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A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE STATE PARKS DIVISION OF THE ENERGY, MINERALS

AND NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF

ACQUIRING LAND FOR A WILD HORSE STATE PARK.

WHEREAS, wild horses of Spanish colonial descent are

part of New Mexico's living heritage and history, but they

are endangered and may become extinct in New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, like the buffalo, wild horses are emblematic of

the old west, and it is the image of wild horses running free

across the plains of the west that lives in the hearts and

minds of Americans; and

WHEREAS, the wild horse is part of New Mexico's

enchantment and essence and is an integral part of the

Indian, Hispanic, ranching and farming cultures of New

Mexico; and

WHEREAS, there are several herds of wild horses

descended from the Spanish horses introduced into New Mexico

in the 1500s that range freely on lands owned by the federal

bureau of land management in Sandoval county near the village

of Placitas; and

WHEREAS, although tourism is the second-largest industry

in the state, tourism in New Mexico could increase by

attracting thousands of tourists from all over the world who

are intrigued by the history, culture and art of the American

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west; and

WHEREAS, a wild horse state park could prompt local

economic development by drawing tourists into a region to see

nondomesticated horses in a natural setting; and

WHEREAS, a wild horse state park could link history and

culture to attract visitors; and

WHEREAS, a wild horse state park could serve as a

valuable resource for educational and youth-oriented

organizations; and

WHEREAS, a partnership between the state and the federal

government to protect, manage and promote several of the

remaining wild horse herds in Sandoval county through the

establishment of a wild horse state park would promote a

national legacy with great cultural significance and would

increase tourism revenues in the area of Sandoval county; and

WHEREAS, the federal bureau of land management will be

updating the resource management plan for five thousand acres

under its jurisdiction located in Sandoval county, which

update may provide a unique opportunity for the creation of a

wild horse state park; and

WHEREAS, the federal Recreation and Public Purposes Act

of 1954 provides that a state or state agency may acquire up

to six thousand four hundred acres of land annually for

recreation purposes at no cost;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE

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STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the state parks division of the

energy, minerals and natural resources department be

requested to conduct a study of the feasibility of

establishing a wild horse state park located on five thousand

acres of land to be acquired from the federal bureau of land

management that will be accessible through the village of

Placitas in Sandoval county; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state parks division

present its findings and recommendations to the appropriate

interim legislative committees by September 1, 2008; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the secretary of energy, minerals and natural

resources and to the director of the state parks division.