ElLizard
09-24-2009, 08:52 AM
Home of the Chili Challenge and Broad Canyon is up for another senseless wilderness bill thanks to Sen Jeff Bingaman, Sen. Tom Udall both of New Mexico and the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance.
Better known as the C.A.V.E.(Citizens against Virtually Everything) People.
We need the help of PBB to help in this fight and let our representitves know we will not stand for this and are sick and tired of this being an issue year after year! Send letters to your Reps. and letters to the New Mexico Senators who keep re-introducing the same garbage every year...
They're up to it again, these people never stop! The Organ Mtns., Robledo OHV area (home to the Chili Challenge) and broad canyon are yet once again up for another senseless wilderness bill...
Write Sen. Bingaman and Sen. Tom Udall and let them know how you feel about his actions to close our access to our public lands.
This bill seems to be exclusively to keep OHV users out of our public lands.
You can contact Bingaman here:
http://bingaman.senate.gov/contact/
And Sen. Tom Udall here:
http://tomudall.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm
This is from NM Wildeness' website. http://www.nmwild.org/blog/dona-ana-...ll-introduced/
Sportsmen, business owners, conservationists, local elected officials and other community members hailed the introduction today of The Organ Mountains – Desert Peaks Wilderness Act, by Senator Jeff Bingaman and Senator Tom Udall. The measure will protect nearly 400,000 acres of public land in Dona Ana County, by designating 271,050 acres as wilderness and creating a 109,600-acre National Conservation Area around the Organ and Doņa Ana Mountains and parts of Broad Canyon.
“We applaud Senators Bingaman and Udall for their dedication to ensuring that more of New Mexico’s beloved wild places will be around for our children’s children to use and enjoy,” said Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima. “Their bill follows years of discussion and collaboration with community members with many different interests and concerns.”
Bonnie Burn, President of the League of Women Voters, added, “We all share the goal of protecting Doņa Ana County’s unique and precious open areas which add so much to our quality of life.”
“This important conservation bill comes as the nation celebrates the 45th anniversary of the Wilderness Act,” said Stephen Capra, executive director of the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance. “That broadly backed measure allowed citizens to add other worthy wild places to our preservation system. It is fitting that it will help us today protect such beloved area icons as the Organ Mountains and Broad Canyon.”
“The Organ Mountains – Desert Peaks Wilderness Act will ensure that our grandchildren can hunt in and enjoy these areas as we have done,” said Sandy Schemnitz, President of the Southwest Consolidated Sportsmen. “A New Mexico sportsman– Aldo Leopold – first conceived the idea of wilderness to preserve the hunting he’d come to love in the Gila. Today, Doņa Ana County sportsmen are delighted that this legislation will help us pass down our traditions.”
“It’s not surprising that over a hundred local businesses support greater protection for the wilderness in ‘our backyards,’” said John Munoz, of the Hispano Chamber of Commerce.“We’re beginning to understand how wilderness attracts visitors who come here to camp, hike, hunt, explore, open businesses and ultimately keep our cash registers ringing and our livelihoods thriving.”
A 2006 poll of Doņa Ana County residents by Public Opinion Strategies found that a majority of residents favor protecting wilderness in the area. The municipalities of Las Cruces, Sunland Park, Mesilla and the Doņa Ana County Commission have adopted resolutions supporting protection of these areas to boost the local economies.
In a tough compromise, the bill crafted by the Senators contains 30,000 less acres of wilderness than proposed by conservationists. However, they applaud Senators Bingaman and Udall for reaching out to all parties to address any and all issues. The measure will protect rare grasslands in the Potrillo and Uvas Mountains, petroglyph sites and riparian areas in Broad Canyon, crucial watersheds, and the iconic spires of Las Cruces’ signature attraction: the Organ Mountains.
“Our wild places truly make New Mexico the ‘Land of Enchantment.’ This important new bill will help ensure more of it will stay just as it is,” said Don Patterson, of the Back Country Horseman. “We urge Congress to pass this common sense conservation bill soon, and send it to the president.”
What's At Stake:
WHAT IS WILDERNESS?
