Sunday, November 17, 2013

The Franklin mountain State Park hosts 2nd Annual Happy Tails N’ Trails Event for El Paso Outdoorsy Animal Lovers

Franklin Mountains State Park has been busy this year. In the past few months the park has been affected by heavy rain falls that reshaped the landscapes; staff members have obtained and continue to earn certifications and training and our rangers have been involved with both locally and nationally recognized search and rescue efforts.

High rainfall amounts in September brought flash flooding to a variety of areas within the park resulting in trail and signage damage. However, the outdoors community ultimately answered the call and assisted the park rangers by doing both individual volunteer trail repairs as well as joined us on our “National Make A Difference” day for which we hosted a specific trail rebuilding project for the Mundy’s Gap trail. The focus was on the section which saw an annihilation of the bridge and narrow pathway.

Avid hikers who frequent the park weekly shared their accolades with staff members and remarked on the caliber of work and repair of that section of trail. We are very grateful to all of the volunteers who were a part of the concerted efforts of providing some much needed TLC to our park.

The 2nd Annual Happy Tails n’ Happy Trails event on November 2nd  was a tail waggin' success. This adoption fair/doggie play day in the park saw almost 50 dogs including 6 dogs that are up for adoption from the Animal Rescue League. One of the highlights of the day was that Bender, one of the adoption
dogs, may have gotten a new forever home!

Over 35 people came out with their pooches big and small to enjoy a beautiful day out in the Franklin Mountains State Park. With ranger led presentations on hiking safety, free dog obedience courses and training tips, free treats, ranger led "Bark in the Park" hike, raffles and much more, everyone gained some valuable information and prizes and left with wonderful memories. Thanks to all of the organizations who joined us for the event and offered prizes for the raffle.

The park events schedule is available on: The TPWD calendar of events under Franklin Mountains State Park; the Franklin Mountains SP Facebook page; the El Paso Hikers Group on Meetup.com; and in the El Paso Scene.

Upcoming events to look forward to in December include: Christmas Hikes to the Mines, Womens Only hikes, Peak Fitness challenge hikes, and more. Remember New Years is just around the corner, too, and we’ll be hosting our popular New Years Day hike again on January 1st.

We look forward to seeing you out on the trails!

Volunteer Coordinator Positions Now Open for the 2014 Poppies Fest

The Poppies Fest is a celebration of not only the beautiful poppies that bloom in Northeast El Paso in the spring, but also the wonderful open landscape and views of the Franklin Mountains in the Northeast.  Currently this land is being kept in its natural state because it is part of the Fort Bliss Castner Range – but that might not last forever.

The Poppies Fest is a reminder to our community to work together to keep the beautiful open views and natural habitat of Castner Range - now and forever.

The Poppies Fest date will be sometime in either March or April 2014. It takes place on the grounds of the El Paso Museum of Archaeology.  Volunteer and be part of the decision on the date and the plans for this great community event. The following positions are available:

 - Transportation Coordinator
 - Parking Coordinator
 - Exhibitor/Vendor Coordinator
 - Social Media Coordinator
 - Volunteer Coordinator
 - Recycling & Trash Coordinator

If you can make a commitment to take on one of these volunteer coordinator positions, or if you want to volunteer for the event in some other way, please contact Marilyn Guida at GuidaMR@elpasotexas.gov or by calling 915-755-4332.




Public Meetings for Projects that have Important Implications for Rio Bosque Wetlands Park

In May, the Texas Department of Transportation began its Border Highway East Study, intended to look at transportation improvements along the border in southeast El Paso County.  The most significant facility being looked at in this study is a proposed new highway extending from the Zaragoza International Port of Entry to the Tornillo-Guadalupe International Port of Entry.
Initially, four alternative alignments have been presented for this highway.  They are displayed on the attached “BHE Constraints north” map.  Immediately east of Rio Bosque Wetlands Park, all four alignments are identical:  They parallel the Riverside Canal on the opposite side of the canal from the park. 

From the inception of the wetlands project at Rio Bosque, one of our main goals has been to establish a new entrance to the park from Socorro Road.  It would be at the park’s southeast corner, where the visitor center is located.  The planned new entrance would provide direct, convenient access off Socorro Road and directly link Rio Bosque with the Mission Trail.  Over the past several years, working in coordination with El Paso County Water Improvement District #1, we have been finalizing plans for the new entrance.  It would include:


  • A short entrance road from Socorro Road
  • Parking area
  • New footbridge crossing the Riverside Canal, and
  • Walkways leading from the parking area to the footbridge and from the footbridge to the park’s   existing Bosque Trail and visitor center. 

The four alternative alignments for the highway all go right through the area proposed for this new entrance.

The upcoming meetings will be in an open-house, come-and-go format.  You’ll have a chance to view the maps, discuss the study with project planners, and offer you views, ideas and concerns. 

