NEWS
Southern NM habitat bill introduced
Sportsmen around New Mexico applaud the Sept. 18 announcement by U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall that they introduced legislation to protect critical wildlife habitat in southern New Mexico.
The Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Wilderness Act creates wilderness and conservation areas that would provide for continued hunting and other public use while protecting the granite peaks of the Organ Mountains and the volcanic cinder cones of the Potrillo Mountains, among other public lands in Dona Ana County.
“The Organ Mountains are the backdrop for one of the most breathtaking scenic views in our state,” Bingaman said in a statement. “Dona Ana County residents have been working for years to develop plans that would ensure these views are protected. I’m very glad that we now have a bill that will do just that even while ensuring the public continues to have access to this extraordinary space.”
Udall added, “This legislation will celebrate and preserve a portion of the spectacular landscapes that make southern New Mexico unique. I am proud to join with Senator Bingaman in introducing a bill that protects this precious land for future generations to hunt, fish, hike or just enjoy our state’s incomparable natural environment.”
The legislation creates 259,000 acres of wilderness and 100,000 acres of National Conservation Area. These areas would be managed in ways that protect the landscape from development while preserving current uses, such as hunting and grazing.
The bill also releases 16,350 acres along the southern border that had been designated as so-called “Wilderness Study Area.” This will provide increased flexibility for border law enforcement, Bingaman’s office said.
The Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Wilderness Act has been referred to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which Bingaman chairs. Bingaman plans to schedule a hearing on the bill this fall.