Citizens’ Wilderness and National Conservation Area Proposal
Many groups have endorsed the Citizens' Wilderness and National Conservation Area Proposal, which has three goals:
1. To formally designate Wilderness certain areas including Broad Canyon, the East Potrillo Mountains, and the eight Wilderness Study Areas recommended by the BLM;
2. To create a National Conservation Area for the unique east mountain range that would permanently protect the Organ Mountains, the Doņa Ana Mountains, and Tortugas "A" Mountain;
3. To avoid changes to the current Bureau of Land Management (BLM) policy on land sales ("disposal"), including how sale revenues are allocated.
Citizens’ Proposed Wilderness: Organ Mountain Area
Organ Mountain Area Organ Mountains WSA: 7,212 acres
Peņa Blanca WSA: 5,958 acres
Organ Mountain Needles WSA: 4,781 acres
Total Area Proposed for Wilderness: 20,800 acres
The Organ Mountains are the scenic backdrop to Las Cruces and Doņa Ana County’s most recognizable feature. Organ Needle is the high point in the county, topping out at slightly over 9,000 feet in elevation. In a mere three miles to the west at the edge of the unit, the elevation drops over 4,000 feet, making the Organ Mountains one of the steepest mountain ranges in the western United States. The presence of springs in the Organs makes the area critically important to wildlife including golden eagles, mule deer, Montezuma quail, and mountain lions. Unique animal species occurring in the Organs are the peregrine falcon, and the Organ Mountain chipmunk among others.
The main uses of the area include hiking, camping, birding, horseback riding, and hunting. Livestock grazing is permitted to continue under the Wilderness Act of 1964.
Citizens’ Proposed Organ Mountain National Conservation Area
Northern Unit: 22,331 acres
Southern Unit: 74,138 acres
Total Area Proposed for the National Conservation Area: 96,469 acres
The National Conservation Area would conserve the natural beauty, open space, and high quality recreational opportunities for the spectacular skyline that defines our community. The NCA would also protect the Doņa Ana mountains and culturally important Tortugas mountain.
Protecting this wild and open space will benefit current and future generations of New Mexico residents and visitors and ensure that the backdrop to the city of Las Cruces remains undeveloped but accessible for people to use and enjoy.
The BLM currently manages a 56,480 acre Organ Franklin Mountain Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) that runs north and south through southeastern Doņa Ana County.
The main uses of the area include hiking, camping, birding, horseback riding, bike riding, livestock grazing and hunting.
Citizens’ Proposed Wilderness: Sierra de Las Uvas, Broad Canyon/Robledos Area
Sierra de Las Uvas WSA: 11,068 acres
Broad Canyon/Robledos: 75,966 acres (Robledo Mountain WSA is 13,028 acres)
Total Area Proposed for Wilderness: 87,034 acres
In between the Sierra de las Uvas WSA and the Robledo Mountains WSA is Broad Canyon. The Broad Canyon area, located south of Hatch, and northwest of Las Cruces, is unique because it encompasses lower elevation hills, ridges, basins and drainages and provides a pivotal wildlife connection between the Sierra del las Uvas and the Robledo Mountains. Wildlife found in the area includes pronghorn antelope, mule deer, mountain lions, foxes, coyotes, bats, rock squirrels, quail, and numerous other birds. The area is filled with archaeological and historical resources such as Lithic sites and petroglyphs. The historic Butterfield Trail runs through the southern portion of the Sierra de las Uvas unit.
The main uses of the area include hiking, camping, birding, horseback riding, and hunting. Livestock grazing is permitted to continue under the Wilderness Act of 1964.
Citizens’ Proposed Wilderness: Greater Potrillo Mountain Area
Aden Lava Flow WSA: 25,846 acres
West Potrillo Mountains WSA: 140,662 acres*
Mt. Riley WSA: 8,489 acres
East Potrillos Mountains: 22,620 acres
Total Area Proposed for Wilderness: 197,617 acres
The Potrillos showcase one of the most diverse volcanic landscapes in New Mexico. The area encompasses three wilderness study areas, the West Potrillo WSA, the Mount Riley WSA and Aden Lava Flow WSA, that lie side-by-side 35 miles southwest of Las Cruces, just above the Mexican border. This landscape includes 48 large cinder-cone mountains that rise up to 5,400 feet in elevation. Broad, creosote-covered plains slope gently to the east and west away from the central chain of cones.
Main uses of the area include livestock grazing, hunting, horseback riding, scientific study, hiking and camping.