Tues. 19 November (
4 p.m. – 7 p.m.)
Socorro High School Cafeteria
10150 Alameda Ave., Socorro, TX

or

Wed. 20 November (4 p.m. – 7 p.m.)
Rio Valle Women’s Club
521 Mike Maros, Fabens, TX 

Monday, September 16, 2013

El Paso Water Utility and Sound Land Management

John E. Balliew, President & CEO of EPWU / PSB for EPWU provided us with the following quote regarding the water utility’s view on water conservation and long term sustainability.

“Sound land management is a huge part of the El Paso Water Utilities/Public Service Board’s water resources strategy that ensures a sustainable water supply for El Paso. EPWU master plans all PSB managed land prior to sale to ensure open space is protected, while still allowing for responsible development to take place.

While some PSB land should be preserved to aid in the efforts to conserve water, the community needs to strike a balance between many competing needs and interests. Rather than just setting aside more land as open space we advocate for a deliberate effort to determine how much land should be set aside and where. That deliberation needs to include a planning process involving the City of El Paso and stakeholders.”

Annual Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta Celebrates the Natural Wonders of the Franklin Mountains

Houdini the Harris Hawk, Agostini-Justiniani the Hermit tours, and a full slate of local entertainment promises to make the 9th Annual Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta a fun day for all.  The free event at the Tom Mays section of Franklin Mountains State Park on Saturday, September 21, from 9am to 3pm is sponsored by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department with the help of volunteers from the Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition. Every year the event attracts hundreds of people to the desert mountain park in northwest El Paso.

The outdoor venue celebrates the natural wonders of the Chihuahuan desert and Franklin Mountains State Park. Local environmental education groups will be on hand to offer free demonstrations, guided tours, guest speakers and informational booths  designed to introduce the curious to the wonders of our fascinating desert.

Houdini is a 12 year old Harris Hawk that came to the El Paso Zoo in August 2012. Harris Hawks hunt in packs earning them the nickname “Wolves of the Sky”. This year from 10am to 3pm Kent Fisher from Fisher Brothers Climbing and Gear will be teaching his class all day at Sneed’s Cory along the roadway up to the West Cottonwood Springs trailhead.

The Serna Ranch Serna Ranch Youth Leadership will offer free horse rides, hay rides including a shuttle to various sites in the park plus a food booth selling Navajo Fry Tacos, Chili Beans, Nachos, Chips, Water, and sodas.

A number of other activities including a presentation of desert snakes, Folklorico dancing, and Tezcatloc Aztec Drums will make this a fun filled afternoon for the whole family.

For more information, contact the Franklin Mountains State Park at (915) 566-6441, or read more online at www.chihuahuandesert.org.


You can help preserve the City of El Paso’s Public Land surrounding our Franklin Mountains

Conservation organizations and groups announce that they have begun collecting signatures on a new initiative petition. The petition calls for the preservation in its natural state and in perpetuity of all City owned land (even if managed by the PSB) north of Transmountain and east of Interstate 10 and west of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Organizers say that there are several good reasons for all El Pasoans to sign the petition whether they live near or faraway from the mountains. Preserving all of this land on both sides of the mountain will benefit El Paso in several ways: preservation will help us sustain the scarce resource of water - an effort which includes all El Pasoans not just those living closer to the mountains; continued enjoyment of hiking and biking trails already in existence and utilized by the public; improvement of our quality of life especially as El Paso seeks to reach its goal of decreasing obesity and diabetes; protecting wildlife and making sure that they have adequate habitat and range in order to survive; and, ensuring that millions of dollars annually will come into El Paso through ecotourism as more and more people enjoy mountain biking, rock climbing, hiking and other recreational activities in our mountains and the surrounding region.

Members of the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition, El Paso CAN (Conservation Action Network), El Paso Conservation Leadership Institute, iloveparks.com, elpasonaturally seek a minimum of 2,310 signatures of persons residing in El Paso and registered to vote.  Even if someone did not vote in the previous city elections, as long as they are registered and living in the city, they may sign the petition. (Persons not living in the city limits but in the County of El Paso are not eligible.) The El Paso City Charter requires that 5 percent of the total number of voters in the previous general city election (in this case, May 2013) must sign a petition before it can be validated and presented to City Council. Should City Council fail to pass the ordinance, then petitioners may gather the same number of signatures again in order to require the matter to be voted on at the next city election.

But we need your help.

FMWC has added a new page for the 2013 Initiative Petition on the website. The page has the petition, instructions for signing and/or gathering signatures, reasons to sign and maps of the affected areas.

To access all of the materials visit www.franklinmountains.org, or visit the Franklin Mountain Wilderness Coalition on Facebook and Twitter.

You can help determine the future of the Castner Range.

The Castner Range is made up of 7,081 acres of Fort Bliss land between the US 54 freeway and the Franklin Mountains State Park. This beautiful range in our Franklin Mountains is currently off limits to the public .

