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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Garcia, T.

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

3/09/2007

HB HM 53

SHORT TITLE Establishment of Sabinoso Wilderness

SB

ANALYST Schuss

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Memorial 53 requests that the New Mexico Delegation support the establishment of the

Sabinoso Wilderness.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

House Memorial 53 states that the Sabinoso area is located approximately forty miles east of Las

Vegas and twenty-five miles northwest of Conchas Lake State Park in San Miguel County. Ap-

proximately fifteen thousand acres of existing federal lands have been proposed as the Sabinoso

Wilderness area and the proposed Sabinoso Wilderness encompasses the existing Sabinoso Wil-

derness study area and the Sabinoso area of critical environmental concern, both established by

the Bureau of Land Management.

The area is characterized by long, deep canyons carved into sandstone mesas with the dominant

feature of the area being the thousand-foot-deep Canon Largo, which connects to the Canadian

River just outside the proposed area. The area contains exceptional scenery, including the area’s

many canyons and incredibly broad vistas across the eastern plains of the area and the area is

home to a range of wildlife and game species, including mule deer, wild turkey, mourning dove,

rabbit, bobcat, coyote and gray fox, and also supports a wide variety of birds, including red-

tailed hawk, American kestrel, mountain chickadee and broad-tailed hummingbird, among many

others. The establishment of the Sabinoso Wilderness area will provide continued opportunities

House Memorial 53 – Page

2

for future generations of New Mexicans to enjoy recreation such as hunting, hiking, observing

wildlife, horseback riding and experiencing solitude. No private lands will be included or ad-

versely affected by the creation of the wilderness and the proposed Sabinoso Wilderness area

protects existing traditional uses, including grazing and hunting. The proposed Sabinoso Wilder-

ness area will provide sustainable economic opportunities for local individuals and communities,

including hunting, guiding, bed and breakfasts and other economic benefits.

The House of Representatives of the State of New Mexico requests that the New Mexico Con-

gressional Delegation be requested to support the creation of the Sabinoso Wilderness area and

that the Bureau of Land Management be requested to work with the State Land Office and De-

partment of Game and Fish to consolidate this unique habitat and to provide public access to the

area for hunting and other pursuits.

BS/nt