www.nmwild.org DoñaAna by Stephen Capra When working to protect wild places in New Mexico, one need only look south to see large tracts of wild public lands that have the potential of being put into the National Wilderness Preservation a look at the wildlands of Doña Ana County System. From the Boot Heel to Otero Mesa and north to the Apache Kid and Quebradas, southern New Mexico is, in many ways, some of the wildest coun- try left in the Rocky Mountain West. But like so many other places here, it faces a myriad of threats. From oil and gas drill- ing, to off-road vehicles to urban sprawl, the threats are real. These threats make Wilderness designation essential to the long-term protection of these wild places. Despite the tough political cli- mate related to wilderness, there are indications of a bi-partisan willingness to work together to protect some key areas in Doña Ana County. Wilderness remains one of the best ideas we Americans have ever had. With the passage of the Wilderness Act in 1964, public lands were, for the first time, set aside for their scenic, biologi- cal and recreational value. Protecting OJITO: an area as wilderness prevents oil and NOW IT’S FOREVER gas development, mining, logging and off-road vehicle use, but still allows for cattle grazing and horseback riding and WILD! packing. See Page 3 see Doña Ana, pg. 12 ©2005 Ken Stinnett s t e p h e n c a p r a • e x e c u t i v e d i r e c t o r Notes from the Executive Director As we come to the close of 2005, we can look back and see that it has been a very good year indeed for wilderness in New Mexico. The passage of the Ojito Wilderness Act, and the fact that oil and gas drilling has not occurred in Otero Mesa or Valle Vidal (thanks to your calls, letters and outrage) means that our wildlands continue to be protected. It also means this work has been very reward- ing to all involved! Also rewarding are the many volunteers who gave count- less hours of their valuable time, including the tremen- dous efforts of the artists who have contributed hard work and beauty to our cause. Membership in the New Mexico Wilderness Alli- In 2005 we continued to inventory the wilderness qual- ance now stands at over 4,300 members, making us one ity National Forest lands in northern New Mexico and will of the largest state-based conservation groups in the West. continue this work statewide in the coming year. We will For all of this and more, and for your continuing contribu- use our forest inventory to support the Roadless Rule here tions, I want to say thank you on behalf of the entire staff in New Mexico and other potential wilderness proposals. and board! We will also be engaged with the critically important issue of ORV abuse in our National Forests, working to get the With 2006 fast approaching, many people have asked new Forest Service ORV Rules implemented. what will be our priorities for the coming year. While the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance will continue our efforts In January 2006, we will publish our first Hiking Guide, to protect both Otero Mesa and Valle Vidal, we will also outlining the hikes we will lead throughout the state (see focus on new opportunities to create wilderness in our page 16). This guide will also list group camp-outs and state. We are working on wilderness proposals for select the many volunteer service projects that we will host in areas in the southern and northern parts of the state. In the coming year. 2006 we hope to have good news to report on this front. Our Grassroots Organizers will continue to speak with groups around the state about the need to protect your public lands. (If you would like to schedule a talk for your group, please contact Nathan Newcomer.) We will con- tinue our efforts to broaden our base with the Hispanic 4 Broad Canyon community and the young people of New Mexico, includ- 5 Wild en Español ing our work on the UNM campus. 6 Offroad Vehicle Update If 2006 is anything like 2005 there will be plenty 7 Otero Mesa Update of threats. There will be attempts to sell off your wild 8 The Roadless Debacle public lands or to subsidize the oil and gas industry at the expense of future generations. The New Mexico Wilder- 9 Drilling vs. Clean Energy ness Alliance will continue to fight on the ground in New 10 Announcements Mexico, and in the halls of Congress, to protect your pre- 11 New Mexico For Sale! cious property. We will keep you informed and empow- 12 Cover Story ered. 15 Action Alert! Early in the New Year, mark April 15th on your cal- 16 Hike! endar, not for taxes, but for our next Public Lands Rally 17 UNM Wilderness Alliance at the KiMo Theater in Albuquerque. We are planning 18 Restoring the Grizzly Bear in NM another very exciting event (if a little less lengthy) with a very strong line-up of speakers. 