July 21st—With strong bipartisan support, the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Wilderness Act, S. 1689 passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today. The legislation will protect over 300,000 acres of public land as Wilderness and National Conservation Areas. Wilderness conservation in the Organ Mountains and other nearby natural treasures has been a top community priority for over five years. It awaits final Senate action. 

Senior NM Senator Jeff Bingaman’s outstanding leadership, combined with NM Senator Tom Udall’s strong support has built a bill supported by thousands of citizens, four local elected governments, two local Chambers of Commerce, half a dozen local sportsmen organizations, community groups and conservation organizations.

It is time to thank Sen. Bingaman and Sen. Udall for their incredible wilderness conservation work! 

CLICK HERE to thank our Senators for being wilderness champions.

Please take the time to follow the link above and send Senators Bingaman and Udall a letter, to thank them for today and ask that they continue working for successful passage of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Wilderness Act in this Congress!

And, listen to radio coverage of today’s hearing:

Public News Service-NM
July 21, 2010: (New Mexico’s) Organs Play on Capitol Hill Today

Click here to view this story on the Public News Service RSS site and access an audio version of this and other stories.

George Duffy
February 16, 1937 – July 8, 2010

Dear Friends,

The New Mexico Wilderness Alliance is deeply saddened by the death of our dear friend, mentor and wilderness volunteer, retired Forest Service wilderness ranger, George Duffy. In addition to his duties as a ranger,  George helped write the Wilderness Ranger Field Guide in 1993. He was appointed by the Chief of the Forest Service to the National Wilderness Field Advisory Group. He was a member of the National Mountain Rescue Association.  George spent his life in the wilds of our country. He was an avid climber, backpacker and a man that enjoyed spending his nights sleeping under the stars. Several years ago he came to the Wilderness Alliance office and helped us in so many ways. It began with his passion for wilderness and his love of his life partner Linda. He spent many hours helping us commenting on proposals and meeting with agency personal and developing strategies to combat anything that would undermine wilderness in our state.

We will remember George always as a man of great personal strength, integrity and passion for the wild lands and wildlife we all care so much about.

In lieu of a memorial service, George requested that those wishing to express remembrance of him do so by donating to the George Duffy Wilderness Protection Endowment Fund, at:

The New Mexico Wilderness Alliance – George Duffy Wilderness Protection Endowment Fund
P.O. Box 25464, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87125.

To make an online donation in George’s honor, please go to our donations page and include “George Duffy Wilderness Protection Endowment Fund” in the “Additional Information/Comments” box at the bottom of the page.

The 2011 Wolf Stamp pictured here is not a postage stamp, but the first in an annual series of framing-quality art prints offered to collectors.

The Mexican Gray Wolf is the most endangered wolf in the world, with a total population of less than 50 in the wild in 2009.

The Mexican Gray Wolf Stamp is a conservation project created by the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance. The concept is similar to the Duck Stamp sold by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, except no hunting will be related to the sale of the Wolf Stamp. Instead, proceeds will be used for a Wolf Conservation Fund, administered by NMWA and distributed to organizations working for Mexican Grey Wolf recovery.

The cost is $20 (+$2 for S/H) for a 3×5 inch stamp, designed by New Mexico artist Virginia Maria Romero.

CLICK HERE to order online, or contact Trisha London for further information  at [505] 843-8696 or trisha@nmwild.org.

For more information on the artist, visit her website at http://www.artederomero.com/

Bill to Expand Cibola National Forest Gets House Hearing

NM Wilderness Leader Applauds Needed Legislation

New Mexico Wilderness Alliance executive director Stephen Capra was on Capitol Hill today to testify in support of the Cibola National Forest Expansion legislation.  The measure, introduced by Rep. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), would add the Crest of Montezuma to the north end of the Cibola National Forest and adds nearly 1,000 acres to the Manzano Wilderness on the forest’s western end.

Capra praised Congressman Heinrich for his outreach to varied constituency groups – tribes, Land Grant and Acequia communities, sportsmen and conservationists – in working to expand the forest, including the addition of important acreage to the existing Manzano Mountain Wilderness.   “The final product reflects the willingness of all participants to reach a workable compromise that will benefit all concerned and ensure greater protection for these important federal lands,” Capra testified.

