Historic expansion of YOUR public lands
Dear Friend,
The Rio Grande del Norte National Monument protects the natural wonders and cultural heritage that have always made Northern New Mexico unique. Yesterday, I was enormously proud to announce the acquisition of 3,700 acres of new public lands adjacent to the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument in Taos County.
I hope you can read more below about YOUR new public lands in the Taos News.
Over these last few years, I worked hand-in-hand with local leaders, Taos Pueblo, Bureau of Land Management Director Tracy Stone-Manning, and Trust for Public Land (TPL) to complete this acquisition.
I first announced the potential for this new addition to our public lands at a September 2022 Public Lands Day Celebration in Taos. Then I delivered over $16.6 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which is fully and permanently funded thanks to the Great American Outdoors Act, bipartisan legislation that I championed in 2020. I also delivered the first $4 million for this acquisition through Congressionally Directed Spending that I secured in the Fiscal Year 2022 budget.
PHOTO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich examines a map of the proposed addition to New Mexico’s public lands adjacent to the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, September 24, 2022.
These newly acquired public lands are southwest of Ranchos de Taos on the east side of N.M. Highway 68 across from the Taos Valley Overlook Trails. They will allow new public land access and increase opportunities for outdoor recreation and traditional land uses. They’ll also expand an important wildlife corridor for migratory species like elk by connecting the Carson National Forest, the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, Picuris Pueblo, and Taos Pueblo.
IMAGE: Detailed Map from Trust for Public Land of the new addition to our public lands adjacent to the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument.
Importantly, this historic expansion of our public lands system will block future commercial development near the Monument, protecting the hiking, whitewater rafting, hunting, fishing, and traditional land uses that have made the Rio Grande del Norte such a treasured place.
It’s why I’ve worked so hard to secure federal resources and with the local Taos community to steer this acquisition through every step of the process. With the support and partnership of Trust for Public Land, we are creating new outdoor recreation opportunities, protecting an important wildlife corridor, and preserving the beauty of our public lands.
This is a huge win and an enduring legacy for generations to come.
Sincerely,
MARTIN HEINRICH
United States Senator
BLM expands Rio Grande del Norte National Monument south of Taos
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced Thursday (May 30) the acquisition of approximately 3,700 acres of land adjacent to the Río Grande del Norte National Monument.
The BLM acquired the property, located 6 miles southwest of Taos, from the Trust for Public Land. The Land and Water Conservation Fund provided funding for the acquisition, according to a BLM press release.
With wide support from tribal, state and local governments, members of Congress, and adjacent property owners, these new public lands will expand access to the national monument and the cultural and natural resources it protects.
"The Bureau of Land Management is proud to partner on this effort to protect a nationally significant landscape at the heart of Río Grande del Norte, increasing recreational access and economic opportunities throughout New Mexico," BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning said. "The Río Grande del Norte National Monument is home to rugged open plains, abundant wildlife, and is an economic driver for the local community. Thanks to the Land and Water Conservation Fund, we are able to partner with Trust for Public Land to acquire this property, which will provide more access to public land and safeguard this precious place for generations to come.”
In addition to enhanced recreational opportunities, including access to a segment of the Old Spanish National Historic Trail, the area is also home to critical wildlife habitat and special status species, raptors and other wildlife. Approximately $40 million in investments from the Land and Water Conservation Fund and other funding sources have gone to the national monument and the surrounding area for land protection at iconic places, like Ute Mountain and the Taos Valley Overlook.
“Commercial development on the Klauer property would have been an eyesore and does not align with Taos’s reputation as a sanctuary for artists, outdoor recreation and traditional land users,” Nick Streit, executive director of the Friends of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, said in a press release issued by U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich's office. “The Friends truly appreciate the efforts of Trust for Public Land, Sen. Martin Heinrich, the Klauer family and the Bureau of Land Management for working together to protect Taos’ pristine landscapes as well as our arts and outdoor economy.”
The expansion reflects the Department of the Interior’s commitment to President Biden’s America the Beautiful Initiative, a locally led and voluntary, nation-wide effort to conserve, connect and restore 30 percent of lands, waters and wildlife by 2030.
“The Rio Grande del Norte National Monument has protected the natural wonders and cultural heritage that have always made Northern New Mexico unique," Sen. Heinrich said in a prepared statement. "This historic expansion of our public lands system will block future commercial development near the Monument, protecting the hiking, whitewater rafting, hunting, fishing, and traditional land uses that have made the Rio Grande del Norte such a treasured place. It’s why I’ve worked so hard to secure federal resources and work with the local Taos community to steer this acquisition through every step of the process. With the support and partnership of TPL, we are creating new outdoor recreation opportunities, protecting an important wildlife corridor, and preserving the beauty of our public lands.”
More information can be found at the BLM’s Río Grande del Norte National Monument website.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of subsurface mineral estate throughout the nation. The bureau's mission is to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.
