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Big Step Forward for Conservation in Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument

Commentary:  Today a diverse coalition  applauded the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Conservation Act (S. 3049) .  A wide variety of stakeholders successfully worked to create the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument, and has been advocating for wilderness protection of this area for nearly a decade.  

The bill was reintroduced in June by New Mexico Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich. Legislation to safeguard the wilderness in Doña Ana County was first introduced by former Senator Jeff Bingaman in 2009 in the 111th Congress, and then again by Senators Udall and Heinrich in the 112th and 113th Congresses. In 2014, President Obama established the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument. 
 

This bill would designate eight wilderness areas within the monument, granting these sensitive areas the higher level of protection they deserve. Many of the proposed wilderness areas enjoy temporary wilderness status as Wilderness Study Areas (WSA), but only Congress can designate an official wilderness area through legislation. 

Law enforcement and Border Patrol has been unaffected in the national monument. In fact, U.S. Customs Border Protection (CBP) wrote that S. 3049 would "significantly enhance the flexibility of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to operate in this border area." 

September marks both National Wilderness Month and Monuments to Main Street Month, a time when and the local community has been celebrating the economic benefits of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument. Las Cruces has been featured in several reports, recognized in publications like Lonely Planet, and hosted multiple conferences that have infused  hundreds of thousands of dollars into the local economy. The designation of Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument is cited as large part of the reason for all of these exciting developments.

“It is fitting that this critical bill is moving during Monuments to Main Street Month and National Wilderness Month,” said Carrie Hamblen, CEO/President, Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce.  “Our national monument has proven to be an economic powerhouse in Doña Ana County. Passing the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Conservation Act will pay us back in dividends.”

The Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Conservation Act enjoys support from sportsmen, Native Americans, business leaders, veterans, civic groups, current and former local elected officials, archaeologists, historians, and conservation organizations.  

recent poll commissioned by the Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce showed 78% of citizens in Doña Ana County support the protection of wilderness within the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument.

Rafael Gomez, Tribal Councilman from the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo added,“Passing the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Conservation Act will preserve the outstanding cultural and historical resources within the national monument that are vital to our community across the country. The wilderness areas keep us connected to our families, traditions and the land itself.”

Hunting, livestock grazing, hiking, camping, horseback riding, firefighting, law enforcement activities, and border security would continue in these areas.  The Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks contains approximately 306 bird species and 78 mammal species including golden eagles, mule deer, javelina, cougar, ring-tail cat, and quail. The proposed wilderness will strengthen the wildlife habitat for these species as well as protect the watersheds that they depend on.

“The Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Conservation Act will add another layer of protection in safeguarding wildlife and habitat within areas like the Sierra de Las Uvas, West Potrillos, and Robledo Mountains,” said Jim Bates with the Doña Ana County Associated Sportsmen. “Hunting opportunity for the average citizen is a time-honored and uniquely American tradition and is part of our heritage.  Protecting habitat and insuring healthy wildlife populations through conservation efforts such as this are key elements to the future of those traditions and heritage.  I want to thank Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich for acting on behalf of sportsmen, and all American citizens, for their continuing actions to protect these irreplaceable areas.”

The broad coalition of supporters hopes that Congress continues to move this critical legislation forward.  To learn more about community driven effort to protect the wilderness within the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks as a national monument, visitOrganMountains.org.