Supports Effort to Designate New Area of Critical
Environmental Concern
Today Governor Richardson sent a letter to the Manager
of the Bureau of Land Management calling for the designation of an Otero Mesa
Grasslands Wildlife Area of Critical Environmental Concern. This
designation would allow for protection of wildlife habitat, wilderness
characteristics, and critical groundwater supply, focusing on the importance of
this thriving desert ecosystem.
Text of letter follows--
July 10, 2008
Bill Childress, Manager
Las Cruces District Office
Bureau of Land Management
1800
Marquess Street
Las Cruces, NM 88005-3370
Dear Mr. Childress:
As the Governor of New Mexico, I have been a strong
advocate for the preservation of Otero Mesa’s wildlife, desert grassland
ecosystems, and precious fresh water aquifer, the Salt Basin.
I have proposed the creation of a National Conservation Area on Otero Mesa, but
that protective step has not been taken. I am writing today to support
the efforts of the Coalition for Otero Mesa to have the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) designate an Otero Mesa Grasslands Wildlife Area of Critical
Environmental Concern (ACEC). This type of designation would provide another
way to protect the area’s wildlife habitat, wilderness characteristics,
and critical groundwater supply, focusing on the importance of this thriving
desert ecosystem.
The Otero Mesa area lies within the Chihuahuan DesertNew Mexico. Also,
Otero Mesa harbors under its surface potentially hundreds of millions of
gallons of water, enough to provide a sustainable fresh water supply for
communities in southern New Mexico.
ecoregion, one of the most biologically diverse arid regions in the world. This
is a vital area, home to mule deer, pronghorn, aplomado falcons, black-tailed
prairie dogs, burrowing owls and other wildlife. It has a rich history,
including being home to Native Americans who left petroglyphs on the volcanic
rocks and providing a stop along the Butterfield Overland Express stage line.
Otero Mesa contains the best remaining Chihuahuan grassland in
New
Mexico is committed to protecting its
natural areas, including through responsible management of the environment on
Otero Mesa. I believe that an ACEC designation for Otero Mesa will help
to preserve New Mexico’s
cultural resources, since the archeological studies of this area are nowhere
near complete and Native American communities have expressed concern in
preserving their ancestral lands.
ACEC designation is an important tool that the BLM can
use to recognize relevant and important values on our public lands and commit
to protecting them through special management attention. I urge the BLM
to consider how best to safeguard this unique landscape for the future,
including consideration of an ACEC designation.
Sincerely,
Bill Richardson
Governor of New Mexico
Contact: Allan Oliver 505-476-2214
