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President Obama designates Organ Mountains - Desert Peaks National Monument
Michael Brune: Score Another One for Wilderness
For more than a century, presidents have been using the Antiquities Act to save our national treasures, and President Obama's just-announced designation of the Organ Mountains - Desert Peaks National Monument in southern New Mexico shows exactly why this law is so indispensable.
At nearly 500,000 acres (making it by far the largest monument that President Obama has designated), Organ Mountains - Desert Peaks is packed with history, from archaeological sites to Billy the Kid's Outlaw Rock, to training areas for the Apollo space missions. The canyons and jagged peaks of the region's mountain ranges are both beautiful and unique.
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It's estimated that the new monument will attract enough new outdoor recreation and tourism to give a $7.4 million boost to the local economy. No wonder the designation received strong local support across the board -- from business owners to elected officials to residents.
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Organ Mountains - Desert Peaks is the eleventh national monument designated by President Obama under the Antiquities Act and, in every instance, his administration has bent over backward to get input from nearby communities and to select places that are rich in both cultural and natural heritage. In other words, the Antiquities Act is being used exactly as intended.
- more -
http://sierraclub.typepad.com/michaelbrune/2014/05/organ-mountains-national-monument-wilderness.html
At nearly 500,000 acres (making it by far the largest monument that President Obama has designated), Organ Mountains - Desert Peaks is packed with history, from archaeological sites to Billy the Kid's Outlaw Rock, to training areas for the Apollo space missions. The canyons and jagged peaks of the region's mountain ranges are both beautiful and unique.
<...>
It's estimated that the new monument will attract enough new outdoor recreation and tourism to give a $7.4 million boost to the local economy. No wonder the designation received strong local support across the board -- from business owners to elected officials to residents.
<...>
Organ Mountains - Desert Peaks is the eleventh national monument designated by President Obama under the Antiquities Act and, in every instance, his administration has bent over backward to get input from nearby communities and to select places that are rich in both cultural and natural heritage. In other words, the Antiquities Act is being used exactly as intended.
- more -
http://sierraclub.typepad.com/michaelbrune/2014/05/organ-mountains-national-monument-wilderness.html
Frances Beinecke: Obama Protects New Mexican Mountains and Continues American Tradition of Conservation
America has gained another crown jewel in our extraordinary collection of wild, beautiful, and historic public places. Today President Obama is designating nearly half a million acres in New Mexico as the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument.
This designation is part of a noble tradition: nearly every president in the past 100 years has declared national monuments. These monuments ensure America’s special places are accessible to all people and preserved for all generations to come. President Obama’s executive action guarantees this tradition of conserving our natural and cultural heritage will continue uninterrupted.
Now people from all walks of life will be able to explore the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument. The monument encompasses a remarkable sweep of history—from pre-historic Native American art to remnants of the Camino Real to training sites for the Apollo Mission.
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These events unfolded against a stunning backdrop of rugged ridgelines, granite pinnacles, and desert grasslands. Today the landscape nurtures big horn sheep, pronghorn antelope, javelina, and desert mule deer, and is home to rare examples of Chihuahuan desert grasslands and sky islands—isolated mountain ranges rich in biodiversity.
- more -
http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/fbeinecke/obama_protects_new_mexican_mou.html
This designation is part of a noble tradition: nearly every president in the past 100 years has declared national monuments. These monuments ensure America’s special places are accessible to all people and preserved for all generations to come. President Obama’s executive action guarantees this tradition of conserving our natural and cultural heritage will continue uninterrupted.
Now people from all walks of life will be able to explore the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument. The monument encompasses a remarkable sweep of history—from pre-historic Native American art to remnants of the Camino Real to training sites for the Apollo Mission.
<...>
These events unfolded against a stunning backdrop of rugged ridgelines, granite pinnacles, and desert grasslands. Today the landscape nurtures big horn sheep, pronghorn antelope, javelina, and desert mule deer, and is home to rare examples of Chihuahuan desert grasslands and sky islands—isolated mountain ranges rich in biodiversity.
- more -
http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/fbeinecke/obama_protects_new_mexican_mou.html
19 replies
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= new reply since forum marked as read
President Obama declares a big Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument
It is almost 500,000 acres near Las Cruces, NM-
President Obama began to make good on a State of the Union address promise today announcing that he will use his authority under the Antiquities Act to declare the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument. This is the largest national monument he has declared. All Presidents since Theodore Roosevelt have used this authority to protect scenic, scientifically interesting, unique and/or wild places on federal public land.
The rugged Organ Mountains rise up to 5000 feet above the Mesilla Valley and Tularosa Basin. In addition to the Organ Mountains the new national monument includes parts of the Sierra de Las Uvas Mountains, Doña Ana Mountains, Robledo Mountains, and the Potrillo Mountains. Each of these ranges are dramatically different geologically and botanically. They are also historically significant to Native Americans and Hispanic culture.
More: http://www.thewildlifenews.com/2014/05/20/president-obama-declares-a-big-organ-mountains-desert-peaks-national-monument/
Here is a web site promoting the national monument — photos, facts, etc.
FYI http://www.organmountains.org/
It is almost 500,000 acres near Las Cruces, NM-
President Obama began to make good on a State of the Union address promise today announcing that he will use his authority under the Antiquities Act to declare the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument. This is the largest national monument he has declared. All Presidents since Theodore Roosevelt have used this authority to protect scenic, scientifically interesting, unique and/or wild places on federal public land.
The rugged Organ Mountains rise up to 5000 feet above the Mesilla Valley and Tularosa Basin. In addition to the Organ Mountains the new national monument includes parts of the Sierra de Las Uvas Mountains, Doña Ana Mountains, Robledo Mountains, and the Potrillo Mountains. Each of these ranges are dramatically different geologically and botanically. They are also historically significant to Native Americans and Hispanic culture.
More: http://www.thewildlifenews.com/2014/05/20/president-obama-declares-a-big-organ-mountains-desert-peaks-national-monument/
Here is a web site promoting the national monument — photos, facts, etc.
FYI http://www.organmountains.org/
I thought it might help kick the thread.
I haven't been there in so long either and doubt I'll ever get back but will always have a place in my heart for the high desert!
From the OP..
"Organ Mountains - Desert Peaks is the eleventh national monument designated by President Obama under the Antiquities Act and, in every instance, his administration has bent over backward to get input from nearby communities and to select places that are rich in both cultural and natural heritage. In other words, the Antiquities Act is being used exactly as intended".
