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FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2002

Cochiti Pueblo in New Mexico is opposing a proposal by the Department of Interior to drain a man-made lake in order to protect an endangered fish.

Gov. Andrew Quintana wrote Secretary Gale Norton and said draining Cochiti Lake would only help the silvery minnow temporarily but would hurt the tribe permanently. He said leaving the 52,000-acre-foot body of water dry would create a smelly mess and harm eagles which feed in the area.

Draining the popular recreational lake is only one option under consideration by the Bureau of Reclamation. The government is trying to provide enough water for the fish, whose status is the subject of a federal lawsuit.

Cochiti Lake was built against the Pueblo's wishes and flooded sacred sites and ruined traditional farming land. The Army Corps of Engineers last year formally apologized for the project.

Get the Story:
Feds Consider Draining Cochiti To Fortify Rio Grande (The Albuquerque Journal 5/9)

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Corps apologizes to Pueblo (2/25)