The Rio Grande is the lifeblood of New Mexico, providing water for ranchers, farmers and city dwellers alike. For many, however, the Rio Grande conjures up images of dams and concrete ditches rather than scenic vistas and majestic wildlife. New Mexicans have lost their connection with this important waterway. It’s time for this to change.

Although it’s still in the early stages, the Rio Grande Trail will be a multi-use recreational trail running alongside the length of the Rio Grande through New Mexico. Bikers, hikers, joggers and bird-watchers would have hundreds of miles of new trail to explore and enjoy. The trail would provide New Mexicans more access to the beauty of the Rio Grande, while connecting visitors to a significant piece of the state’s cultural and environmental heritage. The trail will also promote good stewardship of the Rio Grande, which is essential if we hope to revitalize the river and restore the bosque for future generations to enjoy.

In the 2008 legislative session, Environment New Mexico succeeded in securing over $120,000 for the New Mexico State Parks Department from individual legislators' capitol outlay to support planning and building initial phases for the project. We continue to work to secure a dedicated stream of funding for the Rio Grande Trail from Gov. Richardson and the state’s legislators.

E-mail your state senators and representatives, urging them to support funding for the Rio Grande Trail.

Stretching the entire length of New Mexico from the pueblos in the north to the beautiful desert landscapes of southern New Mexico’s borderlands, the Rio Grande is the heart of the state. Although often neglected and overlooked, the Rio Grande delivers water to local farmers, shapes New Mexico’s magnificent landscapes like the Rio Grande Gorge in Taos, and weaves throughout New Mexico’s culture and heritage.

The river and its bosque attract and sustain a wide variety of recreation—from hunting, fishing, and river rafting to hiking, biking and horseback riding. In many ways, human recreation in the river corridor also provides a vital connection to experiencing and appreciating the river, and educating the public about its past, present and future.

Trails provide a multitude of benefits to local communities, including economic development, increased tourism, conservation and health and fitness. Trail-related recreation is the most popular, outdoor activity in New Mexico. Nationwide, long-distance trails have never been more popular and outdoor enthusiasts seek them out as destinations in and of themselves. If completed, the Rio Grande Trail would be one of the longest multi-use trails in the United States.

In 2006, the New Mexico Legislature appropriated $4 million to begin the planning and development of the trail.

The New Mexico State Parks Department is responsible for trail development between Belen and Sunland Park. The Mid-Region Council of Governments (MRCOG) is working on the trail segment between Bernalillo and Belen.

Although the planning process and some pilot projects are underway, the realization of the trail will require a long-term, concerted effort from local, state and federal entities, citizens and the private sector. Many issues such as route location, access points, trail design, trail construction, and trail maintenance still need to be addressed, but perhaps the biggest obstacle is the lack of a dedicated source of funding.

During the 2007 legislative session, the New Mexico House and Senate passed a joint memorial to support the completion of the Rio Grande Trail but appropriated little money toward the actual construction of the trail. If we are to see the vision of the Rio Grande Trail realized, there needs to be a sustained source of funding to complete construction of the trail and ensure its continued maintenance.

Environment New Mexico helped to secure nearly $125,000 during the 2008 legislative session from individual legislators' capitol outlay funds. Environment New Mexico will continue to work for a dedicated funding source for this and other trails, while working with the Governor’s office and individual legislators to set aside necessary capitol outlay funds.