You can research and find more information with the following resources:

1. Fort Bliss has their own reports. Both the Wide Area Assessment and the Incremental Sampling reports are available here:

    https://www.bliss.army.mil/dpw/Environmental/EISDocuments2.html

2.  Thr Fontera Land Alliance has established a land use plan and is seeking your feedback. It can be accessed here:

http://fronteralandalliance.org/castner/

Additional resources are available by contacting Janae Reneaud Field, Executive Director of The Frontera Land Alliance, at 915-351-8352 or Janae@FronteraLandAlliance.org, or mail to 3800 N. Mesa St., A2-258. El Paso, Texas 79902.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Park Entrance – Vigilance Needed

by: Judy Ackerman

Expect more calls for action to ensure a safe and appropriate entrance to the Tom Mays Section of our Franklin Mountains State Park (FMSP).  As you know, TX Parks and Wildlife Department prefers TxDOT’s option 4 and El Pasoans agree.  Option 4 would allow for safe vehicular access, using an underpass that would also facilitate hikers, bicyclists, and wildlife crossing; serving as a vital connection between north and south portions of FMSP.

At the 15 Apr 2013 Special Meeting of the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), Transportation Policy Board (TPB), members acknowledged hearing from you, the public, and discussed this topic at length.  The ball is in TxDOT’s court.  El Paso’s transportation expert, State Representative Joe Pickett, said, “… options are still being looked at since the environmental has not been completed.  The [TxDOT] district engineer [Bob Bielek] has committed to the project in 2014, but not sure what option would be proposed or at what cost….  At this point, it is up to TxDOT to provide the when, and how much.”


FMWC alert system will keep you informed on breaking news and ask you to contact elected and appointed officials as necessary.  For background information, see our website:  www.franklinmountains.org/. You can also subscribe to ElPasoNaturally at www.elpasonaturally.blogspot.com/

CDEC working to raise the bar for 10th Anniversary

by: Rick LoBello, Board of Directors, CDEC Chair

The Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition will celebrate its 10th anniversary in January 2014.   We had our first organizational meeting in the Cisneros Paraje at the El Paso Zoo in January 2004 and over the years our small group has worked to help others better understand and appreciate the Chihuahuan Desert.   We have helped to organize eight Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta events at Tom Mays Park, seven annual Poppies Celebrations at the El Paso Museum of Archaeology and a Chihuahuan Desert Conference at the Tech H2O Center.

In 2007 the IRS awarded our group 501(c)3 non-profit status.  Our current projects include helping to develop more curriculum materials on our desert, supporting upcoming outdoor events like the Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta and Poppies Celebration, supporting the new newly formed Franklin/Organ Mountains Conservation Cooperative, the City of El Paso Outside educational initiative, and improving our website at chihuahuandesert.org.  The mission of CDEC is to collaborate with educators and the public in support of programs that enhance conservation and education of the Chihuahuan Desert.  The goal of the organization is to serve as a resource for information about the Chihuahuan Desert and encourage life-long learning. Your support will help people discover and connect to our Chihuahuan Desert and improve their quality of life.


In August CDEC will elect new officers at its annual meeting and work on new plan to restructure the organization to help raise the effectiveness of our group in meeting our mission.  If you would like to help please contact any board member listed on our website at  http://www.chihuahuandesert.org/cdeccontactus.html.

Celebration of Our Mountains Needs Event Guides

This year Celebration of Our Mountains will be focusing on guided events which teach others about the natural history or history of places in and around El Paso.  In the past we have had visits to petroglyph sites, volcanoes, mines, historic airplane crash sites as well as geology tours, birding outings and historic districts.  We’ve gone as far away as Guadalupe National Park, Tonuco Mountain and Valley of Fires.  Closer to home we’ve done events at Cristo Rey, the Otero Plateau, the Tin Mine and more.
The purpose of Celebration is to show people great places to visit in our mountains and desert and to teach them more about the ecosystems, geology, zoology, botany and history of our area.  We want to instill the value of the need to preserve and conserve our land and key historic sites.


If you would like to organize an event, please contact Jim Tolbert at 915-525-7364 or diegotolbert@gmail.com now.  A calendar meeting will be held next Wednesday evening at Ardovino’s Desert Crossing.  You must RSVP with Jim to attend. We each purchase our own dinner from the menu.

FMWC Booth – Join the Fun

We need your help to staff the FMWC booth.  You’ll have fun discussions with others who care about our mountains and get them involved protecting El Paso’s greatest natural resource.  FMWC Member Organizations can use this as an opportunity to get the word out about your issues.
In addition to other venues, we will be at Ardovino’s Farmers Market is Saturday, July 20 from 7:30 am to noon at Ardovino’s Desert Crossing, 1 Ardovinos Dr, Sunland Park, NM.  

If you can assist, please contact Judy Ackerman, 915-755-7371, jpackerman53@gmail.com.

Castner Range Land Use Plan, Your Input Needed

by: Janae Reneaud Field, Executive Director, Frontera Land Alliance
Members of the boards of The Frontera Land Alliance and the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition have been collaborating (as the “4C’s”—the Castner Conservation Conveyance Committee) with Fort Bliss to propose an option for the 7,081 acres locally known as Castner Range. The goals of the two groups are to preserve the natural areas, wildlife corridors and natural springs that occur on Castner Range, Fort Bliss.

