What's New
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.
How You Can Help
E-mail your
state senators and representatives, urging them to support funding for the Rio
Grande Trail.
Background
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.
