This lists supporters to include Otero County. Wonder if that is true, it wasn't in the case of the Application of White Sands National Monument to the United Nations World Heritage Site Designation.
LWCF Purchases–Lands Proposed for Purchase
Land and Water Conservation Fund
Building a Legacy Since 1964
FY 2008 Land Acquisition Request
Forest Service
SALADO CANYON BRIDAL VEIL FALLS
State of New Mexico
Forest Service Region 3, Lincoln National Forest
Representative Steve Pearce, Congressional District 2
Senators Pete Domenici and Jeff Bingaman
Appropriation History:
2006 Appropriation $0 Acres: 0
2007 President's Budget $544,000 Acres: 136
2008 Request $550,000 Acres: 136
Future Requests $0 Acres: 0
SIGNIFICANCE:
This tract contains recreational and scenic values, prehistoric and historic cultural resources features and a rare healthy, desert watershed. The quality and quantity of water that is produced from it could be adversely affected by development of the parcel.
LOCATION:
The proposed purchase consists of fee acquisition of a 136 acre tract, including 10 acre-feet water right, within the Forest boundary, located adjacent to High Rolls and near Alamogordo and Cloudcroft, New Mexico.
Key Features: This parcel has unique or unusual hydrologic, geologic, archeological and recreational characteristics that would provide many benefits as public land. Features include igneous rock intrusions, fault lines, petrified wood (very rare in this area), and a wide range of rock types and geologic formations. An abandoned railroad grade on this parcel will complement a 68 mile multiple-use trail system that is under development on the Forest in partnership with the New Mexico Rails to Trails Association (NMRTT). With its relatively gentle grade and wide tread, this feature can provide a trail that is accessible to the largest segment of the population.
Perennial streams and waterfalls are rare in southern New Mexico, but this Chihuahuan desert parcel includes a 45-foot waterfall (Bridal Veil Falls), a rare scenic and recreational attraction. In addition to its scenic and recreational benefits, the perennial stream provides important watershed function and is habitat to many wildlife species, including an endangered plant species.
This acquisition would meet Forest Plan direction to acquire land containing suitable or occupied Threatened and Endangered habitat, and to obtain needed rights-of-ways (ROW).
This acquisition contributes to five of the six USDA FS Strategic Plan goals. It reduces Wildland-Urban-interface (WUI) boundary by 1.1 miles, eliminates the need to acquire ROW for a trail, reduces land parcelization adjacent to the National Forest and reduces the expansion of human developments into forest ecosystems,. This parcel is expected to contain habitat for one endangered specie and several sensitive species and will add wetland and riparian habitat that is unique and valuable in this arid desert location.
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE:
Boundary management savings is estimated to be $12,000, in the short term. Additional savings will be realized over time with the reduced number of adjacent land owners and potential for trespass. Several existing older buildings will be removed. NMRTT plans to contribute towards removal of these abandoned buildings. NMRTT will also contribute trail development and maintenance labor and funds.
SUPPORT:
NMRTT., a non-profit 501 (C) (3) organization, will be a partner in development, maintenance and management of trail facilities if the land is acquired. NMRTT has partnered with the FS to develop adjacent sections of the Salado Canyon trail system. They have received widespread support of this effort by local and state government agencies. Other partners in the 68 mile loop trail are the City of Alamogordo, Village of Cloudcroft, Otero County, BLM and New Mexico State parks. The Trust for Public Land and the New Mexico Land Trust have visited the parcel and have expressed interest.
FUTURE REQUESTS:
This is a one-time purchase. This parcel is adjacent to subdivided private land (Clearwater Springs Estates), if the land is not purchased in its entirety; the owner has plans to subdivide the parcel. Subdivision drawings currently show 25 lots, 11 of which border the National Forest.
http://www.fs.fed.us/land/staff/LWCF/purchases08/LINCOLN_Bridal_Veil_Narrative.shtml
Posts and Comments from Readers
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Sunday, September 9, 2007
Taking More of Nancy Levant's Advice, a search of Otero County/land trusts
Labels:
sovereignty,
United Nations,
World Heritage Sites
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