To date a Conservation Conveyance Report has been completed with $300,000 in grant funding awarded by federal Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA). With the remaining grant funds we are also completing a Land Use Plan to aid the Department of Defense in determining what type of limited recreational development would occur if the land were transferred to the Franklin Mountain State Park.
We are asking the public to review the draft land use plan at www.FronteraLandAlliance.org and provide comments.

To help you have a better understanding for the purpose of the land use plan, please see the executive summary below with the four proposed alternatives that will allow Castner Range to be preserved. Please note the following report is not endorsed by Fort Bliss. We will be providing the report as an option for them to consider as they go through their evaluation of the land and the future use of the land.

Executive Summary:
The Frontera Land Alliance (TFLA), the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition (FMWC), the Castner Conservation Conveyance Committee (4C’s) and the Franklin Mountains State Park (FMSP) of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) will continue to work with the Department of Defense (DOD) to transfer Castner Range to the TPWD for incorporation into the FMSP. As part of the 2013 Defense Appropriations Act, Congress indicated that Castner Range may indeed be transferred to TPWD. The El Paso community and visitors to the FMSP will benefit greatly from the 7,081-acre addition. Currently there are over 40,000 registered visitors to the park annually, approximately 10,000 military personnel use the park for training purposes every year, and between 5,000 to 10,000 non-registered individuals visit the park each year. FMSP is the largest urban state park in the continental United States. It is estimated that there will be a 10 to 20 percent increase in users if Castner Range is transferred to TPWD. The following Castner Range Land Use Plan lays out two alternatives and alternative two has three major phases:

Alternative 1:
- Castner Range could be established as a State Natural Area (SNA) or as a Wildlife Management Area (WMA). SNA protects outstanding examples of native landscapes, of natural communities, of significant geological formations and of archeological sites. WMA designation is used to conserve wildlife. Both SNA and WMA are the least costly options for management, and would be closed to the public.

Alternative 2:
Phase 1: Castner Range to be studied, monitored, and managed for three to five years. It is the intent of the FMSP to conserve and provide a unique outdoor experience for all generations to come.
Phase 2: Based on the findings in Phase 1, trails will be built for hiking/biking and trail signage, and maps will be installed in predetermined locations.
Castner Range continued
Phase 3: The area south of Transmountain Road will have only hike/bike trails and signage. The area north of Transmountain Road will have hike/bike trails with trail heads, picnic sites, rock climbing at designated areas, primitive roads, backcountry remote campsites, an interior road for primitive camping, RV access, and an RV campsite with amenities such as electricity. The TPWD favors locating a visitors’ center and state park headquarters either on the existing El Paso Museum of Archaeology property or on adjacent Castner Range land.  
The addition of Castner Range to the FMSP will address many needs beyond the park and recreation for the community, including benefits to public health, education, natural resource management, the community’s economy and the preservation of breathtaking viewsheds that define Northeast El Paso. The area has been preserved in its pristine natural state due to the stewardship of Fort Bliss. The conservation of Castner Range will preserve the fragile lands at the urban fringe around the FMSP. The preservation of additional lands will provide a network of natural areas that will preserve the community’s unique character and sense of place. This project will result in substantial benefits at many levels—locally by strengthening residents’ land ethics, and regionally for habitat protection and for water conservation and erosion control.

Alternative 3
As Fort Bliss’s remediation investigation takes place on Castner Range, it might be determined that the best way to transfer the Castner Range to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is by taking a “from-the-top-down” approach, a piecemeal tactic that conserves parts of the Range at a time. While sections of Castner Range are being cleaned up and transferred, the remainder of Castner Range would be placed under a Lease in Furtherance of Conveyance to ensure that all 7,081 acres of Castner Range are protected in perpetuity. The end result will be that all of Castner Range is transferred to TPWD. For example if Whispering Springs were to be cleared of UXOs and transferred to TPWD, this action would connect to an existing trail on FMSP property and allow the public access to Castner Range on a restricted trail. As tracts of land within Castner Range are identified as safe and transferable, TPWD would develop trails which are specific to that area.


Alternative 4
As Fort Bliss completes its remediation investigation and feasibility study, on Castner Range, it might be determined that the best use for Castner Range is to keep the land as is, status quo. The ownership of the land would remain with DoD, Fort Bliss. As owners of the land Fort Bliss would continue to monitor trespassers, maintain the fences, replace signage as needed, etc. The public would directly benefit by enjoying the views of Castner Range, and no disturbance would come to the existing wildlife corridors, the natural springs or wildlife habitat.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

3rd annual Kids to Parks Day will be held May 18

3rd annual Kids to Parks Day will be held May 18, 2013 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at McKelligon Canyon, 1331 McKelligon Canyon Rd. in conjunction with National Park Trust, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and National Park Service. National Kids to Parks Day empowers kids and encourages families to get outdoors and visit America’s parks.

