The Rotary Foundation.
 

Art introduced Luke Koenig, Gila Grassroots Organizer with New Mexico Wild. He talked about the “wild and scenic” designation for the Gila River. The Gila River originates in our backyard, the Gila Wilderness, and runs 700 miles to the Colorado River. The only
remaining part of the river that is free flowing is the upper Gila in New Mexico. The Gila River is the only remaining undammed mainstem river in New Mexico. 94% of the river miles of New
Mexico’s rivers have their flow affected by dams. There have been four significant attempts to dam or divert the Gila River. Proposed legislation has been created to protect free flowing rivers, like the Gila, from being dammed. Today less than half of one percent of rivers are designated as wild and scenic with the Wild and Scenic Designation which also protects water quality and unique values connected with these river segments, such as Gila trout. The
Designation does not affect existing water rights, private property rights or recreation. There is strong support for this designation for the Gila, which would permanently prevent it from being
dammed or diverted.

After a question and answer period, Art presented Luke with a thank-you gift and adjourned the meeting at 1:00 pm.