Organ Mountains, Desert Peaks
Today I'm proud to introduce legislation to preserve some of our state's most iconic landscapes, while boosting the region's tourism and outdoor economy, creating jobs and improving hunting and hiking opportunities.
Our Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Conservation Act would designate the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument on 498,815 acres to conserve to conserve and protect scenic, recreational and culturally significant land.
Designating a national monument would put the Organ Mountains and other spectacular areas of Doña Ana County on recreation maps around the world, attracting tourists to Southern New Mexico, creating jobs and bringing in millions of dollars in tourism revenue.
The Organ Mountains and surrounding area form a beautiful and iconic backdrop for Las Cruces and are beloved by New Mexicans. Our bill would help ensure local families and visitors will continue to be able to hike, hunt, and learn from the thousands of significant historic sites throughout the hills for generations to come.
The new monument would be managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and would include eight new wilderness areas. Studies estimate that designating the area a national monument would bring new visitors and business opportunities, generating $7.4 million in new economic activity annually.
At the same time, by designating a monument, we're able to conserve the land while also preserving access to existing grazing rights, releasing wilderness study areas from consideration - to give U.S. Border Patrol increased flexibility for patrols, enhancing hunting opportunities, and ensuring watershed restoration and flood control can continue.
The national monument proposal is the result of many years of research and conversations with the surrounding communities, as well as White Sands Missile Range, Fort Bliss, and the U.S. Border Patrol.
The bill conserves land in an area stretching across the Organ, Doña Ana, Potrillo, Robledo and Uvas Mountains; home to game animals, such as pronghorn sheep, quail, and deer; as well as rare plants and animals, some found nowhere else in the world, including the Organ Mountains pincushion cactus.
For more information, download the fact sheet below, access the legislative text and share the infographic to spread the word about how the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Monument would help New Mexico's economy.
The Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Conservation Act:
- Boosts the economy and creates jobs. A recent study found that new visitors would generate $7.4 million in new economic activity and over $560,000 in additional local and state tax revenue each year, and create new jobs.
- Conserves wildlife habitat and enhances hunting opportunities for generations to come.
- Protects some of Southern New Mexico's most iconic vistas and preserves important landmarks and archeological and cultural resources.
- Increases flexibility for Border Patrol to conduct operations.
- Directs the completion of a watershed health assessment that will support restoration and flood prevention.
- Maintains existing grazing as part of our state's heritage.
Overview Map of the Proposed Organ Mountains - Desert Peaks National Monument by Tom Udall
Map of the Desert Peaks Complex
Map of the Potrillo Mountains Complex
Legislative Text - S. 1805 - The Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Conservation Act by Tom Udall