• Event is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Vendors will be allowed to enter the area to unload at the booth location
• Set up time 8a.m. to 8:45 a.m.
• Booth Spaces are 10 x 10
•  Shades are limited encourage to take a tent
•  Please review attached document for booth location
Agencies participating on this 3rd annual event:
El Paso Parks and Recreation- Carlos Rodriguez
Texas Parks & Wildlife/Franklin Mountains State Park - Adrianna Weickhardt
Chamizal National Memorial - Anne Doherty
Ascarate Fishing Club - Toni VanDePutte
Northeast YMCA - Kevin Pearson
Franklin Mountain Wilderness Coalition - Judy Ackerman
Water Tech H2O - Diana Perez
Rock Art – Jane McFarland from Hueco Tanks State Park
Geology – Eric Kappus
West Texas Regional Poison Center - Sal Quintanilla
Texas Parks and Wildlife - Diana Moy
Geocaching 101 – Officer Ted Stevens from Hueco Tanks State Park
Activities
9:00 Welcome/Introduction – Walk around
9:30 to 10:00 Geocaching 101
10:15 to 10:45 Willie the Waterdrop
11:00 to 11:30 Archery
11:45 to 12:15 Bicycle Repair Workshop
12:15 to 1:00 visit all of the other booths
For further information feel free to contact: Carlos Rodriguez at 915-544-0753 /rodriguezca@elpasotexas.gov or Adrianna Weickhardt at 566-6441/ Adrianna.weickhardt@tpwd.state.tx.us.

Franklin Mountains State Park to Grow by More Than 600 Acres

AUSTIN -- The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission at its Thursday meeting approved the acquisition of approximately 658 acres to expand a state park in El Paso that already ranks as the largest urban park in the continental United States.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will purchase a parcel of land that straddles Loop 375, also known as Trans Mountain Road, to further extend the Franklin Mountains State Park’s western reach into the surrounding high desert country. The acquisition will bring the state park’s total acreage to more than 26,000 acres.

The El Paso Public Service Board offered the desirable property to TPWD at a bargain sale price. The tract of undeveloped land will provide a buffer from pending new city growth and increase public recreational opportunities through the possible future expansion of the park’s trail system.

After much land use discussion about the environmental impact due to encroaching development on the western flanks of the Franklin Mountains, the El Paso City Council this past summer agreed to the sale. The TPW Commission’s vote was the final action required to consummate the land deal.

New Member Organization!

Please welcome N.E.- El Paso National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NERFE)  Chapter number 1473 as FMWC’s newest organizational member!  President, Rodney Smith will be NERFE’s representative to FMWC.

Update to FMSP Entrance


Your calls, letters and e-mails made a difference when you asked TxDOT and elected officials to ensure that Franklin Mountains State Park (FMSP) will have a safe and effective entrance to the Tom Mays Section of the Park from Transmountain! 
El Paso County Judge Veronica Escobar, Chair of the El Paso Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Transportation Policy Board (TPB) said she received dozens of e-mails.  In her reply she said, “Please know that TxDOT is still in the process of gathering input for the park entrance and your email was forwtarded to the TxDOT engineer who is charged with that process….  At a meeting earlier this week, the MPO Transportation Policy Board made it clear that we wanted the input regarding the entrance to take into account not only vehicle safety but also the needs and safety of pedestrians, bicyclists and wildlife.”
During that meeting on 15 April, Mayor John Cook made an amendment that gave direction to TxDOT saying, “the environmental needs assessment for the Franklin Mountain State Park Entrance must include pedestrian, vehicular, and wildlife access as well as traffic safety to both sides of the Park and a commitment that District Discretionary funds up to $10 million will be used if no other source of funding is found.”
The MPO TPB heard that you support our State Park.  Thank you!  Now we must stay vigilant.

Franklin Mountains State Park Update

by: Adrianna Weickhardt
Park Interpreter/Ranger/Volunteer Coordinator

This year has already been exciting and busy filled with many improvements and new staff members to the park.  As many of you know, the park recently acquired over 600 acres which just makes the Franklin Mountains SP more impressive and more special as the “largest urban wilderness in the continental United States”.  We’ve also recently hired two new employees and are glad to welcome Richie Sanchez and Jonathon Murphy to the team!  Richie is our new maintenance specialist with a contagious enthusiasm for mountain biking, and boundless good energy; he’ll be helping the park interpreter with upcoming programs throughout the year, too, so we’re lucky to have such a versatile team player.  Jonathon is our new park police officer who brings a wealth of knowledge from his background in the sciences and adds to the positive atmosphere with his smile and great personality.  He’ll be starting academy later this year, and in the mean time is learning the ropes during ride-a-longs with park police officer Fernie Rincon and hitting the trails on his own to learn about his new park!
May is National Bike Month and FMSP is involved on the local level by adding in 4 new bike rides to the schedule of events at the park, as well as partnering with the El Paso Bike Month planning committee to spread the word throughout our great city about biking in all of its wonderful forms.  Make sure to check out www.elpasobikemonth.com for all of the great bike activities scheduled throughout the city.
Texas Parks and Wildlife recently won the top Texas Social Media Award.  Here’s an excerpt from the article:  “Nimble and targeted, the agency operates more than 100 social media sites, attracting more than 100,000 Facebook and Twitter followers. Its crisply produced videos — including a popular series on game preparation and cooking — have been viewed more than 4 million times on YouTube.
“Social media enables us to interact with a broad audience, including people not traditionally engaged with the outdoors,” says agency video and Web producer Whitney Bishop. “This is especially important as Texas becomes a more urban state and people depend increasingly on technology to communicate with each other.”  -- to read more about our department’s great accomplishments, you can find it in the Austin American Statesman, article title “Texas Parks and Wildlife wins top Texas Social Media Award”.  And remember, on days that you can’t make it out to your Franklin Mountains State Park, you can always keep up with us on our facebook page which we update regularly and is chock full of amazing photography  from some of our great volunteers.
Start looking forward to later summer programs to include paragliding workshops, guitar lessons in the park, and morning yoga for beginners. 
We hope to see you out in the park soon!