“The transfer of these areas from the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management to the U.S. Forest Service as additions to the Cibola National Forest simply makes good common sense.  This action will ensure these lands are better managed—improving their recreational and wildlife habitat values,” he said.

The Sandia Mountains are known by Native Americans as the Watermelon Mountains, because of the beautiful colors that reflect off these peaks at sunset.  They are the dramatic backdrop of Albuquerque and a source of recreational opportunity and solitude for urban dwellers.  In 1978, New Mexico Senator Pete V. Domenici, working with conservationists and a diverse group of stakeholders, championed legislation creating the 38,000-acre Sandia Wilderness. This measure has since then provided Albuquerque residents a stunning landscape – free of development, which has become a staple for those looking for quiet recreation or to enjoy the beauty and solitude the “Land of Enchantment” has to offer.

“The addition of the Crest of Montezuma is an important addition to the Cibola National Forest,” Capra said.  “Bringing this area under the management of the U.S. Forest Service is also widely supported by the neighboring community of Placitas, where people have long asked for an expansion of the wilderness boundaries.”   Capra noted that both the Crest of Montezuma and the Manzanos are important wildlife corridors, home to deer, elk, black bear and mountain lion.

“For more than a quarter century, a small piece of the Manzano mountain has been left out of the wilderness boundary, leaving management of this area confusing and disconnected,” Capa testified.   “Congressman Heinrich has engendered solid collaboration and outreach to the Land Grant community and local sportsmen here to ensure that all-important voices have been heard as he developed this legislation.”

“The addition of the new wilderness will only enhance this remarkable landscape —where one can drop into a narrow canyon in the fall and enjoy the beauty of the native maple forests, or stand on the mountaintop and gaze literally hundreds of miles and see distant mountain ranges, the green cut of the Rio Grande, and watch hawks and Golden Eagles flying across this great expanse of American wilderness,” he concluded.

# # #

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Today, Congress heard testimony on a bill that would expand wilderness protection and consolidate public lands in a pair of small areas near Albuquerque. Rep. Martin Heinrich introduced the Cibola National Forest Expansion bill last month. It would add the Crest of Montezuma to the north end of the Cibola National Forest, and expand the Manzano Wilderness area by 900 acres at the south end of the forest.

Stephen Capra, director of the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance, testified in support of the bill in Washington, D.C.

CLICK HERE to hear the Public News Service radio broadcast.

Also, CLICK HERE to read NMWA’s press release on the hearing.

Bingaman & Udall Introduce Bill to Transfer Valles Caldera to National Park Service

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today introduced legislation to transfer the management of the Valles Caldera National Preserve to the National Park Service.

The bill follows on a report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) mandated by the Valles Caldera Preservation Act of 2000 and a feasibility study from the National Park Service requested by the two senators.

The GAO reports that the Preserve is at least five years behind schedule in the development of an effective management control system and that the requirement to achieve financial self-sustainability by 2015 is the Trust’s biggest challenge and will be difficult to achieve.  It also notes that the revenue enhancement study commissioned by the Trust estimated the need for at least $21 million for infrastructure improvements to support greater public access.

The National Park Service study, which was requested by Bingaman and Udall, determines the Valles Caldera meets the high criteria for inclusion in the National Park System as a National Preserve.  In particular, the report highlighted the nationally significant geologic resources found in the area.

The Senators’ bill directs the Park Service to take over management in a way that protects the Preserve’s natural and cultural resources.  Hunting, fishing, and cattle grazing would be permitted under the bill.  Additionally, the measure strengthens protections for tribal cultural and religious sites and ensures access by pueblos to the area.

“The Valles Caldera is not only one of the most stunning places in New Mexico, it’s one of the most beautiful places in our country.  That is why I worked so hard to bring it into public ownership,” Bingaman said. “I believe it is the perfect candidate for the National Park System.”

“For centuries the Valles Caldera has stood out as the icon of the Jemez Mountains,” said Udall. “As one of the largest volcanic calderas in the world, the vast grass-filled valleys, forested hillsides, and numerous volcanic peaks make the Valles Caldera a treasure to New Mexico, and a landscape of national significance millions of years in the making. It is clearly worthy of National Park Service status.”