* - This WSA overlaps into Luna County, this acreage figure only relates to Doņa Ana County.
Campaign Expiration Date:
June 17, 2010
Better known as the C.A.V.E.(Citizens against Virtually Everything) People.
We need the help of PBB to help in this fight and let our representitves know we will not stand for this and are sick and tired of this being an issue year after year! Send letters to your Reps. and letters to the New Mexico Senators who keep re-introducing the same garbage every year...
They're up to it again, these people never stop! The Organ Mtns., Robledo OHV area (home to the Chili Challenge) and broad canyon are yet once again up for another senseless wilderness bill...
Write Sen. Bingaman and Sen. Tom Udall and let them know how you feel about his actions to close our access to our public lands.
This bill seems to be exclusively to keep OHV users out of our public lands.
You can contact Bingaman here:
http://bingaman.senate.gov/contact/
And Sen. Tom Udall here:
http://tomudall.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm
This is from NM Wildeness' website. http://www.nmwild.org/blog/dona-ana-...ll-introduced/
Sportsmen, business owners, conservationists, local elected officials and other community members hailed the introduction today of The Organ Mountains – Desert Peaks Wilderness Act, by Senator Jeff Bingaman and Senator Tom Udall. The measure will protect nearly 400,000 acres of public land in Dona Ana County, by designating 271,050 acres as wilderness and creating a 109,600-acre National Conservation Area around the Organ and Doņa Ana Mountains and parts of Broad Canyon.
“We applaud Senators Bingaman and Udall for their dedication to ensuring that more of New Mexico’s beloved wild places will be around for our children’s children to use and enjoy,” said Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima. “Their bill follows years of discussion and collaboration with community members with many different interests and concerns.”
Bonnie Burn, President of the League of Women Voters, added, “We all share the goal of protecting Doņa Ana County’s unique and precious open areas which add so much to our quality of life.”
“This important conservation bill comes as the nation celebrates the 45th anniversary of the Wilderness Act,” said Stephen Capra, executive director of the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance. “That broadly backed measure allowed citizens to add other worthy wild places to our preservation system. It is fitting that it will help us today protect such beloved area icons as the Organ Mountains and Broad Canyon.”
“The Organ Mountains – Desert Peaks Wilderness Act will ensure that our grandchildren can hunt in and enjoy these areas as we have done,” said Sandy Schemnitz, President of the Southwest Consolidated Sportsmen. “A New Mexico sportsman– Aldo Leopold – first conceived the idea of wilderness to preserve the hunting he’d come to love in the Gila. Today, Doņa Ana County sportsmen are delighted that this legislation will help us pass down our traditions.”
“It’s not surprising that over a hundred local businesses support greater protection for the wilderness in ‘our backyards,’” said John Munoz, of the Hispano Chamber of Commerce.“We’re beginning to understand how wilderness attracts visitors who come here to camp, hike, hunt, explore, open businesses and ultimately keep our cash registers ringing and our livelihoods thriving.”
A 2006 poll of Doņa Ana County residents by Public Opinion Strategies found that a majority of residents favor protecting wilderness in the area. The municipalities of Las Cruces, Sunland Park, Mesilla and the Doņa Ana County Commission have adopted resolutions supporting protection of these areas to boost the local economies.
In a tough compromise, the bill crafted by the Senators contains 30,000 less acres of wilderness than proposed by conservationists. However, they applaud Senators Bingaman and Udall for reaching out to all parties to address any and all issues. The measure will protect rare grasslands in the Potrillo and Uvas Mountains, petroglyph sites and riparian areas in Broad Canyon, crucial watersheds, and the iconic spires of Las Cruces’ signature attraction: the Organ Mountains.
“Our wild places truly make New Mexico the ‘Land of Enchantment.’ This important new bill will help ensure more of it will stay just as it is,” said Don Patterson, of the Back Country Horseman. “We urge Congress to pass this common sense conservation bill soon, and send it to the president.”
What's At Stake:
WHAT IS WILDERNESS?
Citizens’ Wilderness and National Conservation Area Proposal
Many groups have endorsed the Citizens' Wilderness and National Conservation Area Proposal, which has three goals:
1. To formally designate Wilderness certain areas including Broad Canyon, the East Potrillo Mountains, and the eight Wilderness Study Areas recommended by the BLM;
2. To create a National Conservation Area for the unique east mountain range that would permanently protect the Organ Mountains, the Doņa Ana Mountains, and Tortugas "A" Mountain;
3. To avoid changes to the current Bureau of Land Management (BLM) policy on land sales ("disposal"), including how sale revenues are allocated.