Franklin Mountains State Park
May Schedule

Sat., May 11:   9:00 a.m. Mother’s Day wknd - Women’s bike ride/clinic – Lazy Cow Trail
Sun., May 12:  8:30 a.m. Mother’s Day wknd - Women’s Only hike - Lower Sunset 
Sat., May 18:   9:00 to 1:00  2nd Annual Kids to Parks Event
Sun., May 19:  6:45 a.m. Peak Fitness Challenge - N. Franklin Peak
Sun., May 19:  9:00 a.m. Seniors hike - Nature Walk trail
Sat., May 25:   8:00 a.m. Guided Bike Ride  - Old Tin Mine Rd/Lazy Cow Trail
Sun., May 26:  8:00 a.m. Guided Bike Ride - Old Tin Mine Rd/Lazy Cow Trail

Monday, March 18, 2013

Word from the President


Hello FMWC Friends,

As we enter the whirlwind month of March, the wind is not the only thing that is busy.  Your Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition is busy working with many other organizations to make the next Poppies Festival a huge success.  Additional information about that event is in this newsletter.  If you can help out, please do.  And, plan to attend.  It will be a great event.

The coalition of organizations working to preserve Castner Range as open space continues making progress on this complicated issue.  If you can make the time, please consider getting involved.  Public support is critical.

The next meeting of the FMWC will be Wednesday, March 20th, at 6:30pm.  Judy and Jamie Ackerman have graciously agreed to have us meet at their home.  The address is 3344 Eileen Dr in Northeast El Paso.  If you have any questions, you can contact her at 755-7571.

I look forward to seeing you at the meeting and at the Poppies Festival.

Sincerely,
Scott Cutler, 
President, Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition

March 2013 Upcoming Events:


FMWC Monthly Meeting
March 20, 2012 from 6:30p.m.
Home of Judy and Jamie Ackerman
3344 Eileen Dr.  El Paso, TX.
For more info, please call
Judy Ackerman at 915-755-7571. 

Saturday, March 23
2013 Franklin Mountains
Poppies Fest  on Castner Range

10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
El Paso Museum of Archaeology
4301 Transmountain
Free Addmission

Wednesday, April 10
TxDOT Public Meeting
on New State Park Entrance
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Canutillo High School
6675 South Desert Boulevard



Poppies Fest Planned for Saturday, March 23


The seventh annual 2013 Poppies Fest on Castner Range will take place on Saturday, March 23, 2013 at the El Paso Museum of Archaeology at 4301 Transmountain Road. The day will feature a full program of nature talks, wildlife displays, educational exhibits, demonstrations, a live wolf, Houdini the Harris Hawk, children’s activity center, music and food vendors. Everyone is welcome to come out and enjoy the beauty of the mountains and the poppies during this free educational family fun event.

If you are interested in making a donation for this event please contact Pat White at 915-591-3562 or pat_white@hotmail.com. If you are interested in helping as a volunteer contact Sylvia Price at slyfox7tx@att.net. 

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor or vendor for this event please contact Lisa Gutierrez at 915-269-1239 or lisamarie177@juno.com.

FREE Admission and FREE Parking at El Paso Community College NE Campus, FREE Shuttle service provided from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm. This event celebrates the marvelous open space in Northeast El Paso where we frequently enjoy a stunning spring display of our native Mexican Gold poppies. This festival is an opportunity to enjoy our beautiful outdoors while learning about what our mountains and desert have to offer. It takes place on the 15 acre grounds of the El Paso Museum of Archaeology. The museum’s Chihuahuan Desert Gardens boast examples of more than 200 native plants.

Castner Range is a former artillery range known for its cultural, geologic and unique biology. If the rain and weather cooperate, it is most known for its beautiful and vast display of Mexican Poppies in the spring. 

