BACKGROUND ON GROUNDWORK APPLICATION

The Groundwork Subcommittee of the Open Space and Trail Network is applying for the establishment of a Groundwork Trust here in Doña Ana County.  We have received encouragement to apply from the Doña Ana County, City of Las Cruces and Town of Mesilla staff.

The Groundwork USA Program is a joint venture of the National Park Service (NPS) Rivers and Trails Program and the Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Program within the US Department of the Interior.  Doña Ana County is in Region 6 of the EPA and qualifies for this program.

The mission of Groundwork USA is to bring about the sustained regeneration, improvement and management of the physical environment by developing community-based partnerships which empower people, businesses and organizations to promote environmental, economic and social well-being.

Groundwork USA accomplishes this through the establishment of a network of independent, not-for-profit, environmental businesses called Groundwork Trusts.  Locally organized and controlled, these Trusts provide cost-effective project development services focused on improving their communities’ environment, economy and quality of life.  Services include community planning, project management, design and construction, fundraising, and support for maintenance.  Each Trust represents a strong partnership between government, business, foundations, community groups and residents.  Projects serve a common agenda and are designed to accomplish other goals such as job training and environmental education.  All projects and activities of Groundwork are carried out through a creative mix of staff and volunteers to leverage resources and engage businesses and residents in the transformation of their own communities (www.groundworkusa.net).

Groundwork El Paso has developed over a three-year period.  With Steering Committee direction and an inter-local agreement with El Paso County, it completed a feasibility study, established nonprofit status, hired an executive director and is working on 5 demonstration projects (www.groundworkelpaso.org).

The organization called an Open Space and Trail Network of Doña Ana County and the land preservation plan, “A Vision for an Open Space and Trail System in Doña Ana County”, laid the foundation for the establishment of a Groundwork Trust in Doña Ana County.  Volunteer participants from the Network and others identified through community, NMSU and public school outreach will become the Steering Committee for the Groundwork Trust, and the Trust will become one of the project arms of the Network.  The focus of the Groundwork Trust will be the establishment of protected natural areas, parks and gardens, river buffer, farmland and trails and their access as outlined in the Vision.  The Groundwork Trust staff would facilitate the planning, resource coordination, fund raising, and community organization for such projects.

If our letter of interest is accepted, we will proceed to Phase 1 of the Groundwork assessment process.  Phase 1 requires the creation of a Steering Committee, the establishment of an inter-local agreement with Doña Ana County Government to administer Groundwork funds, a feasibility study and strategic plan.  If these studies conclude that a Groundwork Trust would succeed here, we proceed to Phase 2.  A local funding commitment is required, an executive director is hired and Groundwork Doña Ana County establishes non-profit status.

For further information, please contact Sandy Geiger, sgeiger@nmsu.edu or 526-5972.

LETTER OF INTEREST

September 3, 2005.

Douglas Evans, Manager Groundwork USA Initiative

National Park Service Rivers and Trails Program

15 State St., Boston, MA  02109

RE:         Letter of Interest for the Goundwork USA Pilot Funding and Technical Assistance

for Doña Ana County, New Mexico

1.  Community Profile

Doña Ana County has a population of 174,682 and comprises 3,815 square miles (U.S. Census).  It is located in Region 6 of the Environmental Protection Agency.  It is the second most populated county in New Mexico and shares its southern border with El Paso County, Texas, and the State of Chihuahua, Mexico.  Sixty-three percent of the population is Hispanic. The geography is predominantly Chihuahuan Desert, southern Rocky Mountains and the Rio Grande Valley.  The river valley has sustained various communities of people from prehistoric times to the present through agriculture and ranching. The major metropolitan area of Las Cruces is centrally located within the County and numerous historic villages dot the riverside to the north and south of the City.  Las Cruces is presently experiencing tremendous growth due to a sunny climate, beautiful scenery and an economy based on jobs provided by education and technology, military and aerospace and the growing retirement community. 

