Otero County ranchers protest against U.S. Forest Service

The western battle between ranchers and forest rangers has made it to the borderland.Saturday morning ranchers in Alamagordo were protesting after their herds’ access to water had been cut off by the federal government.

ABC-7 spoke with ranchers and U.S. Congressman Steve Pearce. They said they feel the federal government is violating ranchers’ constitutional rights. Protesters said the feds have no right to cut them off from water that flows through Agua Chiquita, a spring fed stream on us forest service land in the Lincoln Forest.

Protesters said the problems here are being seen throughout the west and that multiple federal agencies are involved. More than one of the ranchers said that one small stream in New Mexico is just a snapshot of a much larger national problem. Ranchers said especially as the temperatures ratchet up they’ll really need access to water for their cattle.

“We’ve go the US Fish & Wildlife Service, the BLM, the Forest Service coming in here dictating terms to us and we’re tired of it., we’re pushing back,” said rancher John Bell.

“The courts have said the water belongs to the rancher,” said Rep. Pearce. “It’s a drought. Rancher needs to get his water to the cattle. He’s gotta walk across 23-acres of forest service land. They’ve fenced him off to where he can’t do it. And that’s an abridgment not only of the constitution but also of the court findings”

Otero County leaders are pushing for a congressional hearing.