Call of the Wild The Newsletter of the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance Vol. VI No. 2 Summer 2002 The Evolving Wilderness Community New Mexico Wilderness Alliance Summer 2002 1 New Mexico Wilderness Alliance Notes from the Chair Main Office Edward Sullivan Hands Over the Reins 505/843-8696 fax 505/843-8697 was honored earlier this year when the Board of the largest conservation organizations in New Mexico. [email protected] www.nmwild.org Directors entrusted me with Chair of a great His energies and creativity have been tapped deeply, P.O. Box 25464 grassroots conservation organization. As a brief they are the foundation upon which NMWA is built Albuquerque, NM 87125 introduction to those of you whom I have not met, and growing. Thank you Edward, you will be missed. Imy primary focus in both my professional and volun- Starting in June, Jessica Pope comes on board as our 202 Central Avenue, SE Suite 101 Albuquerque, NM 87102 tary lives is 1) to ensure that Wilderness, wildlands and new Executive Director. Jess comes from Arizona and biodiversity continue and 2) to enjoy and appreciate brings to our organization strong managerial skills, a Las Cruces Field Office them every day. I know that you share the same vision, grassroots background, and experience in passing leg- so we have a lot in common. I am always open to new islation. Most importantly, she posses a strong passion 505/527-9962 fax 505/527-1571 ideas and suggestions as to how we can accomplish for wilderness and wildlands. When we offered her the P.O. Box 513 our mission, so please feel free to contact me. position, she was sitting on a raft in the San Juan River Las Cruces, NM 88004 As I assumed Chairmanship, I was given the task of (she was on a satellite phone if you are wondering). 101 N. Alameda Suite 18 helping find a replacement for Edward Sullivan who Edward committed to staying with NMWA and Las Cruces, NM 88005 will be leaving NMWA later this summer. Edward working with Jess to show her the ropes until late July. decided to take a year or so to explore international He will be introducing her to the New Mexico Mission Statement conservation issues and is headed to South America. conservation community and NMWA members. The New Mexico Wilderness Alliance is When he told me his plans, I said go for it, you will dedicated to the protection, restoration, and continued enjoyment of New Mexicos wild lands not have any regrets and will learn so muchbut I ecently, there are days when many of us feel that and Wildernes areas. said this with a heavy heart. I will miss his friendship our efforts are overwhelmed by a stronger force and his superb leadership. Edward has done an amaz- Rthat does not appear to share our love and respect for NMWA Staff ing job of taking the vision and commitment of a vol- all that is wild. That other vision seems so short-term Greta Balderrama, Grassroots Organizer untary board of directors and building it into one of and not respectful of the abundance of life that Tisha Broska, Membership Coordinator enriches our world. These are, however, the very times Steve Capra, Communications Coordinator when we must persevere, endure and reaffirm our Matt Clark, Inventory Assistant convictions to make a differenceand NMWA is Garrick Delzell, Grassroots Outreach doing just that! Your support and enthusiasm keep us Coordinator Table of Contents moving forward toward accomplishments that we can Greg Magee, Southern Field Coordinator all celebrate. During these times, I often refer to a Nathan Newcomer, Assistant Media Coordinator Wilderness Updates 3 Roxanne Pacheco, Bookkeeper Otero Mesa quote from the anthropologist Margaret Mead, Never Jessica Pope, New Executive Director NMWA Documents Broad Support for Wilderness doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, its the only Michael Robinson, Wilderness Protection Calandar of Events 3 Coordinator thing that ever has. Nick Sanders, Wilderness Protection Intern Wilderness Spotlight 4 Thank you for helping make a differenceand never Sean Saville, Grassroots Organizer Big Canyon in the Guadalupe Mountains underestimate the importance of even the smallest step Jim Scanlon, Grassroots Organizer Perspectives 5 you take in protecting wildlands. Always take time to Michael Scialdone, Northern Field Coordinator enjoy the natural beauty and wildlife that we share in Edward Sullivan, Executive Director A Witness To ChangeA Photographer New Mexicoit will refresh your spirit and reaffirm Kathy Wimmer, Development Assistant Looks Within My Beautiful Organ Mountains your commitment. Randall Gray Board of Directors Inventory Update 6 Chair of the NMWA Board of Directors Randall Gray, Chair Lake Valley, NM The Robledos-Las Uvas Todd Schulke, V. Chair Silver City, NM Dave Parsons, Treasurer Albuquerque, NM Wild Science 7 Nancy Morton, Secretary Albuquerque, NM New Mexico Volcanoes