NEWS
Rio Grande Gorge area eyed for protection
On the heels of his mining-reform bill, Bingaman and Sen. Tom Udall announced legislation to protect large tracts around the Rio Grande Gorge in Taos and Rio Arriba counties and preserve them as prime public hunting and fishing areas. El Rio Grande del Norte National Conservation Area Establishment Act would classify almost 215,000 acres of public land along the Rio Grande Gorge as a national conservation area. Another 21,000 acres in two other tracts - around Ute Mountain and along the Rio San Antonio - would be designated as wilderness.
Altogether, the bill would protect key elk wintering grounds and migratory corridors along the plateau between Ute Mountain and San Antonio Mountain, as well as protect habitat for other game species and birds of prey. Click here for more information.