Jim Noel
Governor Richardson recently announced that he is using $2.8 million in federal stimulus money to purchase 12,142 acres of land known as the Ortiz Mountain Ranch to expand Cerrillos Hills State Park and create a wild horse sanctuary. Purchasing this magnificent property is a great investment in New Mexico that will produce immediate and long-term payoffs.
The park expansion will offer diverse recreation opportunities, including hiking, biking, equestrian, birding, specialized tours, activities related to wild horses, and overnight stays through camping and lodging. The bold move will save another precious piece of New Mexico’s incomparable landscape in the Galisteo Basin—one of the state’s crown jewel areas—increase visitation and tourism spending to the area, and support outdoor education—resulting in years and years of sustainable economic and social benefits.
Contrary to Senator John Arthur Smith’s statements, other funds appropriated for natural heritage conservation cannot be applied to this project precisely because the Legislature placed restrictions on those dollars that prevent their use for land acquisition. Yes, state parks—like all state agencies—are under budget stress. But due to this administration’s effective management, no state parks have been closed because of funding cuts nor will acquisition of the Ortiz Mountain Ranch cause any park closures.
The funds for the Ortiz Mountain Ranch acquisition represent 0.07 percent of New Mexico’s $3.9 billion stimulus funds. Taking this relatively small fraction of the state’s stimulus in land, something tangible that will last forever and continue to give back long after all the stimulus money is gone, is a good investment.
Ortiz Mountain Ranch (Photo by Jodi McGinnis Porter)
Just ask those in the surrounding communities who are hailing the expansion of the Cerrillos Hills Park because they know it means more visitors to their area and more money spent in local businesses. New Mexico would be the state first state to establish a state-owned sanctuary for wild horses, a uniqueness that will attract additional types of tourists to the park.
Like roads, affordable housing and new broadband projects, this park will still be here as part of New Mexico’s infrastructure when the Recovery Act is finished. The park expansion will provide a permanent economic base for rural jobs. We have a plan to partner with nongovernmental organizations to minimize added costs to the state for this expansion.
Digging out of an economic downturn requires long-term, forward-thinking approaches to creating sustained economic engines for New Mexico communities. In the midst of the Great Depression of the 1930s, New Mexico established its first state parks. Those were wise moves then that are still providing jobs and sustaining communities today.
Purchase of the Ortiz Mountain Ranch is no different. This is the perfect time to conserve land, and the state is getting a tremendous deal on the purchase at price less than $230 per acre. Present and future generations will thank us.
Noel is cabinet secretary for the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department.