WASHINGTON – The U.S. Forest Service Forest Legacy Program — with $50 million of federal funding from the Inflation Reduction Act and an additional $16.7 million from The Nature Conservancy — is purchasing the Dawson Elk Valley Ranch in northeastern New Mexico near Cimarron to support the proposed Vermejo River Watershed Conservation Project.
The historic Dawson Elk Valley Ranch includes 32,580 acres of pristine timberland, including 7.2 miles of the Vermejo River and will conserve a diverse ecological system and the wildlife that live there. Protecting this system will safeguard a crucial drinking water resource for people across the eastern half of New Mexico. The land also houses the remnants of the historic mining community of Dawson, N.M., including a cemetery listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Continued management of this land will support local businesses through ongoing ranch management activities and through the active management of game populations, the hunting of which contributes more than $600 million in annual economic spending across New Mexico.
As part of the proposed Vermejo River Watershed Conservation Project, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the State of New Mexico’s Environment, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) plan to use the $50 million of federal funding from the IRA to acquire 32,580 acres which will be co-managed by State Forestry (a division of EMNRD) and Tribally-led land trust. The remaining 17,469 acres will be purchased by The Nature Conservancy with a conservation easement.
The inflation reduction act has not reduced inflation. The use of Inflation Reduction Act money used to purchase this land is not a proactive way to spend taxpayer money. Remember “WE” as Americans are on the hook for the $36,000,000,000.000.00 (Trillion) debt that our government officials (elected employees) have created. If you as an American citizen has to much debt no one will give you a loan and/or grant. I am a hunter and conservationist, however I disagree with spending my money the way they did to purchase this land. With that said, I would hope the land will remain open to the public and the many hunters and anglers for years to come. Remember the government can change their minds at anytime and decide differently as to what they want the land to be used for and/or yes sale a portion or all of it off at some point down the road. Who then keeps that money, do you get a refund and/or a portion of any profits. Maybe we should try to pay off the deficit, and budget better.
It is so refreshing to see action taken to preserve wild spaces for this generation and generations to come. The erroneously named Inflation Protection Act is an example of out-of-control government spending. However, it is good to see that New Mexico and the Nature Conservancy were able to team up and rescue this prime piece of real estate for the citizens of New Mexico using private dollars along with taxpayer dollars that were going to be spent somewhere.
The old town of Dawson is a historic part of New Mexico and the purchase of the Dawson Elk Valley Ranch is a boon to New Mexico’s dedication to keep some of the state land public and not gobbled up by privateers. It may not make money, but then who says it has to?
I fully support Martin Heinrich’s efforts to bring this under the public domain.
This is a big waste of tax payers money. Anyone that knows this property knows that the state or government cannot make the amount mention (600 million)off of this property. It is a big waste of money for the reason used to purchase this land and our state Representatives and congressman know this for a fact.
They paid 66 million
Respectfully, Kelly, the hunting contributes to the $600 million is annual economic spending across New Mexico, the entire state, nor just Cimarron or surrounding area.
We have no way of knowing how much this 32,580 acres parcel contributes.
However, I support it being public land. If it’s private, then it becomes something like Vermejo: A beautiful place, but it’s not public like national or state parks.
Absolute Travesty, that land belongs under private ownership period! Hopefully President Trump’s appointment to USDA will reverse this waste of tax dollars