We should grow the Valle de Oro

Dear Friend,

I have been proud to work hand-in-hand with the local community in Albuquerque’s South Valley to establish and grow the opportunities at the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge—the first Urban Refuge in the Southwest.

Thanks to New Mexico State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard, we have an exciting opportunity to expand the Valle de Oro, while protecting and unlocking new public access to valuable Rio Grande Bosque habitat. 

>>I hope you can take a moment to read and share my Letter to the Editor on growing the Valle de Oro in City Desk ABQ.

And please visit www.nmstatelands.org/albuquerque-south-valley-meetings/ to encourage the State Land Office and Commissioner Garcia Richard to grow the opportunities at Valle de Oro.  

Sincerely,

 

Letter to the Editor: We should grow the Valle de Oro

By U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich

We created the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge hand-in-hand with Albuquerque’s South Valley community. In just one decade, lands that were once home to a dairy operation next to a heavy industrial zone have blossomed into one of New Mexico’s most treasured outdoor spaces. Together, we’ve created a place where families can watch as flocks of Sandhill cranes migrate through the Middle Rio Grande Valley in the winter, go on nearby nature hikes year-round, and enjoy quality educational and recreational programs. 

Each year, Valle de Oro welcomes over 6,000 students for field trips, organizes dozens of community events, employs more than 100 local youth, and hosts over 200 species of birds as they migrate along the Middle Rio Grande Valley. The refuge also opened a brand-new visitor center in 2022 that’s home to educational exhibits, community meeting spaces, and classrooms. 

Valle de Oro National was the first Urban Wildlife Refuge in the entire American Southwest. It is the product of a shared community vision and grassroots leadership from the Mountain View neighborhood. And it remains one of the most ambitious urban conservation projects in the nation. 

Now we have the opportunity to grow this cherished Refuge. Thanks to State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard, the New Mexico State Land Office is seeking input on a proposal to transfer 212 acres to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to help expand the refuge. 

Valle de Oro does not currently include Bosque habitat, and it lacks direct access the Rio Grande. Adding this parcel would change that and provide lasting protections for important wildlife habitat. It can also increase recreation access for river rafters, paddleboards, hikers, and horseback riders. Importantly, adding these 212 acres to the 
National Wildlife Refuge System will provide the highest standard of protection from development. 

A recent citywide poll found that nearly 80% of voters in the Albuquerque Metro support expanding the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge, improving protection of and access to the Bosque and the Rio Grande. One in four voters in Albuquerque have either personally visited Valle de Oro or have a family member who has. And over 60 percent of these visitors report they are very likely to recommend visiting the refuge to someone they know. As we continue to build and improve the refuge, I’m confident that community support will only grow stronger. 

Change does not happen over night, and we are just at the start of this journey. You can visit www.nmstatelands.org/albuquerque-south-valley-meetings/ to encourage the State Land Office and Commissioner Garcia Richard to grow the opportunities at Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge.