BLM proposes Rio Grande protections, OHV closures in N.M.

April Reese

The Bureau of Land Management has proposed several new protected areas for northern New Mexico -- including a stretch of the Rio Grande Gorge that Congress wants to designate a national conservation area -- and would close many off-highway vehicle (OHV) routes, drawing mixed reactions from user groups.

The Taos field office’s draft resource management plan (RMP), which covers 595,100 acres across eight counties in northern New Mexico, tackles a host of new issues that have arisen since the current plan was crafted 22 years ago, including renewable energy development, an increase in of off-road recreation, and growing public interest in protecting sensitive areas along the Rio Grande, which bisects New Mexico on its path to the Gulf of Mexico.

"There have been a lot of changes in trends in terms of population, increased recreational uses of public lands, increased OHV use, so there are more threats then there were 20 years ago," said Brad Higdon, planning and environmental coordinator for the Taos field office.

The plan's preferred alternative calls for significantly expanding or creating new “areas of critical environmental concern” (ACECs), a designation that provides for greater protection for cultural or natural resources. Under the proposal, BLM would delineate 11 ACECs totaling 407,000 acres, up from the current eight ACECs covering 66,000 acres.

"It's a substantial increase," Higdon said. "The move toward special designations is one of the bigger components of the plan, while providing for opportunities for resource development."

But in at least one case, the new protections could conflict with possible renewable energy development. The plan would expand the Las Cienegas ACEC west of Santa Fe from 3,700 acres to 13,390 acres, including an area that solar firms are exploring for potential development.

"This is one of many areas where we have conflicting opportunities, and we have to determine where we have more value," Higdon said. "It’s a good example of where we need to consider our options, and provide for the development of resources such as renewable energy while we protect important resource values."

But, he added, an ACEC designation would not necessarily preclude solar development.

Rio Grande Del Norte

Another area proposed for ACEC status includes lands that New Mexico's congressional delegation hopes to protect as a national conservation area.

New Mexico's Democratic lawmakers have introduced legislation to establish the Rio Grande Del Norte National Conservation Area on 236,000 acres along the Rio Grande northwest of Taos. If passed, the bills would prohibit mineral development in the NCA and would designate the Rio San Antonio and Ute Mountain areas as wilderness -- a more restrictive management prescription. The NCA would also be permanent, whereas an ACEC classification could be changed under future RMP revisions.

Jude McCartin, a spokeswoman for Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), one of the bill's Senate sponsors, said an ACEC classification would provide temporary protection while Congress mulls the legislative proposals. "We are pleased that they have decided to set this land as far aside as an ACEC," she said. "It doesn't go as far as our bill, but it definitely is complimentary to what we're doing."

The Senate bill cleared the Energy and Natural Resources Committee last December, and the measure could be rolled into a new omnibus public lands bill before the current legislative session is over, said McCartin. Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) introduced a House version of the bill last month.
OHV changes

Another major change is BLM's proposed closure of most of the Taos field office’s open OHV riding areas, where off-roading enthusiasts can travel cross-country rather than adhere to established trails.

Under a recent agencywide policy overhaul for OHVs, BLM offices are to scale back or eliminate cross-country travel and create formal trail systems for off-roading.

The Taos RMP identifies areas that could be restricted to designated trail use only, but Higdon said officials will craft a separate travel plan establishing what OHV areas are to be closed, as well as which trails and cross-country areas will remain open.

"It's inevitable that roads will be closed," Higdon said, noting that OHV use has increased in some areas.

Calls to the New Mexico Off-Highway Vehicle Association were not returned. But the group takes issue with the plan on its website, saying the preferred alternative "dramatically decreases the amount of land open for OHV use."

Bryan Bird, public lands director for WildEarth Guardians, said the closures would help protect the area's high desert ecosystems. "If they just neglect the issue, the abuse of that form of recreation can have a significant impact on water and wildlife habitat," he said. "I'm glad to see them getting a handle on it."

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Source: Land Letter

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