Friday, October 8, 2010

September 2010

NEWSLETTER September 2010
Contents:
Next Meeting
President’s Message
News
Protect Scenic Trans Mountain Corridor
FMWC Newsletter Archive
Congressman Reyes & Anti-Litter Campaign
Transmountain Road Cleanup
Castner Range
Open Space Presentation
Park News
Mark Your Calendars!
Celebration of Our Mountains
Museum of Archaeology
Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta
Mountain Bike Event
A Desert Without Borders
FMWC BOARD
Loan Star Legacy
Cyberspace


FRANKLIN MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS COALITION

http://www.franklinmountains.org/


Next Meeting: September 15, 2010
Meeting Place and Time
MEETING LOCATION: Our meeting will be held at The Garden Center, Memorial Park, 3105 Grant from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Map: http://www.cichlidpress.com/elpasocactusclub/graphics/gardencenter.jpg

We can always use volunteers: you can help man our booth at an event; meet with elected officials or attend civic meetings; coordinate outreach to community organizations; distribute our rack cards; contribute to our bi-monthly newsletters. Please contact Judy at 755-7371 or Kathy at 227-5330 if you are interested in volunteering.
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MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT, SCOTT CUTLER

A great deal has happened since the last newsletter. Work has continued on the federal appropriation to study how a conservation conveyance can be applied to surplus military property with an eye towards implementing one for Castner Range. We are partnering with The Frontera Land Alliance in this effort.

We hosted two stakeholder meetings to present options for enhancing the open space qualities of Arroyo 41A which will hold the Mountains to River Trail. Attendance was very good at both presentations, with representatives from the local agencies and developers present. The feedback from all the attendees was positive and we hope to be able to present something similar for the general public.

The Coalition hosted a cleanup of our section of Transmountain Road with a very strong turnout. It was without a doubt our most successful and well attended cleanup to date.

Within the last few weeks, the Coalition has begun a petition drive to urge the City to rezone all City owned open space lands as Natural Open Space. A petition is on our website for all to sign but we would also urge everyone to print out petitions and get your friends, co-workers, anyone you can, to sign the petition. Jim Tolbert is the contact person for this effort – more details in the article below.

Thanks to Judy Ackerman, Richard Teschner, and a host of other volunteers, we have maintained a weekly presence at the Ardovinos' Farmers Market on Saturdays. This has been a great outreach opportunity for the Coalition to get its message out to many people. If you have time, contact Judy or Richard to see about helping out on a Saturday by manning the booth. Its easy and a fun way to spend a Saturday morning.

As always, your support of the Coalition is greatly appreciated.
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NEWS


PROTECT SCENIC TRANS MOUNTAIN CORRIDOR IN NORTHWEST EL PASO
(Jim Tolbert):

New Save El Paso’s Franklin Mountains campaign has begun. Please go to our website to sign the petition or download hard copy petitions. You may also go directly to this link to sign the online petition:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-el-pasos-franklin-mountains/.

The petition says: “The Public Service Board land north and south of Trans Mountain Road is slated for commercial and residential development, changing this naturally scenic corridor, critical wildlife habitat, and potentially invaluable recreational land forever. The coming expansion of Trans Mountain Road to a much wider Freeway, with four lanes with frontage roads on each side, by the Texas Department of Transportation will accelerate this process. The only way to help protect this beautiful corridor of Trans Mountain scenic corridor on the west side of the Franklin Mountains is re-zoning all publicly owned land of the City of El Paso as currently managed by the Public Service Board (land that is owned by you, the taxpayer) as Natural Open Space (NOS).

Therefore, we the undersigned urge the El Paso City Council to re-zone, as Natural Open Space, all publically-owned land between the Gas Line Road and the Franklin Mountains State Park as shown on the City’s Northwest Master Plan both north and south of Trans Mountain as Natural Open Space (NOS).

Editor’s Note: Jim Tolbert has done a series of informative posts about this topic on his excellent site, El Paso Naturally, at http://elpasonaturally.blogspot.com/ - I urge you to use the valuable background presented there.


