Cerro de la Olla

Dear Friend,

Cerro de la Olla towers over the Taos Plateau and the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. Much like Ute Mountain--which Congress protected as wilderness last year--Cerro de la Olla is a shield volcano with upper elevations that offer solitude and unparalleled views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the East, the San Juan Mountains to the West, and the Rio Grande Gorge down below.

PHOTO: Senator Martin Heinrich visits Cerro de la Olla in the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, 2019.

For hundreds of years, people of the Taos area have hunted, gathered herbs, and collected firewood on the flanks of Cerro de la Olla. The area is an important wildlife corridor between the Sangre de Cristos and San Juans and security habitat for species such as elk, mule deer, black bears, and mountain lions.

Cerro de la Olla is exactly the type of landscape we all recognize should protected as wilderness. That's why I am so excited to introduce legislation to designate Cerro de la Olla as a new wilderness area. Protecting this outdoor treasure as wilderness is the best way to safeguard its invaluable resources for future generations.

This community-driven legislation is one more example of how, despite all the political chaos in Washington, I am still committed to bringing New Mexicans together to find common ground to protect the public lands we all cherish. I hope this bill will follow the example set by last year's historic public lands law that designated 13 new wilderness areas in New Mexico--including the Cerro del Yuta and Rio San Antonio Wildernesses in the Rio Grande del Norte.

I remain focused on delivering results for our state and making a real difference in the lives of all New Mexicans. Please stay in touch with me about important issues and contact my office if I can ever be of assistance to you and your family.

Sincerely,

MARTIN HEINRICH

United States Senator