Sabinoso Wilderness Bill Heads to Committee in U.S. House

From the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance:
This week, the Sabinoso Wilderness Act of 2007, H.R. 2632, will head to the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands. This will be the second wilderness bill in New Mexico to be considered for passage in more than 20 years.

Introduced earlier this year by Congressman Tom Udall (D-NM), the Sabinoso Wilderness Act seeks to designate the majestic canyons and rugged beauty of one of the finest intact Great-Plains ecosystems left in New Mexico. Just 40 miles west of Las Vegas, New Mexico, the Sabinoso Wilderness Study Area encompasses approximately 20,000-acres of public land and is home to a variety of wildlife, including the American kestrel, savannah sparrow, red-tailed hawk, broad tailed hummingbird, coyote, mountain lions, mule deer and gray foxes.

“Congressman Udall’s legislation will give permanent protection to one of the best hunting locations in northern New Mexico,” said Ed Olona of Springer, NM and member of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation. “By assuring public access to magnificent Federal lands, Sabinoso could become a major economic draw for our area.”

The Sabinoso Wilderness Act is widely supported by local governments, business and economic development interests, sportsmen, conservation groups, and state officials. More specifically, the New Mexico State House of Representatives, San Miguel County Commission, Village of Wagon Mound, and the Town of Springer have passed resolutions supporting the designation of the Sabinoso wilderness.

“Sabinoso is a spectacular landscape that features the deep canyons and rugged beauty of San Miguel County,” said Arturo Sandoval, Board Member of the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance. “Creating this area as a Wilderness will provide wonderful opportunities for sustainable economic development tied directly to open space.”

A series of high, narrow mesas surrounded by steep, rock-walled canyons provides a striking contrast to the nearby rolling prairie. The Canadian River runs through the northeast corner of the Sabinoso Wilderness Study Area, fed by many other streams. Ponderosa pine, Cottonwood, and willows can also be found along the many stream sides.

“New Mexico’s varied wildlands enhance our quality of life and create a powerful incentive for attracting new businesses to our state by creating the kind of environment where people want to live, work and enjoy free time with their families,” said Nathan Newcomer, Media Director with the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance. “Wilderness is a cornerstone of our heritage.”

To contact members of the U.S. House Subcommitee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, click here. For contact info on the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee click here.