FMWC Newsletter Archive:
New and historic versions of FMWC newsletters are now available online at
http://www.franklinmountains.blogspot.com/, thanks to Judy Ackerman.
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Congressman Reyes Joins Transmountain Anti-Litter Campaign
(Mike Gaglio, Richard Teschner):

On a clear, bright and sunny August morning, Congressman Silvestre Reyes joined members of the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition and the Frontera Land Alliance to help clean up TxDOT right of way along the Coalition's adopted segment of TX Loop 375 near the entrance to the Tom Mays unit of the Franklin Mountains State Park in El Paso, Texas. Congressman Reyes' efforts to support conservation have directly benefited the El Paso community. Through efforts spearheaded by the Coalition and supported by Reyes, The Frontera Land Alliance will soon receive a Department of Defense grant to study how a relatively new conservation tool known as a Conservation Conveyance (10 USC 2694a) might be applied to Castner Range at Ft. Bliss. Castner Range is a more than 7,000-acre firing range—defunct since 1971—nestled in the heart of the Franklin Mountains in El Paso. The area boasts several mountain peaks, sheer cliffs, tree-lined canyons, three natural springs, Native American rock art and, most noticeably, a series of unfettered bajadas at the mountain foothills that bedazzles residents and visitors every spring with a stunning bloom of orange and yellow Mexican Poppies. In 2009, Congressman Reyes drafted language in the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act that allowed the conservation conveyance grant to be realized. In addition, he co-sponsored H.R. 1831, the Conservation Easement Incentive Act. Reyes stands committed to supporting conservation of the special places and wide open spaces that Frontera has pledged to protect.Return to top


Transmountain Road Cleanup
(Judy Ackerman):

The cleanup on Sunday 22 Aug 2010 was a huge success! About 45 volunteers participated including our Soon-to-be State Senator, Jose Rodriguez. Thank you to Jose for bringing his truck to haul people, trash, water and spare bags! Several volunteers came all the way from Las Cruces including Raul Gonzales (Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum), Sally Rose Sanchez-Gonzales and Joel Hoffman (both on the board of the Friend of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Wilderness). Several members of the Sunrise hikers, FMSP workers (on their own time), and High School students joined the cleanup.

Thanks to everyone’s sweaty efforts, we collected 40 bags of trash and 9 bags of recyclables along with several tires and other large items. Now we need someone to take ownership of this successful program and organize cleanups four times each year. We are responsible for two miles along both sides of the road, from Resler, east to the entrance of the Tom Mays section of the Franklin Mountains State Park. Debbie Martinez is our contact at TXDOT’s Adopt-A-Highway program. She is at the office at 4201 Hondo Pass and you can reach her at 915-757-5901 or
Debbie.martinez@txdot.gov.

Some of the interesting “finds” were assorted butterflies, a snake skin, and many large walking sticks out for a stroll. Discussions along the road included naming of native plants, getting field trips into High School Biology classes and the need to maintain natural open space on the west side of the State Park.

Lessons learned: Next time, have a sign-in roster. (Master Gardeners always have a liability waver that all must sign.) Also recommend volunteers ware long pants and shirts for protection from thorny plants.

Jose Rodriguez suggests that future cleanups encourage whole families to attend followed by free day at FMSP for those who bring a full bag of trash.
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Castner Range
(Judy Ackerman):

Restoration Authority Board Meeting August 4 notes: Next RAB meeting agenda will include information on Conservation Conveyance (CC) and is tentatively scheduled for 10 Nov at NE El Paso Command Center. CC was not on the Aug. agenda because the person in charge of that was away on a work study. The next meeting will also include another WAA update.

Total 25 attendees. 8 RAB members. 4 FMWC members (John Moses, Richard Teschner, Pat White and Judy Ackerman). Bliss staff included Vicki Hamilton, Donita Kelly, Ron Baca and others.

The main agenda item was a 1 hour summary of the 6 hour Wide Area Assessment (WAA) meeting held in June 2010, at the Radisson. Victoria Kantsios gave the presentation (URS Corporation, 2450 Crystal Drive, Suite 500, Arlington, VA 22202, (703) 418-3030 (Office), (404) 702-1141 (Cell), (703) 418-3040 (Fax),
victoria_kantsios@urscorp.com) about the ongoing WAA. The purpose of the WAA is to test technology to determine the location of munitions NOT to remove hazardous material or clear Castner Range.