The first calls to bring the Valles Caldera into the National Park System were in 1899.  In four separate studies throughout the next century the Park Service found that the area was suitable for protective status under its management.  But it wasn’t until 2000 that Bingaman, former Senator Pete Domenici and then-Representative Udall were successful in acquiring the property for $100 million.  The law also established an experimental management framework where a Board of Trustees would manage the Preserve as a working ranch with public access, with the goal of becoming financially self-sustaining by 2015.

“Although the Valles Caldera Trust has done its best to fulfill the original legislative directives, time has shown in my opinion that this management framework is not the best suited for the long-term management of the Preserve,” Bingaman said. “I believe that the desire for increased public access balanced with the need to protect and interpret the Preserve’s unique cultural and natural resources would be best served by the National Park Service.”

“As Senator Bingaman and I take steps today to begin a transition of the Valles Caldera into the National Park System, I want to applaud the decade of work that the Board of Trustees, the Valles Caldera Trust and the preserve employees have invested in this unmatched natural resource,” said Udall. “As we look to the future, we do so with respect to the longstanding grazing, educational, and once-in-a-lifetime hunting opportunities that are cherished and valued by so many New Mexicans.  By utilizing the resources and skills within the National Park Service, the Valles Caldera National Preserve will continue to prosper as a natural wonder full of significant geology, ecology, history and culture.”

The measure will be sent to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which Bingaman chairs.  A hearing could be scheduled as soon as next month.

View the original post on Senator Bingaman’s website: http://bingaman.senate.gov/news/20100527-01.cfm

Show your appreciation for Congressman Lujan’s decision and action! Learn more, and write a thank-you letter today at:
http://ga1.org/campaign/rio_grande_del_norte_introduced

Press release from the office of Congressman Lujan, 5/18/2010:

Rep. Luján Introduces Bill to Create Conservation Area in Northern New Mexico

Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Ben Ray Luján introduced legislation to preserve approximately 236,000 acres of public land in northern New Mexico. The bill is a companion measure to legislation introduced last year by Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall.

“New Mexico’s culture, tradition and land are parts of our unique history that we must pass on to future generations,” said Rep. Ben Ray Luján. “Today, I’m proud to take another step towards preserving our culture, tradition and land while ensuring that New Mexicans can enjoy the bounty of the land for generations to come.

The Rio Grande Del Norte National Conservation Area will include important natural areas such as the Rio San Antonio Wilderness and Ute Mountain as well as other public lands between Taos and Rio Arriba counties and Carson National Forest.

Rep. Luján and his staff have met extensively with local ranchers, conservationists, and other constituents to ensure that the land and traditional uses are protected and preserved for future generations. New Mexicans’ access to the land for grazing and the harvesting of piñon nuts, wild herbs and firewood will also be protected. The bill limits motorized vehicles to designated roads that can be expanded if necessary to protect the land for preservation and traditional uses. It will protect tribal and traditional economic rights while preserving the region for years to come.

“This bill protects important natural and cultural resources in Northern New Mexico. Through his introduction of the measure, I’m glad Rep. Lujan is building support for this bill in the House of Representatives,” said Senator Jeff Bingaman, who chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The bill passed that panel in December.

“This bill brings the incredible landscape of northern New Mexico closer to permanent preservation. I applaud Congressman Luján for his work to ensure that this land is available for the benefit and enjoyment of current and future generations,” Senator Tom Udall said.

# # #

Mark Nicastre
Communications Director
Office of Congressman Ben Ray Luján (NM-03)
502 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Work: (202) 503-8988
Cell: (860) 685-1542

mark.nicastre@mail.house.gov

www.lujan.house.gov

While the nation will celebrate open space on June 12th, Get Outdoors Day, the Governor’s proclamation designates an entire month for the celebration of New Mexico’s outstanding natural beauty. His proclamation stresses the importance of open space and public lands to the economy, health and well-being of all New Mexicans, especially youth. It also names the state as “a leader in efforts to protect public lands and fish and wildlife resources.”

We support the Governor’s proclamation and his commitment to lead the nation in natural resource protection. Wilderness designation needs to be a top priority if New Mexico wants to be a conservation leader.  Please join us in proclaiming the importance of Wilderness to Governor Richardson and our other elected officials.

