Last Sunday published an editorial (“Rivers, streams belong to the public — period,” Our View, June 13) and in that editorial there was one line that stuck out to me the most. “Should landowners be able to close off those streams, fishing would be limited in New Mexico in ways that are foreign to our way of life.” As an avid fisherman and frequent visitor to the Pecos River and Pecos State Park, I’d like to point out that several miles in different spots on the river already are closed to the public, some going as far as stretching fencing across the river from bank to bank.

The 1945 New Mexico Supreme Court decision in the Red River Valley case makes it clear that rivers are public and access to them is a right of all citizens of New Mexico. The change to that constitutional interpretation, made by former New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, was and remains the direct opposite of what was determined by the court — it was overreach at its most obvious. There is no doubt there will be issues with certain people disrespecting the land that will hopefully be reopened, but to close off public lands to the public due to the misbehavior of a minority is not only unfair to those who do respect the land and river, it’s unconstitutional as well.

Terry Rothwell Santa Fe