Handy Fact Sheets:

• Debunking Doña Ana County Rancher Myths
• Citizens Wilderness Proposal vs. Rancher-Off Road Vehicle Proposal
  

When working to protect wild places in New Mexico, one need only look south to see large tracts of wild public lands that have the potential to be put into the National Wilderness Preservation System. From the Boot Heel to Otero Mesa and north to the Apache Kid and Magdalena Mountains, southern New Mexico is, in many ways, some of the wildest coun­try left in the Rocky Mountain West. Yet, like so many other places, these wild lands face a myriad of threats. From oil and gas drill­ing, to off-road vehicles to urban sprawl, the threats are real, and in some cases, growing. These threats make wilderness designation essential to the long-term protection of these wild places, and the continued quality of life New Mexicans have come to enjoy. Despite the tough political cli­mate related to wilderness, there is a bi-partisan coalition of ranchers, hunters, developers, conservationists and local politicians working with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and staffers from Senators Domenici and Bingaman to protect over 400,000 acres of wild public lands in Doña Ana County.

The towering pinnacles and rugged canyons of the Organ Mountains, serving as the definitive backdrop for the city of Las Cruces, represent the true symbol of wilderness in Doña Ana County. From hiking, camping, hunting, to picnics, classroom outings, and retreats, the Organ Mountains are the center of enjoyment and culture for many in southern New Mexico. 

Realizing that the expansion of Las Cruces is inevitable, five city and county commissions voted to support the protection of the Organ Mountains as a National Conservation Area and the preservation of 330,000 acres in Doña Ana County as wilderness. More than 220 local businesses also support our wilderness proposal, along with the Hispano Chamber of Commerce and the Las Cruces Homebuilders Association.  

In Las Cruces, the response to wil­derness protection has been very positive. In polls conducted among likely voters in Doña Ana County 63% said that not enough of New Mexico’s public land is permanently protected as wilderness. Furthermore, 55% of likely voters supported a proposal by the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance that would protect more of Doña Ana County’s land. It is clear that the citizens of Doña Ana County have a strong conservation ethic, and any proposal that moves forward must ensure that their quality of life remains secure and even improved.

From the ocotillo gardens and grass-covered hills of Aden Lava Flow to the deep and rugged ravines of Broad Canyon decorated with ancient petroglyphs, and up to the panoramic peaks of the Organ Mountains, the wild public lands of Doña Ana County truly represent some of the last great wilderness quality land in the Rocky Mountain West. It is up to New Mexico’s congressional delegation to listen to the strong bi-partisan coalition working in Doña Ana County to protect these crown jewels with an act of Congress. Their leadership is crucial in preserving these essential pieces of New Mexico’s natural heritage.
 

Learn more at: www.donaanawild.org