The helicopter-borne magnetometry did not work because there is too much iron in the local geology and because plant heights did not allow low enough flight. The ground-based geophysics, using a man-portable (litter and hand held) EMI array, worked very well, but can only operate where slopes are less than 18%. They identified about 21,000 anomalies and 16 target areas high densities of anomalies.

URS combined the new data with historical data from: Historical Range fans, LIDAR data collected during the WAA, 1994 Surface Investigation, 1997 Surface Clearance, and 2004 Surface and Subsurface Clearance. USR will conduct intrusive investigation (digging by hand) in locations where they expect high (target) and low (non-
target) concentrations of ordnance. They will dig at pinpoint locations or at most, a one meter radius. If they discover hazardous material, they will remove it for detonation or, if necessary, destroy in place. Intrusive investigation will begin in September 2010 through mid December, if necessary continuing in January and February 2011.
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Open Space Presentation
(Jim Tolbert):

Open Space Advisory Board Chairman, Charlie Wakeem’s presentation to the Public Service Board regarding the duties, goals, financing and strategic planning of OSAB. This historic and important presentation lays out the future direction of OSAB and defines its ongoing relationship to PSB –
http://www.scribd.com/doc/37107572/Wakeem-Open-Space-Presentation-to-to-City-of-El-Paso-Public-Service-Board
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PARK NEWS

From Park Volunteer,
(Richard Love):

Here is another two months have gone by. A lot going on in the park at the Wildlife Viewing Area. We are in the middle of a remodel of the bird blind and working feverishly to get it completed by the start of the CDEC festival. Even though there is construction going on, this year’s hummingbird migration is over the top. We have seen Black-throated, Rufous, Broad-tailed and Calliopes. There are great numbers swarming the feeders daily. A photographer’s dream. Although it is early, most of the summer birds are leaving and a few of the fall/winter birds are arriving. I photographed a prime condition Curved-bill Thrasher. He has made daily visits to the water. As the 18th is getting closer we are getting ready for the 3rd annual CASI Chili Cook Off. There will be Chili tasting at the cook’s stations 5 minutes after the turn in time. Cups and spoons are available for a small $2.00 donation. The Park is in prime condition after the several nice rains we had, everything is green and there are still lots of wildflower blooms left. Still a ton of great wildflower and butterflies photos to be had along all of the trails. All of the volunteers were saddened to lose our volunteer cordinator Kelly to McKenny Falls State Park in Austin. We all wish her well and our loss is McKenny Falls gain. We will be looking to see all of you at the festival. Be sure to visit the WVA and check out the new blind and the hummingbirds. (Editor’s note: check out Richard’s photos in our e-newsletter. Thanks, Richard!)
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

Celebration of Our Mountains begins this weekend. Check out the schedule at
http://www.celebmtns.org/. Know that more hikes and events are being added all the time. Take advantage of these events. See why so many want to preserve the beautiful land around us and why conservation can mean economic gain for the City of El Paso.

SEPTEMBER 11: Hummingbird Workshop at El Paso Water Utilities Carlos M. Ramirez TecH2O Water Resources Learning Center. Mark Klym, coordinator of the Texas Hummingbird Roundup and co-author of Hummingbirds of Texas will partner with Texas Parks and Wildlife Urban Biologist Lois Balin to present a workshop aimed at teaching you more about these birds, their garden needs and their natural history. For more information, contact Diane Perez at 915-621-2000.
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SOUTHWEST ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER has a full slate of events scheduled. Please check out this valued Coalition member at
http://www.wildmesquite.org/

SEPTEMBER 12: El Paso Museum of Archaeology, 2:00 p.m. Free Admission. Carl Lumholtz: Norwegian Explorer in North and West Mexico by R. Ben Brown, Ph.D.

SEPTEMBER 18: 6th Annual Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta/Franklin Mountains State Park Lone Star Legacy at Tom Mays Park. Free family oriented event from 9 am – 3 pm. Speakers, activities, exhibits, chili cook off, etc. Go to
http://www.chihuahuandesert.org/ for more information and full schedule.
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SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER: Free Tours of the El Paso Museum of Archaeology: For Families with Elementary School Age Children, 1:00 pm on 9/18, 9/26, 10/09 and 10/24. Adult Tours, 10 am on 9/22, 9/29, 10/13, 10/20. Free docent-led tours offered in conjunction with Celebration of Our Mountains and Texas Archaeology Month (October).

