Southern New Mexico has an extensive network of public lands and should have a strong voice in the discussion about how to protect and manage those public lands. We have an opportunity to guide the decisions that weigh and balance the needs of all stakeholders. The Bureau of Land Management is working on the Regional Management Plan, which includes Otero Mesa. A draft RMP is expected by late summer, and the BLM must use all of the tools at their disposal to create a balanced plan that adequately protects the Otero Mesa landscape
Otero Mesa contains the largest and wildest Chihuahuan Desert grassland left in America. These lands house an incredible variety of native wildlife species, including mule deer, mountain lion, black-tailed prairie dogs, golden and bald eagles, more than 200 species of migratory songbirds, as well as New Mexico’s healthiest herd of pronghorn antelope. Thousands of ancient petroglyphs and archeological sites can be found on the volcanic mountains in the south. Otero Mesa sits above the Salt Basin Aquifer, the largest, untapped, fresh-water aquifer left in New Mexico. The ecological and cultural significance of this area cannot be understated. Protecting these lands from harmful development protects our state’s heritage and ensures that future generations can continue to enjoy the same special places we have.
Protecting public lands provides real economic benefits to local communities. The outdoor industry I n New Mexico supports 68,000 jobs, brings in $458 million in state and local tax revenue, and generates $6.1 billion in consumer spending. Outdoor recreation is an enormous economic generator that helps our small businesses thrive.
BLM lands have a tremendous, positive impact on local economies in New Mexico. In 2014, there were 2.3 million visits to the state’s 13.5 million acres of BLM where visitors can enjoy non-motorized outdoor activities. Those visits translated into $143 million spent directly on quiet recreation activities on BLM land and supported 1,712 local jobs. Those dollars and those jobs are key to our local economies and key to local businesses’ success.
During the recent Legislative Session, I was proud to stand with 28 of my colleagues in the House and Senate to sign a letter to BLM State Director Amy Lueders asking that the BLM work to find ways to thoughtfully protect Otero Mesa. In total, those of us who signed the letter represent almost 1 million constituents in 15 counties. We, and our constituents, know the value of public lands—and understand what’s at stake if we aren’t good stewards of the land.
As an educator, I know that access to the outdoors plays a critical role in development. By protecting our natural environment today we are ensuring that our children and grandchildren will have access to the land tomorrow.
For these reasons, as the BLM works to finalize the Resource Management Plan for Otero Mesa, we as a community must speak up and ask that the agency do all it can to conserve the landscape of Otero Mesa and the amazing resources it hosts. Public lands are part of who we are. Let’s raise our voices and make sure that our message is heard: Otero Mesa deserves to be protected and we’re looking at the BLM to help make that happen.