Similarly, Doña Ana County’s growth rate is between 4 – 6 % which translates to a population of 300,000 within the next twenty years.  The immediate future promises a greater demand for residential, commercial, and industrial development due to the population pressures that will accompany the development of the Space Port to the north and the addition of Ports of Entry at the Mexico-New Mexico border. Currently new major housing development and road construction is concentrated on the East Mesa with an expanding industrial park and airport on the West Mesa.  Unfortunately, there is also increasing development pressure on the unincorporated, agricultural river valley where over half of the County’s population lives, often without infrastructure and services.  Within all these areas there are natural and agricultural open space and trails such as mountains and escarpment, arroyos, farmland and irrigation canals which could serve to provide numerous social, environmental and economic benefits if protected. These benefits complement urban growth planning and attract investment.  They include, but are not limited to:

§         Preservation of farmland for agricultural and environmental purposes

§         Preservation of the natural drainage system and connective habitat and movement corridors for native plants and animals

§         Scenic views and opportunities for solitude and quiet

§         Preservation of unique natural landforms and significant historical and cultural sites

§         Opportunities for pedestrian, bicycle and equestrian trails

§         Opportunities for special uses such as dog parks, archery ranges, community gardens

§         Tourist attractions and activities

This proposal will focus on an important local movement to identify and protect these natural and agricultural open space and trails now before these resources are lost forever.   In 2005, an extensive preservation plan entitled “A Vision: Open Space and Trail System for Doña Ana County New Mexico” was authored by the Citizen’s Task Force for Open Space Preservation in Doña Ana County in cooperation with the Open Space and Trail Network and National Park Service’s Rivers and Trails Conservation Assistance Program (see Appendix).  The Vision has been endorsed by the governing bodies of the City of Las Cruces, Doña Ana County, the Extra Territorial Zone and the Town of Mesilla.  It was submitted during the public scoping period for the revision of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Mimbres Management Plan which includes Doña Ana County.  It has been favorably received and will hopefully play a key role in the determination of the future of the BLM lands in the county.

The establishment of a Doña Ana County Groundwork Trust would provide the staff to help the Open Space and Trail Network implement Vision projects.  The Groundwork Trust staff would facilitate the planning, resource coordination and fund raising for such projects.

2.  Lead Agency and Contact Information

The lead agency to begin the process of establishing the Groundwork Initiative is the Open Space and Trail Network of Doña Ana County (Network).  The Network is a volunteer group of representatives from the community and governmental agencies and has established a Groundwork Subcommittee.  During the Phase One Feasibility Study and Strategic Plan, the Subcommittee’s role will be to coordinate all aspects of the project including convening meetings, Commission and Council presentations and reporting to granting agencies.  The contact person is the Sandy Geiger, P.O. Box 260, Mesilla, NM, 88046;  Phone:  505-526-5972;  Email:  sgeiger@nmsu.edu.

3.  National Park Service Representative and Role

Paul Cusumano, Community Planner, National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance office in Santa Fe, New Mexico, will be the lead staff person working with the Steering Committee. His role will be to inform the Steering Committee about the Groundwork process, provide guidance about NPS requirements, and offer technical assistance in fulfilling the goals of the Groundwork program (505-988-6093).

4.  U.S. Environment Protection Agency Brownfields Program Representative and Role

Adele Cardenas, Rio Grande River Navigator, EPA of Dallas, Texas, will be the lead staff person working with the Steering Committee.  Her role will be to act as a liaison between the Steering Committee, NPS and EPA resources, programs and opportunities and offer guidance about applications (214-665-7210).

