The New Mexico Environment Department awarded a Section 319 (h) grant under the Clean Water Act to the Paso del Norte Watershed Council (Council) on December 28, 2005.  The purpose of the grant is to reduce pollutant loads and restore the health of the watershed that encompasses the Rio Grande watershed south of Las Cruces in New Mexico.  Specific requirements include the development of a watershed group, hiring a watershed coordinator, developing a fiscal agent and writing a Watershed Restoration Action Strategy.

The New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office is part of the executive committee that accomplishes the mission of the Council - to investigate, develop, and recommend options for watershed planning and management and to explore how water related resources can best be balanced to benefit the Rio Grande ecosystem and the interests of all watershed stakeholders.  Participants in the Council include city, state and Federal agencies, Universities, conservation groups, Mexico organizations and other interested stakeholders in the Rio Grande watershed between Elephant Butte Dam in New Mexico and Fort Quitman, Texas (website address - http://pdnwc.org.)