A Rio Grande Renaissance Our River’s History, Culture and Diversity City of Las Cruces Rio Grande Riparian Ecological Corridor Project An EPA Sustainable Development Challenge Grant Comprehensive Plan May 17, 2004 Mission of the Rio Grande Corridor Project The Rio Grande Riparian Ecological Corridor Project seeks to create a guide for future development of the Rio Grande corridor which will be sustainable and non-polluting. TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements . 3 Executive Summary . 4 I. Introduction. 8 Project History Sustainable Development Planning Process II. Study Area Information. 13 Location History Current Issues and Trends III. Intergovernmental and Interagency Coordination. 19 Stakeholders City of Las Cruces Interdepartmental Roles Project Workgroups National Park Service Rivers and Trails Program Environmental Protection Agency IV. Planning Background. 22 City of Las Cruces Comprehensive Plan Extraterritorial Zone Comprehensive Plan Town of Mesilla Comprehensive Plan USIBWC Rio Grande Canalization Project 1984 Southern Rio Grande Outdoor Recreation Master Plan Mesilla Valley Nature Center Feasibility Study Mesilla Valley Bosque Park Feasibility Study Laws and Regulations Affecting Study Area V. Summary of Data Analysis. 28 Inventory of Current Uses Results of Surveys and Public Input Needs Analysis VI. Goals, Objectives and Recommendations . 33 Introduction Goals, Objectives and Recommendations Funding Mechanisms Conclusion VII. Implementation of Projects . 43 Introduction Long Term Management and Multi-Jurisdictional Responsibility Special Types of Multi-Jurisdictional Management Fundraising Assistance Programs and Other Resources Paseo del Norte Watershed Council Organic Farming and Community Food Projects Pilot Project Implementation Wetland Pilot Component Multi-use Pathway Component VIII. Conclusion . .. 67 IX. Definitions and Acronyms . 68 X. Appendices. .. 69 Rio Grande Riparian Ecological Corridor Project 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS City Council William Mattiace, Mayor Jose Frietze Dolores Connor Dolores Archuleta Steve Trowbridge Wesley Strain Ken Miyagishima City Administration Jim Ericson City Manager Maryann Ustick Assistant City Manager Brian Denmark Director of Community Development David Carpenter Neighborhood Development & Planning Administrator Carol McCall Project Manager Environmental Protection Agency Diana Hinds EPA Region 6 Project Administrator National Park Service Rivers and Trails Program Paul Cusumano Community Planner Project Participants City of Las Cruces Southwest Environmental Center Elephant Butte Irrigation District New Mexico Department of Game & Fish United States Section, International Boundary and Water Commission Bureau of Reclamation Town of Mesilla Dona Ana County Contributing Authors Beth Bardwell Paul Cusumano Kevin Bixby Nancy Stotz Kevin Buggy Rio Grande Riparian Ecological Corridor Project 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Rio Grande Riparian Ecological Corridor Project was created in 2000 through a Sustainable Development Challenge Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA defines sustainable development as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Planning decisions must consider and account for long-term impacts and consequences, interdependence of economic, environmental and social well-being, the input of the stakeholders who will be affected by decisions, equity among generations and different groups in society, and proactive prevention which promotes efforts to prevent problems as the first course of action. 1 The Rio Grande Corridor Project has three components: a Comprehensive Plan for development along an 11-mile corridor of the Rio Grande; and two pilot projects -- construction of a 14-acre wetland, and construction of a 1.1-mile multi-use pathway. The City of Las Cruces, with assistance from the Southwest Environmental Center (SWEC), the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) and Elephant Butte Irrigation District (EBID), constructed a flow-through wetland which utilizes water from the Picacho Drain. Several acres of Salt Cedar were removed and the area was replanted with native trees and grasses. In coming years, SWEC and EBID will be collecting data to determine whether the removal of salt cedar offsets the use of water in the wetland. The multi-use pathway was constructed with a mixture of crushed rock and a plant-based stabilizer. This mix allows some degree of permeability while ensuring durability. Durability testing will be conducted in the next twelve months to measure how well this paving method holds up under non- motorized vehicular use. These pilot projects complement the larger objectives of the Comprehensive Plan for sustainable development along