Support reauthorization of land and water fund
I AM passionate about Albuquerque’s South Valley and work to maintain the great qualities of this community that I’ve come to love, especially its outdoor richness. Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge (VDONWR), in particular, is a special place; an incredibly beautiful refuge for wildlife viewing and recreation along the Rio Grande, located just 15 minutes from Downtown.
The Refuge was fortunate to be featured on www.SaveLWCFNewMexico.com, which highlights the local benefits communities across New Mexico reap from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). I am so pleased more Albuquerque residents will know about this oasis and how it came to be.
VDONWR land acquisition was completed in 2014 thanks to a collaborative community effort and $6 million in added funding from the LWCF. Without LWCF support the cost of the land would have been prohibitive to its establishment as a community green space for wildlife and people. LWCF funding helped leverage local passion and funding to make this grassroots dream of establishing VDONWR a reality.
While you may not know it, LWCF is our nation’s most important program to conserve lands and improve outdoor recreation opportunities in every state, including New Mexico. LWCF is funded through royalties paid by companies that drill on the Outer Continental Shelf — not a cent is funded by taxpayers.
Over 1,200 sites in New Mexico have benefitted from the LWCF including Rio Grande del Norte and Petroglyph National Monuments, Chaco Culture National Historical Park, the Continental Divide Trail, and Tingley Beach.
Despite its important work, this outdoor funding treasure chest (expired on Sept. 30 because Congress failed to renew it) . ... You have likely enjoyed many places in New Mexico that have been ... supported by this special fund. Without hesitation, I have contacted my Congressional representatives, as I hope everyone in our state will, to urge them to persuade their colleagues to reauthorize and fully fund the LWCF, and not let this go down as a blemish on the current 115th U.S. Congress.