SENATE MEMORIAL 36

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2014

INTRODUCED BY

Michael Padilla

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION IN WASHINGTON, D.C., THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND THE UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE TO WORK TOWARD THE RESTORATION OF FUNDING FOR THE REMAINING LAND ACQUISITION FOR THE VALLE DE ORO NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE.

     WHEREAS, in September 2011, United States Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced approval to establish a five-hundred-seventy-acre site along the Rio Grande in Bernalillo county as the southwest's first urban wildlife refuge; and

     WHEREAS, the refuge was established due to the partnership efforts of many in the community who recognized the importance of having a wildlife refuge in an urban setting; and

     WHEREAS, in 2012, the refuge was officially established as the five-hundred-fifty-ninth refuge in the national wildlife refuge system and named the Valle de Oro national wildlife refuge; and

     WHEREAS, the refuge will conserve bosque habitat, water rights and open space and provide extensive educational opportunities for people of all ages throughout central New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, the Valle de Oro national wildlife refuge is located within a half-hour drive to nearly one-half of New Mexico's population, making it an attractive and accessible destination; and

     WHEREAS, the refuge also provides opportunities for hiking and biking along the planned Rio Grande trail and a connection to the city of Albuquerque's existing Paseo del Bosque trail; and

     WHEREAS, according to a report by the United States fish and wildlife service, Banking on Nature, visits to national wildlife refuges assist economic development in local communities by supporting private sector jobs, producing employment income and generating tax revenue at the local, state and federal levels; and

     WHEREAS, the report found that approximately eighty-seven percent of refuge visitors travel from outside the local area, and local expenditures include food, lodging and transportation; and

     WHEREAS, the refuge provides a critical habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife; and

     WHEREAS, once fully restored, visitors to the refuge will be able to see waterfowl, small mammals and neotropical migrant birds, including the endangered southwestern willow flycatcher; and

     WHEREAS, the refuge was officially named a project under President Obama's America's great outdoors initiative and fulfills the goals of the initiative to work with community partners to establish a twenty-first century conservation ethic and reconnect people, especially young people, to the natural world; and

     WHEREAS, a partnership composed of the state of New Mexico, Bernalillo county, the Albuquerque metropolitan arroyo flood control authority, the United States fish and wildlife service, the bureau of reclamation and the national fish and wildlife foundation previously worked together to secure the first four hundred eighty-eight acres of property; and

     WHEREAS, funding to complete the acquisition of the remaining eighty-two acres was proposed in President Obama's fiscal year 2014 budget; and

     WHEREAS, the property will remain under threat of development if not acquired now; and

     WHEREAS, until the remaining land acquisition is completed, the refuge is only open to the public on a very restricted basis and its management, restoration and public-use plans are on hold;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico congressional delegation, the United States department of the interior and the United States fish and wildlife service be requested to work toward restoring funding and acquiring the remaining property for the Valle de Oro national wildlife refuge; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of the interior, the director of the United States fish and wildlife service and the members of the New Mexico congressional delegation.

- 4 -