View Governor Richardson’s official proclamation (PDF document)

Intro: NMWA

A reading from John Muir’s Wind-Storm in the Sierra Nevada [3-5 minutes].

Ascending the Giants [12 min.].

You may be a tree hugger, but would you climb one? Join two Oregon tree lovers and climbers as they look for Oregon’s largest Sitka Spruce trees.

Flathead Wild [23 min.]

The Flathead River in British Columbia is one of North America’s most endangered rivers. Join the International League of Conservation photographers as they visually document this iconic wilderness, and hopefully save it from industrial development.

Finding Farley [62 min.]

Join the award-winning filmmakers of Being Caribou as they rediscover the people and places that inspired one of Canada’s greatest nature writers, Farley Mowat (author of Never Cry Wolf) –over 3000 miles of trekking, sailing, portaging and paddling from the prairies to the Maritimes.

The Fun Theory: Piano Stairs [2 min.]

Can having “fun” actually change people’s behavior for the better? Can we get more people to take the stairs over the escalator or elevator by making it fun to do?

Garbage Angels [6]

Awarded Best Canadian Short, Planet in Focus. What happens when trash meets trash? Could there be life in a dump?

Lady Bug Swarm [3]

Enjoy one of the wonders of nature, and rediscover the beauty of nature through the eyes of a child.

A Year in the Desert: Anza Borrego [15]

This film from Emmy Award winners Chris Pyle and Nicholas Clapp explores the four seasons in the Anza Borrego desert in southern California: a land of extremes from 180 degree ground temperatures to flash floods, and providing habitat for a surprising range of creatures.

Split Estate [15]

Directed and narrated by Santa Feans, Debra Anderson and Ali McGraw, this abridged version of the longer 76-minute film explores the strange world of “split estate,” where you own the surface land but not the mineral rights, and you are dealing with an unregulated industry that seeks to drill for gas in your backyard.

Otero Mesa [10]

Discover a vital landscape in southern New Mexico that may become New Mexico’s next National Monument.

By Tom Travin

Of the Albuquerque Journal

If you’re looking for an escape from city life but aren’t sure where to go, the Wild Guide might be just the thing to help you find your way.

Produced annually by the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance, the book is a collection of disparate bits of information, all centered on the great outdoors and ways to celebrate and protect it.

The 2010 edition features both guided hikes and organized volunteer projects around the state, as well as essays, recipes from members of Congress, assorted artwork and photography, articles on festivals and reviews of bed-and-breakfasts and restaurants.

Another important aspect of the book is its call for assistance with wilderness stewardship, which involves partnering with the U.S. Forest Service to meet standards for management of wilderness areas.

Volunteers are being sought for campsite and invasive plant inventories in four areas in New Mexico: the Latir, Dome, Pecos and Manzano wildernesses. There will be training sessions on May 8 in Santa Fe and May 25 and 27 in Albuquerque.

Some of the hikes sponsored by the Wilderness Alliance include:

• Mesa Gallina in Pecata Pinta Country, on May 8. The hike will ascend to the summit (at 7,855 feet) of Mesa Gallina in Cibola County.

• Brokeoff Mountains, west of the Lincoln National Forest and north of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, near Carlsbad, on May 29. The alliance is proposing that 65,000 acres be designated as a wilderness area.

• Ute Mountain, near the Colorado border, east of Costilla, N.M., on July 10. Ute Mountain covers 14,344 acres in Taos County and is one of the proposed wilderness areas in legislation sponsored by Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M. The volcano is a foraging and nesting habitat for many species.

• Sandia Crest: Test of Endurance and Will, on Sept. 25. This is a 22-plus-hour hike over 50 miles with major gains and losses in elevation and is only for those in peak physical condition. It will cover the length of the Sandias, and much of it will take place at night under a full moon.

There are also a number of volunteer service projects available through the Wilderness Alliance.

Those are scheduled in places including Junta y Cienega in Embudo from April 2-4, the Galisteo Basin south of Santa Fe on May 8, the Wild Rivers Recreation Area near Questa from July 16-18, and a Gila Wilderness backpacking excursion from Sept. 3-6.

For more information on the Wilderness Alliance, visit www.nmwild.org.