Poppies Fest, 2013 Event Details
What:  2013 Franklin Mountains Poppies Celebration on Castner Range
When: Saturday March 23, 2013 Time: 10am – 4pm
Where: El Paso Museum of Archaeology (4301 Transmountain Road)

EPCC Celebrates Earth Day


EPCC Recycling Program will be celebrating Earth Day on the month of April. We are aware of the importance of reminding people, not only about recycling, but saving all our natural resources. That is why we would like for FMWC to have a free table at all our events in order to spread your mission!  We hope you can join us as many events as you can.
Dates and Locations
These are the dates for our the events
from 10 am to 1 pm:
Mission Del Paso Campus
10700 Gateway East
April Wednesday 17
Northwest Campus
6701 South Desert Rd
April Friday 19
Valle Verde Campus
919 Hunter
April Monday 22
Transmountain Campus
9570 Gateway Blvd. North
April Wednesday 24
Administration Service Center
9050 Viscount Blvd.
April Friday 26
Rio Grande Campus
100 West Rio Grande Ave.
April Monday 29
For more information contact the Mayra Cordero
mcorde30@epcc.edu, (915)831-3325 Office,
(915)727-8200 Cell

Volunteer for the Friends of the Arroyo


Saturday, Mar 30th has been set for the spring workday, in which Friends of the Arroyo,
El Paso High School students, and interested citizens are invited to meet at the Tennis Club parking lot,  N. Virginia (bellow Robinson St.), at 9 am.  We will do trail work, trash pickup and vegetation trimming until lunch time.  
The park partnership for the upper section of Arroyo Park, established by the late Dr. Billy Rodgers, remains vacant.  For more information contact Matt Carroll, Senior Leader Friends of the Arroyo, 2friendsofthearroyo@gmail.com

Council Passes Scenic Corridor Ordinances


Unanimously, City Council this morning passed three ordinances which, in effect, establish the new NW Master Plan, the smart code re-zoning necessary, and the preservation of 55% of the open space by transferring 658 acres to the State Park and protecting key arroyos with smart code. It was a major victory for environmentalists and conservationists and a win-win for all including the development community. In addition, City Planners have begun to add the critical tool known as green infrastructure/low impact development to their planning.

Following presentations by Planner Carlos Gallinar and former City and now EPWU attorney, Lupe Cuellar, I had these words:

“Mr. Mayor and members of the Council,

For the record, I am Jim Tolbert, the citizen who authored the petition to preserve land in the scenic corridor along Transmountain in northwest El Paso. That petition was sponsored by the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition. Along with others I coordinated and spearheaded a successful drive to collect enough signatures to bring the issue to your attention.

“When we began the task of preserving land in its natural state, I had no idea that our work would have such positive, far-reaching results. Rather than insisting on one way or another, we chose to work together, to find accommodation, compromise and consensus. As citizens, City Planners, attorneys, employees and agents of the PSB/EPWU, State Park officials, environmentalists, conservationists, recreationalists and consultants we were constant in our effort to stay true to the spirit and conditions of the petition while maintaining the integrity of our various value systems and institutions. We not only worked through our distrust of one another, but, there came a time, when it became apparent that all shared the same goal of making El Paso an even better place to live.

“Now we on the verge of preserving 658 acres of natural open space by transferring that land to the State Park. We will protect precious arroyos through the use of smart codes as we more intelligently design a place to live that is livable, workable, walkable and in better harmony with the natural environment. The re-doing of the NW Master Plan, the utilization of smart codes, the new knowledge of a great tool called green infrastructure/low impact development will improve community and recreation and foster the value of natural open space. It will make us a more productive, healthier and it will be a boost to our commerce.

“It has been said that following environmental principles is contrary to business. That to be “green” is to be anti-business. 100 years ago if you favored separating residences from factories with new-fangled zoning rules, you were labeled anti-business. As we know now zoning fostered better business and living standards. Back in the 60’s and 70’s if you favored cleaning our air and waterways, you were labeled anti-business. However, improving the quality of our air and waterways has led to more productive communities and healthier and happier work and living spaces. Today, one favoring modern development practices and green infrastructure/low impact development is often labeled “anti-business”. The truth is that being green is not the antithesis of commerce – but the partner. Our care for the environment, our natural world and our eco-systems of which we as humans are just a small part, will only lead to better lives for us all.

“There are so many to thank for this day: those who worked so hard on the petition drive; the Dover Kohl team; all the citizens who participated in the charrettes: the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition particularly Scott Cutler, Judy Ackerman, Pat White, Joyce Ford, Jane Fowler and Richard Teschner; City Staff particularly Matthew McElroy, Carlos Gallinar, Elizabeth Gibson, David Coronado and Lupe Cuellar. State Park officials: Deirdre Hisler and Dr. Cesar Mendez. For the PSB/EPWU – Dr. Rick Bonart, Ed Escudero and Katherine Brennand and especially Pat Adauto and Risher Gilbert and ultimately John Balliew and Mr. Ed Archuleta. Thanks also to Charlie Wakeem and the Open Space Advisory Board for its hard work. And I thank you on City Council for your patience and for allowing this work to be done deliberately and well even if it took more than a year; and I thank you, Mayor Cook, for your leadership and wisdom, and our city attorneys headed by Sylvia Firth.

“Today in El Paso there are those who would divide us. There are those who want our city to be “us against them”, “my group against your group”. But look what we accomplished together: a new vision that is pro-commerce as well as green. We overcame our mistrust of each other and we happily discovered that we were working side by side and shoulder to shoulder. To those who would divide who see only negatives let us respond together that we can be visionary and innovative. We can grasp for our future. Let us all remember that El Pasoans work best when we work together.”