Citizens’ Proposed Wilderness: Organ Mountain Area
Organ Mountain Area Organ Mountains WSA: 7,212 acres
Peņa Blanca WSA: 5,958 acres
Organ Mountain Needles WSA: 4,781 acres
Total Area Proposed for Wilderness: 20,800 acres
The Organ Mountains are the scenic backdrop to Las Cruces and Doņa Ana County’s most recognizable feature. Organ Needle is the high point in the county, topping out at slightly over 9,000 feet in elevation. In a mere three miles to the west at the edge of the unit, the elevation drops over 4,000 feet, making the Organ Mountains one of the steepest mountain ranges in the western United States. The presence of springs in the Organs makes the area critically important to wildlife including golden eagles, mule deer, Montezuma quail, and mountain lions. Unique animal species occurring in the Organs are the peregrine falcon, and the Organ Mountain chipmunk among others.
The main uses of the area include hiking, camping, birding, horseback riding, and hunting. Livestock grazing is permitted to continue under the Wilderness Act of 1964.
Citizens’ Proposed Organ Mountain National Conservation Area
Northern Unit: 22,331 acres
Southern Unit: 74,138 acres
Total Area Proposed for the National Conservation Area: 96,469 acres
The National Conservation Area would conserve the natural beauty, open space, and high quality recreational opportunities for the spectacular skyline that defines our community. The NCA would also protect the Doņa Ana mountains and culturally important Tortugas mountain.
Protecting this wild and open space will benefit current and future generations of New Mexico residents and visitors and ensure that the backdrop to the city of Las Cruces remains undeveloped but accessible for people to use and enjoy.
The BLM currently manages a 56,480 acre Organ Franklin Mountain Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) that runs north and south through southeastern Doņa Ana County.
The main uses of the area include hiking, camping, birding, horseback riding, bike riding, livestock grazing and hunting.
Citizens’ Proposed Wilderness: Sierra de Las Uvas, Broad Canyon/Robledos Area
Sierra de Las Uvas WSA: 11,068 acres
Broad Canyon/Robledos: 75,966 acres (Robledo Mountain WSA is 13,028 acres)
Total Area Proposed for Wilderness: 87,034 acres
In between the Sierra de las Uvas WSA and the Robledo Mountains WSA is Broad Canyon. The Broad Canyon area, located south of Hatch, and northwest of Las Cruces, is unique because it encompasses lower elevation hills, ridges, basins and drainages and provides a pivotal wildlife connection between the Sierra del las Uvas and the Robledo Mountains. Wildlife found in the area includes pronghorn antelope, mule deer, mountain lions, foxes, coyotes, bats, rock squirrels, quail, and numerous other birds. The area is filled with archaeological and historical resources such as Lithic sites and petroglyphs. The historic Butterfield Trail runs through the southern portion of the Sierra de las Uvas unit.
The main uses of the area include hiking, camping, birding, horseback riding, and hunting. Livestock grazing is permitted to continue under the Wilderness Act of 1964.
Citizens’ Proposed Wilderness: Greater Potrillo Mountain Area
Aden Lava Flow WSA: 25,846 acres
West Potrillo Mountains WSA: 140,662 acres*
Mt. Riley WSA: 8,489 acres
East Potrillos Mountains: 22,620 acres
Total Area Proposed for Wilderness: 197,617 acres
The Potrillos showcase one of the most diverse volcanic landscapes in New Mexico. The area encompasses three wilderness study areas, the West Potrillo WSA, the Mount Riley WSA and Aden Lava Flow WSA, that lie side-by-side 35 miles southwest of Las Cruces, just above the Mexican border. This landscape includes 48 large cinder-cone mountains that rise up to 5,400 feet in elevation. Broad, creosote-covered plains slope gently to the east and west away from the central chain of cones.
Main uses of the area include livestock grazing, hunting, horseback riding, scientific study, hiking and camping.
* - This WSA overlaps into Luna County, this acreage figure only relates to Doņa Ana County.
Campaign Expiration Date:
June 17, 2010