Open Space and Trail Network
Meeting Summary
15 September 2004
1. Public participation/Announcements.
A. Marnie Leverett volunteered to loan a book from 1000 Friends of NM with lots of good planning info and ideas. It will make the rounds among interested Network participants.
B. Kevin Bixby announced upcoming SWEC event, Day at the Bosque Park, October 2, 9 am-2 pm. with free tours starting on the half-hour from the Calle del Norte bridge. Sponsored by SWEC and Trust for Public Lands.
C. Carol McCall announced that the Dia del Rio trash cleanup along the river is scheduled for Saturday, October 16.
D. BLM was complimented for the nice clean up work and improved access they have created at the entrance to Soledad Canyon.
E. Andy Hume announced the Triviz Path extension (north of Lohman) is complete (just the trail work, not the landscaping).
F. Ted Novack announced that the City of Las Cruces has received proposals from 9 firms in response to RFP for updating the city’s Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan. Selection process is underway.
2. Updates/Status reports
A. BLM Resource Management Plan revision. BLM will be revising the White Sands Management Plan and the Doña Ana County portion of the Mimbres Resource Management Plan. Planning process will cover all BLM lands in Otero, Sierra, and Doña Ana counties. Have hired an environmental contractor to work on it for next two years. Scoping is expected to start in November or December of this year. Entire process will take 2-4 years. Open space, off-highway vehicles, and the designation of Areas of Critical Environmental Concern are some of the issues that will be addressed in the revision.
B. Back Country Horsemen mapping/trail work. Local chapter of BCH has been working closely with BLM on several trail projects. Helped with development of Sierra Vista trail (Soledad Canyon Road to Highway 404) and installed hitching rails at trailhead. Have adopted Soledad Canyon as a site for stewardship (litter cleanup, visitor interaction), and are also working with BLM to establish a roughly 3-mile loop trail through the canyon (for horses, hikers, and mt. bikers). Also helped identify and establish equestrian trails on southeast side of Doña Anas, linked with new mountain bike trails on the east side (access via Jornada Road or Desert Winds). Sometime after October, will be helping BLM with improvements to Baylor Pass Trail; improvements may involve resurveying the area and rerouting trail to reduce hazards.
C. Tortugas Mt. Advisory Committee. Recognized by Board of County Commissioners yesterday, currently includes 2 citizens representatives, an NMSU rep, and a Tortugas rep. Will be working on a plan for roughly 1800 acres (2 sections of NASA withdrawal land soon to be reverting to BLM) and 2 ½ sections of NMSU land. NMSU received a little bit of money to do some improvements and cleanup on their land; other early projects will involve parking lots and barricades to exclude off-road vehicles. A second group, interested in seeing all the NASA withdrawal land (including another 1200 acres north of Dripping Springs Road) protected will be having an art show at SWEC starting on Oct. 2.
D. MPO trail plan. MPO is in the midst of a transportation plan update, to include the trail plan (in-road bicycle facilities will also be addressed, though they’re not part of the trail plan). Drafts are being developed in committee; public meetings will likely begin in January or February. Potential development of trails along Elephant Butte Irrigation facilities is currently stalled due to state law and liability issues; EBID is working with legislators to develop a solution. Once that is solved, MOU’s between various cooperating entities are ready to go.
E. Sunland Park received a $240,000 grant from the NM Recreational Trails program for its 5-mile trail along the river. El Paso has 6 miles built, with 5.5 more miles getting ready for construction. If a quarter-mile gap at the TX-NM border can be bridged, they’ll end up with 16 miles of continuous trail (a health foundation is considering funding for that quarter-mile gap).
F. CLC projects. Burn Lake conceptual master plan has been approved by advisory boards; will go before City Council on October 4. RPPA lease application for the High Range Community Park has been submitted to BLM. BLM needs to complete one more assessment, probably done by January. Landscaping plan for N. Triviz path extension is being developed. North Valley Park (near Valley View/Elks/Lavender) is being planned. BLM has capped its 5 acres at the Lohman Open Space (old landfill site); city working on another RPPA lease for that land. City is revising its landscape ordinance; will include some encouragement/direction for including trails and open space in new developments (ie: multi-use of ponding areas, etc.).
G. CLC strategic plan. Open space, trails, parks mentioned prominently in reports of Natural Resources and Economic Development sub-committees. Consultant is now working to synthesize the 5 sub-committees’ reports into one cohesive document. Will be presenting it to Council at a work session, Sept 27, 1 PM in City Council Chambers.
H. Doña Ana County has completed community and village districting for La Union, now starting to work with Vado. Process will take 1 to 2 years; committee made up of Vado residents. Increased need for completing these zoning plans for individual communities brought on by installation of new sewage systems which have increased development pressure in areas served.
I. Town of Mesilla just approved its first cluster development as a step toward preservation of farmland (of 37 acres in the development, 21 to be kept in agriculture in perpetuity). Rio Arriba County has an agricultural preservation ordinance which only allows cluster development of agricultural land.
J. Frontera Land Alliance has submitted incorporation paperwork to the state of Texas. This El Paso land trust is looking into funding options, and prioritizing potential projects (focusing on acquiring land and conservation easements). First project likely to be Castner Range, an abandoned military firing range along the Franklins. Though initial focus will be in Texas, may eventually expand efforts into New Mexico. Info sharing between their group and ours encouraged; their steering committee meets the third Thursday of every month at Chamizal National Memorial.
K. NM Recreational Trails program awarded 11 grants this year (including Sunland Park, a trail in the San Mateo Mts, and a trail along the Camino Real in central NM). Because time between call for proposals and due date is so short, preparation of applications ahead of time was recommended, so that delays getting necessary approvals within local governments don’t keep proposals from meeting deadline. Non-profit organizations can also apply for funds—not limited to governments.
3. Network Organization. October meeting will feature a representative from the Trust for Public Lands who will discuss funding opportunities and the types of assistance TPL can offer. November will feature a speaker from NM Land Conservancy, a land trust based in Santa Fe that may be able to do projects and/or provide technical support in our region. Volunteers requested to help out with Network organization etc.
4. Adjourn: Next meeting, 20 October. Consensus was that Pearl Higgins room was a better space than the Cultural Center—will try for standing reservation.