By Father Jesus Martinez for Las Cruces Sun News

I am the parish priest of Santa Rosa de Lima in Las Cruces, and I believe that our community must speak up to preserve the Gila River. Recently, a group of our parish's youth took a trip to hike along the Gila River and understand the threats to the river and its habitat. We learned that the Gila River is the last natural and free flowing river in New Mexico, and is a tremendous resource providing water to irrigate farms and ranches, a home for wildlife, and a place for people to enjoy the beauty of God's creation.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is extending the comment period for the proposed revisions to the agricultural Worker Protection Standard for an additional 60 days, until August 18, 2014, in response to requests from growers, industry, farmworker advocates and states for additional time to provide input.

Southern New Mexico's Organ Mountains Desert Peaks region will be protected by President Obama as a national monument on Wednesday, and rightfully so. Spanning thousands of years of human history and use, the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument chronicles New Mexico's history and culture and is a place from which the stories of so many Americans originate. Now, with monument protection, these stories will be kept accessible and can be handed down for generations to come.

Congressman Raul Ruiz participated in a hike with 100 young Latinos from the Coachella Valley in California.  The trip was organized by the Por La Creacion: Faith Based Alliance, Hispanic Access Foundation and the Congressman's office. Congressman Ruiz became engaged to his fiancee at the park recently and wanted to share this park with others.  

The Hispanic Access Foundation will launch a "Four Stops, One Destination" tour today in which seven Latino college students visit national parks in the West for nine days to promote conservation and urge against oil and gas development.

The Wilderness Society helped kick off the "Four Stops One Destination" national park tour in Mile High fashion. Several of America’s famed national parks will be the destinations for a group of college students who will be touring the west over next week, learning about the many threats posed by oil and gas development.

Today, seven Latino college students embark on a nine-day tour of national parks in the west as they seek to engage Latinos with the outdoors and raise awareness about the need to protect these treasures from oil and gas development. The youth will visit six national parks in three states and will share their experiences through social media and video blogs (#4Stops1Destination).

This week, the U.S. Senate is expected to hold a hearing on providing permanent protection for Browns Canyon on the Arkansas River. As pastors, we want to see our public lands protected -- we have a moral obligation to do so. We also see the need for Congress and the White House have an opportunity to work with the faith community and others throughout Colorado.

Today marks the 93rd anniversary of the day the Colorado River was officially renamed from the "Grand" to the "Colorado," according to a news release. To celebrate, Silver City will be one of five western cities - including Denver, Col., Greeley, Col., Las Vegas, Nev., Flagstaff, Ariz. - hosting a celebratory event and day of action as part of Colorado River Day. This is a region-wide movement to honor the waterway that serves as the backbone of the West's economy and a critical drinking source for millions, according to the release.

Friday's Colorado River Day at Gough Park was an afternoon-long event with speakers, including state Representative Rudy Martinez, D-Bayard, and Bishop Oscar Cantú of the Las Cruces Catholic Diocese.