The recent fight over a 6,000-acre development on Las Cruces’ East Mesa is only one aspect of the fight over the future of Doña Ana County’s land. Another major issue is what areas should become protected wilderness areas.
The City of Las Cruces’ planning department recently sent to Southern New Mexico’s congressman and senators a report that reveals the division that exists. U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici had hoped the report would serve as the basis for federal legislation that would resolve the dispute over what federal land would become wilderness areas. Instead, it reveals that there’s going to have to be more work before a compromise is reached.
Some 216,000 acres have been in the limbo of being designated as wilderness study areas for decades.
You can read the report by clicking here. Check out the Las Cruces Sun-News’ article by clicking here.