19 Española Wildlife Center new mexico 20 NMWA Sponsors We wish you and your family a wonderful holiday 22 Get Involved season. Thank you once again for your tremendous sup- port. Now, take some time before the end of the year and 23 Membership & Order Forms go enjoy a good hike! 24 NMWA Products WILD! Happy Holidays, Stephen Capra WINTER 2005 New Mexico WILD! Page 3 OJITO is NEW MEXICO’S NEWEST WILDERNESS! By Martin Heinrich Main Office 505/843-8696 • fax 505/843-8697 [email protected] • www.nmwild.org It’s official. New Mexico has its P.O. Box 25464 first new Wilderness Area in nearly Albuquerque, NM 87125 twenty years! On Tuesday, October Las Cruces Field Office 18, the Ojito Wilderness Act of 2005 275 N. Downtown Mall Las Cruces, NM 88001 was passed unanimously by the US 505/527-9962 House of Representatives. It was sponsored by Congressman Tom Mission Statement The New Mexico Wilderness Alliance is Udall (D-Santa Fe) and co-spon- dedicated to the protection, restoration, sored by Congresswoman Heather and continued enjoyment of New Mexico’s Wilson (R-Albuquerque). The Ojito wildlands and Wilderness areas. bill is the first new wilderness act NMWA Staff to clear both chambers in the 109th Las Cruces Office Congress. Since the bill cleared the Jeff Steinborn, Southern NM Director Alberto Zavala, Grassroots Organizer Senate earlier in the year, this was forward to seeing this on the Presi- Albuquerque Office the last major hurdle before being Get Out and Enjoy Tisha Broska, Membership Coordinator signed into law by the President. dent’s desk very soon.” Stephen Capra, Executive Director In the Senate, it was sponsored the Ojito Wilderness Tripp Killin, Associate Director While the legislation designated Nathan Newcomer, Grassroots Organizer by Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-Silver the 11,000 acre Ojito Wilderness- Suggested Hike Roxanne Pacheco, Finance Manager City) and co-sponsored by Senator Michael Scialdone, Director of Wilderness Protection - known for its solitude, wildlife, Trisha London, Membership & Grassroots Assistant Hoodoo Pines Hike – Ojito Wilderness Pete Domenici (R-Albuquerque), unique geology and paleontology, Nathan Small, Road Warrior & Tabling Coordinator Round Trip Length: 2+ miles who successfully shepherded the and its incredible cultural resources-- Difficulty: Easy to moderate Board of Directors bill through earlier this year. This it also protects over 11,000 acres of is the first wilderness bill passed in Wes Leonard, El Paso, TX (Chair) land containing important religious This is one of the easiest, yet most Bob Howard, Santa Fe, NM (V.Chair) New Mexico since 1987 and it rep- Tom Mouck, Albuquerque, NM (Treasurer) and archeological sites used by the unique hikes in Ojito and it is acces- Kathy Love, Albuquerque, NM (Secretary) resents a high water mark in terms ancestors of the modern Pueblo of sible to a wide range of skill levels. Glen Banks, Placitas, NM of cooperation between tribal gov- Pam Eaton, Denver, CO Zia. The Pueblo will now be able It is called the Hoodoo Pines hike Dave Foreman, Albuquerque, NM ernment (the Pueblo of Zia) and Todd Hotchkiss, Albuquerque, NM to purchase and manage this land, because it leads to an area of mush- Carlos Provencio, Bayard, NM conservationists. On Wednesday effectively providing an important room shaped rock formations called Arturo Sandoval, Albuquerque, NM October 26, President George W. Todd Schulke, Silver City, NM buffer to the Wilderness Area. The hoodoos and relic Ponderosa pines Bob Tafanelli, Las Cruces, NM Bush signed the bill making it law. legislation guarantees continued growing at elevations far below Rick Wiedenmann, Carlsbad, NM Newsletter Staff In an often divided and divisive public access to the buffer lands where they are generally found in for hiking and camping, but prohib- Tisha Broska, Managing Editor Congress, Ojito succeeded because New Mexico. Joe Adair, Design Editor of strong bipartisan support. Shortly its new development and off road Special thanks to Alicia Maldonado vehicle use. Directions: From Albuquerque, and Jennifer Metzler take I-25 north to Bernalillo and turn The Artists West on US 550. Past Zia Pueblo and Cover photograph by Ken Stinnett, P3 photos by about 2 miles before San Ysidro look T. Broska, P4 photos by S. Capra, P5 photos by B. Tafanelli, P7 photo by Ray Watt, P9 photos by Ray for Cabezon Road, a gravel road on Watt, P12-14 photos by S. Capra, P15 photo by the west side of US 550.