the corridor by creating opportunities for multi-jurisdictional cooperation and public involvement. As pilot projects, they are intended to provide information which may be useful when considering future projects of a similar nature along the river corridor. The Comprehensive Plan is intended as a blueprint and guide for proposed projects along the corridor which may impact the environment, economic development and quality of life of the region. The Plan suggests many projects which could be carried out by various stakeholders and private land owners in order to accomplish a set of goals created as a result of public input. To create the goals, workgroups were assembled, with representation from principal stakeholders who manage projects along the river and approximately 1 Sustainable Communities Task Force Report,” President’s Council on Sustainable Development, Washington, DC, 1997, page v-vi. Rio Grande Riparian Ecological Corridor Project 4 twenty user groups whose interests specifically relate to the Rio Grande corridor. The workgroups conducted several brain-storming sessions to develop a current inventory and an initial list of needs. Two sets of public input meetings were conducted, during which information was gathered asking what residents would/would not like to have happen along the corridor. The workgroups used this public input to create a more comprehensive needs assessment. From this, they created a list of goals and objectives, which form the basis of the Comprehensive Plan. MAJOR FINDINGS Recent studies have shown that the combined uses of farm, forest and open land more than pay for themselves, costing a community only $.36 for every dollar generated. Unfortunately, Dona Ana County is losing prime farmland to development at an alarming rate, creating deficits by residents’ high demand for public services, particularly education, social services, public health and safety. For every dollar generated, residential areas cost the community $1.15. These studies conclude that on average, residential development is expensive and relies on other land uses to balance municipal budgets. 2 In general, the public is in favor of preserving the Rio Grande Corridor in as natural a state as possible, and would support proposals for open space and agriculture preservation, trails and parks along the river and outside the levee boundaries for up to one-half mile. Among residents, issues related to illegal dumping, safety, codes enforcement and vehicle restrictions are also primary concerns. These are problems which have gone un-mitigated for many years since most stakeholder agencies do not have enforcement arms through which they may be addressed. Unless this changes, Dona Ana County is the likely candidate for enforcement, perhaps with assistance from the City of Las Cruces or a specific state agency, such as the State Parks Division. The Rio Grande Corridor is managed by many stakeholders, all with individual missions and project management practices. In order to carry out projects along the river, multi-jurisdictional cooperation and responsibility is a necessity and must be made a priority. It must be noted, however, that not all stakeholders agree with all goals listed here. In order to carry out any of the projects proposed in this plan, participating agencies must agree on specific project criteria, such that individual stakeholder missions are not compromised. GOALS The workgroups decided upon six goals, with objectives and recommendations by which each goal may be achieved. In brief, these are: 1. Preserve, enhance and restore native riparian and aquatic habitat diversity in limited project areas within the 11-mile corridor. This may be achieved by restoring native vegetation at specific habitat sites on public and private J. Freedgood, Cost of Community Services Studies: Making the Case for Conservation, American Farmland Trust, Washington DC, 2002, p. 13 Rio Grande Riparian Ecological Corridor Project 5 land, and within/outside the floodway, and by obtaining water sources needed to achieve habitat restoration. In addition, support of the Mesilla Valley Bosque Park and the development of management partnerships are recommended. 2. Preserve farmland and open space adjacent to the Rio Grande by supporting various farmland and open space preservation efforts. 3. Create a multi-use trail system for the 11-mile corridor by establishing a design plan that accommodates all types of non-motorized transportation, then constructing an 11-mile uninterrupted main trail the length of the corridor with small spur trails to various points of interest. These trails would be accessible to the greatest extent possible. In addition, make the river corridor experience “safe, sound and sanitary” by establishing an interagency method of management