OCTOBER 2: El Paso Museum of Archaeology, 9 am – 3 pm. Free Admission. Jody Folwell’s Demonstration and Interpretive Talk about traditional and contemporary pueblo pottery-making techniques in the museum’s auditorium.

OCTOBER 2 – 24: El Paso Museum of Archaeology, Free Admission. Ancient Traditions, Modern Expressions. Exhibit of Santa Clara Pueblo artist Jody Folwell’s pottery and photographs. Free Zip Tours of the exhibit will be presented on October 6th at 2 pm, October 16th at 2 pm and October 23 at 2 pm. Reservations not needed.
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OCTOBER 23: 12 Hours of Old El Paso is back for 2010! Join us for the coolest mountain bike event this fall from 10am to 10pm. Remember, 12 Hours of Old El Paso is more than a wicked mtb endurance race, it's 12 hours of riding some awesome single track with your best buds, making great memories and sharing old ones by the campfire, quenching your thirst with some frosty cold beer, and of course, munching down on some of Dawson's should-be-famous burritos.

Of all the fun filled times you've had on your bicycle – I promise you this - 12 Hours of Old El Paso will be at the top of that list. You'll want to come back every October, year after year to race on the trails you love, alongside people who personify the word camaraderie.

Register now at
http://newmexicosportsonline.com/events/details.aspx?id=172
or come into the store and register in person, $60 per racer fee. We look forward to race day and wish you all happy trails until then. The Bicycle Company, 3800 N Mesa Suite D5, El Paso, TX 79902, (915)544-2453
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NOVEMBER 13: The Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition invites you to attend "A Desert Without Borders" Chihuahuan Desert Conference November 13, 2010 at the Carlos M. Ramirez TecH2O Water Resources Learning Center in El Paso. The mission of the conference is to promote education about the Chihuahuan Desert and to encourage educators and researchers working in the Chihuahuan Desert to network and share knowledge. Conference goals include creating opportunities to learn about the Chihuahuan Desert, providing network opportunities and to provide a space and time for researchers to present their findings.

Registration fees are $60. Registration fees include breaks and lunch and an "Evening Social Event" with refreshments at the El Paso Zoo, plus a one year (new individual or extended) membership with the Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition.
http://www.chihuahuandesert.org/conference.html
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FMWC BOARD
President: Scott CutlerVice President: Jane FowlerSecretary: Judy AckermanTreasurer: Pat WhiteAt Large Members: Matt Carroll Jim Tolbert


LONE STAR LEGACY

You can make a lasting contribution to the future of Franklin Mountains State Park with your tax-deductible donation to the Lone Star Legacy Endowment Fund. Checks, payable to “Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation”, can be sent to: Lone Star Legacy Endowment Fund, c/o Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, P.O. Box 191207, Dallas, TX, 75219. Mark your donation to the endowment fund for Franklin Mountains State Park.
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FMWC In Cyberspace

This is the electronic version of the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition newsletter. To be added to or removed from the distribution list, contact: j.p.ackerman@sbcglobal.net.


The Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition

Borderland Mountain Bike AssociationBorder Toasters, Toastmasters International BordersensesCelebration Of Our MountainsCentro San VicenteChihuahuan Desert Education CoalitionChihuahuan Desert Wildlife Rescue • Eco-Club EPCC • El Paso Archaeological SocietyEl Paso Cactus And Rock ClubEl Paso County Master GardenersEl Paso Native Plant SocietyEl Paso Regional Group Of The Sierra ClubEl Paso/Trans-Pecos Audubon SocietyEl Paso Youth SymphonyEl Paso ZooEnvironmental Advocates at UTEPFriends of the Arroyo Friends Of The Rio Bosque • Jolly Elders • League Of Women Voters Of El PasoMesilla Valley Audubon SocietyMountain Park Community AssociationPhotography Enthusiasts Of El PasoSouthern New Mexico Group Of The Sierra Club • Southwest Environmental Center • Skyline Optimist Club Of El Paso • Trans Pecos Chapter Of The Texas Master NaturalistsVista Hills Rotary Club • Voter Education Project, Inc •
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