Citizens Task Force for
Open Space Preservation
openspaces@zianet.com
Board
of County Commissioners
Doņa
Ana County
180
W. Amador
Las
Cruces, NM 88001
November
9, 2004
Dear
Commissioners:
The
Steering Committee of the Citizens Task Force for Open Space Preservation
strongly urges you to deny the request to authorize legal action against the
Bureau of Land Management to open public roads in the Robledo Mountains
Wilderness Study Area.
First,
this Wilderness Study Area was designated in 1980 because of the unique
resource values found in the Robledo Mountains. These resource values include incredible scenery, abundant
wildlife, numerous archeological sites, and the opportunities for solitude and
peaceful reflection offered by a
roadless area. Protecting these
resource values is not compatible with opening the area to off-road vehicle
use.
Secondly,
pursuing legal action at this time will undercut an upcoming public planning
process. The Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) is getting ready to begin a comprehensive revision of its Mimbres
Resource Management Plan. This planning
process will provide our entire community with an opportunity to think about
the management guidelines for all the BLM lands in Doņa Ana County, and it will
allow us to all work together to designate additional off-road-vehicle routes
in more appropriate parts of the county.
The
wide-open, public planning process the BLM will undertake will allow all user
groups to work together to determine the future of BLM lands throughout Doņa
Ana County. Instead of pursuing the
expensive, piece-meal, approach of antagonistic legal action against the BLM
focusing on a single mountain range, we would encourage you to participate
fully in the upcoming planning process.
A cooperative approach is the best way help our community develop a
comprehensive vision for the public lands that make Doņa Ana County such a
wonderful place to live.
Sincerely,
Nancy Stotz
For the Steering Committee,
Citizens Task Force for
Open Space Preservation
505-521-8087
CC:
Linda Rundell, BLM
Ed Roberson, BLM