Senators unveil Doña Ana County wilderness bill
Land including the Organ Mountains, shown here, would be protected under the bill. (Photo by Heath Haussamen)
More than 350,000 acres of land in Doña Ana County — including the Organ Mountains — would be protected under legislation New Mexico’s U.S. senators introduced Thursday.
Specifically, the legislation from Sens. Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall, D-N.M. — the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Wilderness Act — would designate 259,000 acres as wilderness and 100,000 acres as national conservation areas, according to a release from the senators. In addition to the Organ Mountains, land on and around the Robledo, Doña Ana and Potrillo mountains would be protected.
“The Organ Mountains are the backdrop for one of the most breathtaking scenic views in our state,” Bingaman said in the release. “Doña Ana County residents have been working for years to develop plans that would ensure these views are protected. I’m very glad that we now have a bill that will do just that, even while ensuring the public continues to have access to this extraordinary space.”
Udall said the bill “will celebrate and preserve a portion of the spectacular landscapes that make southern New Mexico unique.”
“I am proud to join with Senator Bingaman in introducing a bill that protects this precious land for future generations to hunt, fish, hike or just enjoy our state’s incomparable natural environment,” Udall said in the release.
The bill would also release 16,350 acres currently designated as a wilderness study area along the county’s border with Mexico. That’s intended to address concerns that law enforcement patrols are hampered by rules against motorized vehicles entering the protected area.
Legislation has been sought for years
The conservation legislation has been sought for years by the Dona Ana County Wilderness Coalition, which has been led by the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance and includes a long list of businesses, local governments and others. In a news release from the coalition, Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima said the legislation helps ensure “that more of New Mexico’s spectacular natural lands will be around for our children’s children to use and enjoy.”
“This legislation follows years of discussion and collaboration with community members with many different interests and concerns,” he said.
Sandy Schemnitz, President of the Southwest Consolidated Sportsmen, said in the release that the bill “will ensure that our grandchildren can hunt in and enjoy these areas as we have done.”
“A New Mexico sportsman — Aldo Leopold — first began the idea of wilderness to preserve the hunting he’d come to love in the Gila,” Schemnitz said. “Today, Doña Ana County sportsmen are delighted that this legislation will help us pass down our traditions.”
Not all were happy. In response to the wilderness coalition’s proposal, a smaller group that includes ranchers, four-wheelers, the Village of Hatch and others formed People for Preserving Our Western Heritage, which wanted no wilderness at all and proposed new, less-restrictive designations for the land, in addition to requiring the sale of 65,000 acres owned by the Bureau of Land Management.
A spokesman for the group, Frank DuBois, was quoted by the Las Cruces Sun-News as saying he is “surprised and disappointed” that “the concerns of over 800 businesses and individuals that are part of our organization” were ignored.
‘The right thing to do’
The bill does include fewer acres designated as wilderness than the wilderness coalition had sought, but it’s largely in line with the coalitions’ proposal. Bingaman said the areas that would gain protection “boast caves, limestone cliffs and winding canyons that draw visitors to Doña Ana County.”
“To that end, it is my hope that it will also help promote tourism and economic development in the region,” Bingaman said.
Udall said preservation “is the right thing to do — environmentally and economically. Thanks to the cooperation of a wide range of individuals and groups in developing this legislation, I believe we strike the right balance between preservation and progress in a way that will benefit southern New Mexico for generations to come.”
Bingaman chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and said in the release he will schedule a hearing on the bill this fall.
Bingaman’s office also made available maps of areas that would be protected:
• An overall map of the county
• Desert Peaks National Conservation Area
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Great news!
Hemingway I think you should wait and read the bill before you assume the military use is not restricted. After all we all know Udall’s dislike of the military and his pacifist views. Much can be done in a bill to restrict overflight, buffer zone area and useage, etc. that would damage vital economic interests around LC. This along with onerous restrictions on access and use, as I know exist in previous Bingaman/Udall land lockups, are cause for concern. So far they have not released the text of the bill in full (S. 1689), only summaries in the Congressional Record proceedings.
Egad – the wilderness designation will absolutely have no effect on military. There are too many conspiratorial minds out there. As Professor Hofstadter once stated: “We are all sufferers from history, but the paranoid is a double sufferer, since he is afflicted not only by the real world, with the rest of us, but by his fantasies as well.”
9/19/09
By the time this bill comes before the Senate, there will be so many addendums tacked onto it, that we will not be able to figure out if it is a ‘save the wilderness’ bill or something entirely different.
I agree with Michael that there should be wording in it that would protect the military bases and their operations in perpetuity. I doubt that we will se that included though.
As far as Teague voting for or against anything that will benefit his constituents in Dona Ana County, it will be highly unlikely. Oh well, just a little more garbage to be shoveled at our door by Bingaman and Udall.
I agree Hemingway, this is just the ticket for Teague. I am happy to see he voted “no” on the Joe Wilson reprimand and “yes” on defunding ACORN. He as been bucking Pelosi, Hoyer, and Clyburn lately.
The bill indicates that whoever has control of that land could not be trusted, eh? And, the Federal Government can be trusted. I hope this is not getting the nose of the camel under the “get rid of the military in Southern New Mexico.”
I would like to see both senators sign in blood (OK a bit dramatic) that this wilderness designation will **never** have even the slightest effect upon the military neighbors of the Wilderness. We may have to define never, but I mean there will not be a time when some
Like Dr. J says, perhaps just once people could read the bill before passage to see what the definition of ‘is’ is.
Congressman Harry Teague should be a co-sponsor of this important legislation to the preserve the Organ Mountains for posterity. The developers would love to build in this area.
Senators Bingaman and Udall – thanks. Wilderness has been a sad story in New Mexico. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, our neighbor Arizona has 1,343,444 acres of designated wilderness areas while New Mexico has a paltry 39,908 acres. This has been a disgrace to New Mexicans. In addition, wilderness will be a boost to tourism and will help our local economy. The time is now for the Organ Mountains wilderness! Thanks again for your “strong leadership” in supporting wilderness for Organ Mountains including Sierra de Las Uvas, Broad Canyon, Robledos and Greater Potrillo Mountain Areas.
This is yet another bill the citizens need to read first. Do not trust these people to write things properly and act in your best interests. The last time Jeff took land away from public use he made collecting rocks and fossils a felony. This is our land, not his and Tom’s. It needs to be open for citizens to enjoy, not taken away from us and turning children and scientists into felons.