5.  Past EPA Funding Assistance

Doña Ana County is a member of the Rio Grande Council of Governments (RGCOG). The RGCOG has received U.S. EPA Brownfields Program funding.  Sergio Guerrero is the Regional Service Planner (915-533-0998). Both Las Cruces Old Landfill at Lohmann and Roadrunner and Brickland Refinery (McNutt Refinery) in Sunland Park are potential Brownfield Sites. The Rio Grande Ecological Corridor Project was funded through a EPA Sustainable Development Challenge Grant to the City of Las Cruces. There is a Groundwater Plume EPA Superfund Site at Griggs and Walnut Streets, Las Cruces. The Organ Mountain retired silver mine lead contamination EPA Superfund Site exists near the neighborhood of Butterfield Park on the East Mesa.  The NASA Site Groundwater Contamination Plume cleanup and plume-front treatment are ongoing on 6 square miles of the East Mesa north of Highway 70 with EPA cooperation.

6.  Past National Park Service Programs and Park Sites

The Network received National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance technical assistance for the creation of the Vision plan 2003-2005.  Paul Cusumano has served as a valuable resource to the Steering Committee facilitating the Network meetings and open space and trail planning development and has been a liaison between El Paso County, Texas, and Network efforts.  Brochures and posters were designed and funded through NPS. The Rio Grande Ecological Corridor Project (above) was also supported by NPS.

7.  Community-Wide Steering Committee to Evaluate Groundwork Trust

The initial Groundwork Trust Steering Committee will include the Groundwork Subcommittee and additional volunteers from the Network. The following is a list of the members of the Network and their broad community representation.

Additional members of the Steering Committee could be identified through ongoing outreach and contacts with other community organizations and the public schools.  The public is invited to attend the Network monthly meetings and we are always seeking more participants.

Doña Ana County officials have indicated their support for the establishment of a Groundwork Trust including their role as fiscal agent and the provision of matching funds ($25,000/year for 3 years).   A formal presentation to and request for funding from the Board of County Commissioners is forthcoming.

New Mexico State University has numerous programs and resources that Groundwork can draw upon including the Waste Management Education and Research Consortium (WERC) and the Water Resource Research Institute (WRRI).

In addition to County resources, the fledgling Groundwork El Paso is off to an excellent start with a Steering Committee of over 40 members and Executive Director Steven Silver who has met with us twice. We believe there will be many opportunities for collaboration and regional planning and the future development of a Groundwork Rio Grande.

8.  Opportunities to Improve and Protect the Local Environment for Conservation, Recreation and Economic Development

Over a period of 3 years the Network representatives identified in the Vision plan the following examples of projects designed to protect and improve the local environment of Doña Ana County:

1. Open space and educational parks illustrating historical, cultural, geological and natural features
2. Linked trails and wildlife corridors connecting river to mountains and escarpment including open space and trail designation for major arroyos. retention ponds/dams and irrigation canals
3. Farmland preservation for agricultural and environmental purposes
4. Extension of Rio Grande trail system
5. Year-round Community Gardens and playgrounds designed for families

With the assistance of Groundwork staff, their partnership development and fundraising expertise, the Network will be able to start the process of community organizing and planning for a variety of projects.  Project management, design and construction, and job training must include Service Learning opportunities for our youth.  Through the establishment of neighborhood stewardship programs, maintenance and safety requirements can be addressed.  Water is a key resource in the desert.  Watershed and groundwater protection as well as flood control are integral to many of the needed projects in the County. 

9.  Addressing the Issue of Brownfields

This Groundwork Trust Initiative intends to be proactive by establishing needed “green” infrastructure prior to more urban expansion and the potential creation of more Brownfields.  Such infrastructure provides a rich quality of life for a healthy community.

Sincerely,

Sandy Geiger and Susan Krueger

for the Groundwork Subcommittee of the Open Space and Trail Network of Doña Ana County

Appendix:  “A Vision:  Open Space and Trail System for Doña Ana County New Mexico” (www.zianet.com/openspace choose “Vision for county-wide Open Space & Trail System”) and brochure “Open Space and Trail Opportunities in Doña Ana County, New Mexico.”