Never doubt Jim Baca Albuquerque, NM Feature 8-9 Greta Balderrama Carlsbad, NM The Evolving Wilderness Community that a small group of Pam Eaton Denver, CO Most Locally Owned NM Businesses Dave Foreman Albuquerque, NM Depend On Wilderness thoughtful, committed Bob Howard Santa Fe, NM Natural Allies Outgrowing Legacy Wes Leonard El Paso, TX of Misunderstanding Arian Pregenzer Albuquerque, NM citizens can change the world. Bob Tafanelli Las Cruces, NM Wilderness News 10 Steve West Carlsbad, NM North American Wilderness Conference 2002 NMWA Lobbies With Zia Pueblo Indeed, its the only thing Newsletter NMWA Testifies in Support of Sandia Settlement Tisha Broska, Managing Editor Catastrophe Looming in Energy Conference that ever has. Committee Marty Peale, Editor, Design & Layout Margaret Mead Oil & Gas from the Robledos? The Artists: Cover photo by M. Heinrich; p. 2 photo Flora and Fauna 11 anthropologist by S. Capra, p. 4 Hummingbird by N. Moore-Craig, Beetle Griffiths Saltbush & Prairie Dogs by J. Cantley, photo by S. West; p. 5 Cabezon photo by J. Willis & watercolor of East Organ Mnts. by A. Peden; Get Involved 12 p. 6 map by M. Scialdone; p. 7 photo of Mt. Taylor by Write For NMWA, Zia Pueblo, Ojito Wilderness Dr. L. Crumpler; p. 9 photo by H. Adams; p. 10 photo by Action Alert: Letters Needed for the Gila J. Willis; p. 11 illustration by E. Cantor; p. 12 photo by J. Willis; p. 13 illustration by E. Cantor; p. 15 photo by Gettin Out There 13 Help Us Welcome M. Clark; p. 16 watercolor by A. Peden Wilderness Kind of Recalibrates Everything Cabezon Outing a Success Wilderness NM Businesses For Otero Mesa Wilderness Jessica Pope The Wilderness Act of 1964 established the Book Reviews 14 National Wilderness Preservation System to preserve In the Presence Of FearWendell Berry as our new Executive Director the last remaining wild lands in America. The Coalition For NM Wilderness Wilderness Act, as federal policy, secures an enduring Organizations and Businesses Support the Albuquerque Membership Reception resource of wilderness for the people. Wilderness is Work of the Coalition for NM Wilderness Tuesday June 18, 7:00-9:00 pm defined as an area that has primarily been affected by the forces of nature with the imprint of humans Staff/Volunteer Profiles 15 Las Cruces Membership Reception substantially unnoticeable. It is an area that offers Wilderness Advocacy Through Music Tuesday, June 25, 7;00-9:00 pm outstanding opportunity for solitude or a primitive or FarewellFor Now unconfined type of recreation, and an area that For more details, contains ecological, geological, or other features of see Calendar of Events (p. 3) scientific, educational, scenic, or historical value. Printed on Recycled Paper 2 Summer 2002 New Mexico Wilderness Alliance Wilderness Updates Your Letters Are Making a Difference for Otero Mesa n the past few months, work to pro- Youre Making A Difference sources. Early in the last century, trains tect Otero Mesa has moved at a rapid were facing competition from a new The fight to preserve this vast tract of rate. The New Mexico Wilderness sourcethe airplane. The train barons Chihuahuan Desert grassland continues Alliance, in conjunction with the Otero used all their political power to maintain Please Write! on many fronts. What remains clear is IMesa Coalition, has traveled the State control. In the end, the plane triumphed. Senator Jeff Bingaman that your letters to our Senators and the speaking to groups as diverse as the Today we face a similar situationthe US Senate BLM are having a positive effect. The Rotary Club, senior centers, conserva- oil and gas industry is fighting to main- Washington, DC 20510 permitting process has been delayed, tion groups, colleges and elected tain control of the energy industry. To do senator_bingaman@bingaman. and now officials in Washington officials. In addition, we have generated this, they will drill the last wild land- senate.gov understand more clearly that New a steady stream of mediafrom news- scapes, destroy Native cultures, force Mexicans are not willing to roll over Senator Pete Domenici papers across the State, to radio and America into wars on foreign shores, and allow our wild landscapes to be US Senate television. Clearly these efforts have and continue to blanket the airwaves destroyed to fill the pockets of a few Washington, DC 20510 made a difference. with propagandaand in the end, leave wealthy oil and gas executives. senator_domenici@domenici. our public lands degraded and our The coming months will be crucial senate.gov country less secure. Otero Mesa, like so Politics we must continue to make the case for many other wild places in the West, is a Ms. Amy Luders In early May 2002, gubinatorial alternative energy production. Remem- symbol of why such arrogance must Field Manager candidate Bill Richardson, the former ber, New Mexico and much of the West be stopped.