Public Lands

The Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club is developing plans to assist in the restoration of areas in the Jemez that were severely damaged last year by the Las Conchas fire. And you are invited to participate as volunteers in this important effort. Please contact Mike Weinberg (505) 231-7322

By Eric Patterson

I came across an article by Matt van Buren on the Columbine-Hondo Wilderness Study Area in the Taos News on Nov. 17 that really struck a nerve.

Almost 40 years ago, when I was teaching at Taos High School, I went backpacking for the first time with two good friends who were very experienced and capable hikers. We went up Long Canyon and camped overnight at Goose Lake.

By Michael Ritchie

“The Art of the Possible” is a recent expression of that well-known axiom “think globally, act locally.” On the national level, political posturing and gridlock have halted any real solutions to America’s diverse problems. Understandably, many of us have transcended despair and graduated to numbness.

Albuquerque (November 3, 2011) – The newly-formed New Mexico Outdoors Coalition applauds the “America’s Great Outdoors” state report for New Mexico released today by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The report identifies two project priorities for action in New Mexico: establishment of the Middle Rio Grande National Wildlife Refuge (Price’s Dairy) and construction of a trail linking Aztec Ruins National Monument with the City of Aztec.

October 6 Op-ed in the ABQ Journal by Kathy Holian / Santa Fe County Commissioner, District 4

New Mexicans have a deep love of their land. They also have a rich and lengthy history with the land that has fed and nurtured people living here for thousands of years. It is vital that we respect that relationship and that we protect and pass this bounty on to our children and grandchildren.

By Dr. Charles Keller

This year has been real wakeup call about the future of mega-fires in the Rocky Mountains. New Mexico had its two largest-ever fires, and Arizona suffered much larger ones.
Over the 10 years since the Cerro Grande Fire, the number and size of these fires has increased. We are being shown that the future will bring many more and perhaps even larger wildfires. In addition, the destruction of our forests and the resulting huge floods will irreversibly change our canyons and stream courses.

By Jason Lott, Bandelier National Monument Superintendent

Please consider this your personal invitation to return to Bandelier. You can once again visit Frijoles Canyon by a free shuttle bus (Atomic City Transit) from the Town of White Rock, and on November 1, the canyon will open for personal vehicles.

By Kristina Ortez de Jones, Southwest Youth Representative

By the time you read this, Sierra Club delegates from the Mission Outdoors Program will already have clicked their way down the halls of Congress to let their elected leaders know the importance of protecting public lands and providing opportunities for young people, veterans and their families to connect with the outdoors.