SENATE MEMORIAL 38

56th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2023

INTRODUCED BY

Jeff Steinborn and Nathan P. Small

 

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE STATE PARKS DIVISION OF THE ENERGY, MINERALS AND NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING BROAD CANYON RANCH AS A STATE PARK.

 

     WHEREAS, Broad canyon ranch, located just twenty miles north of Las Cruces, New Mexico's second largest city, offers connectivity to expansive wild and open landscapes in the Organ mountains-Desert peaks national monument and access to rare and threatened Chihuahuan desert wetlands and riparian forests along a mile of the Rio Grande; and

     WHEREAS, Broad canyon ranch was acquired by the state parks division of the energy, minerals and natural resources department in 2008 to establish a destination for outdoor education, for family outings and for wildlife lovers to explore the Rio Grande and Chihuahuan desert uplands; and

     WHEREAS, Broad canyon ranch includes seven hundred eighty-three deeded acres and four thousand eight hundred thirty-one acres of public and state land, with a possible one hundred nine acres that could be added through the land and water conservation fund; and

     WHEREAS, although owned by the state parks division, Broad canyon ranch has never formally been designated a state park for public use and enjoyment; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico acknowledges that young people should have access to the outdoors, and New Mexico was the first to establish an outdoor equity grant program fund to expose more young people to the state's beautiful natural spaces; and

     WHEREAS, Broad canyon ranch is adjacent to an already popular spot for hiking: Slot canyon, a part of the Organ mountains-Desert peaks national monument; and

     WHEREAS, to access the monument, visitors must park on the highway right of way and cross state land; and

     WHEREAS, creating an official state park at Broad canyon ranch would ensure safe public access to the rugged bluffs of Slot canyon and the Rio Grande corridor for visitors to southern New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, the state is authorized to acquire lands or interests in lands for state park or state recreational purposes by gift, donation, devise or purchase; and

     WHEREAS, an important criterion in the development of a state park is the completion of a feasibility study, the first step in obtaining lands for the development of a state park;      NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the state parks division of the energy, minerals and natural resources department be requested to study the feasibility of establishing Broad canyon ranch as a state park; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state parks division be requested to report its findings and recommendations to the interim legislative committee dealing with economic and rural development issues and other appropriate interim committees; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of energy, minerals and natural resources and the director of the state parks division.

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