TxDOT Holds Public Meeting To Discuss New Park Entrance


The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) El Paso District will conduct a Public Meeting for the proposed Franklin Mountains State Park entrance project on: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Canutillo High School 6675 South Desert Boulevard, El Paso TX 79932 
The public meeting will be conducted in an open-house format. Those wishing to attend are encouraged to do so at their convenience between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Maps of the project area and other displays will be available for review and comment. TxDOT staff will be available to answer questions. All handouts will be presented in English and Spanish. Parking will be available in the school parking lot.

The purpose of the meeting is to provide information about the proposed project and gather input from the public. The proposed project would consist of reconstructing the existing entrance from Loop 375 into the Tom Mays Unit of the Franklin Mountains State Park. The project was initiated due to concern expressed by the public and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) regarding safety and access to the park.

After evaluating several alternatives, TxDOT and TPWD determined that reconstructing the existing entrance to include grade-separated access from the Loop 375 frontage roads would be the preferable build option. The proposed design would depress the park entrance below the Loop 375 mainlanes. This proposal would allow for safe ingress and egress into and out of the Tom Mays Unit, maintain traffic flow on Loop 375, and provide pedestrian crossings under the Loop 375 mainlanes.

Persons interested in attending the Public Meeting that have special communication or accommodation needs are encouraged to contact the TxDOT El Paso District Public Information Officer, Blanca Del Valle, at (915) 790-4200 at least two working days before the meeting. TxDOT will make all reasonable efforts to accommodate special needs as requested. 

Written comments from the public regarding this project are encouraged. Comments may be submitted either at the Public Meeting or within 10 days after the meeting. Written comments may be emailed to the following address: Blanton & Associates, Attn: Loop 375 at the Franklin Mountains State Park Entrance, 5 Lakeway Centre Court, Suite 200, Austin TX 78734. Comments may also be e-mailed to ELP-FMSParkEntrance@txdot.gov.

Comments must be postmarked on or before Saturday, April 20, 2013 to be included as part of the public record. If you have any questions or would like to discuss the project in more detail, please contact Ms. Martha Gandara, TxDOT Project Manager, at (915) 790-4255.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Printable Newsletter


Printable version of the January 2013 FMWC Newsletter is available at www.FranklinMountains.org .

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Word from the President January 2013

Dear Friends of the Franklin Mountains,

Welcome to 2013!!

As the new year unfolds, FMWC will be holding its annual meeting with a twist.   We will be partnering with the Friends of the Rio Bosque to celebrate not only the mountains but the wetlands as well.  Both organizations will hold short business meetings, followed by dinner and then a group of exciting speakers.  Dr. Cesar Mendez, Superintendent of the Franklin Mountains State Park will update us on events within the park.  This will be followed by Deidre Hisler who will talk with us about the Franklin Mountains State Park as it fits into the larger scheme of the State Park System.  We will also be honored to have John Sproul, manager of the Rio Bosque Wetlands Park, inform us of exciting changes and opportunities coming to Rio Bosque.  It should be an exciting evening with a chance to meet friends and learn more about our parks.  Both organizations will also be holding their elections of officers.
We will need everyone to RSVP so that we can provide the restaurant with an accurate count of who will attend.  Please contact Scott Cutler at 581-6071 with your RSVP or any questions.
I do hope you will be able to join us.

Sincerely,
Scott Cutler,
President, Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition


Event Details:

When: Wednesday, January 23
Time: from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.
Location: Ardovino’s Desert Crossing in Sunland Park, New Mexico
We have arranged for four items on Ardovino’s regular menu.  These include:
  1. Chicken Vincenza - roasted chicken breast marinated in mustard with chile-infused olive oil, caramelized brussel sprouts with bacon & tomato - $20;
  2. Lasagna Nove - ayered grilled zucchini, squash, eggplant, ricotta, mozzarella, parmigiano, with sweet Italian sausage, ground beef with house marinara, served with asparagus - $18;
  3. Stuffed Salmon - pan-seared Atlantic salmon stuffed with herbed goat cheese over toasted pearl pasta with parmigiano, fresh tomato piccata and asparagus - $24;
  4. Red Mender’s Tender - grilled 8 ounce, red wine-marinated tenderloin fillet on gorgonzola potato gratin with a Bordelaise sauce and asparagus - $31.
Drinks, salads and desserts are extra and the gratuity is 20% because of the large group.  Payment will be made by each diner at the event.

El Paso Museum of Archaeology January 2013 Exhibits & Programs

Walking with the Ancestors: From Mesoamerica to the Southwest.
Extended through March 24, 2013

Dr. Yolanda Chávez Leyva curated this exhibit about the connections among peoples across time and space from ancient Mesoamerica to the American Southwest and an altar illustrating the journey to Mictlan in commemoration of El Día de los Muertos. This exhibit was created in collaboration with the Department of History at the University of Texas at El Paso and Museo Urbano, a public history project of UTEP.
Free Admission


Membership Appreciation Party
Saturday, January 12, 2013, 2:00 to 4:00 pm

Membership is your admission ticket to this party.  Your membership helps bring the fascinating 14,000 years of El Paso prehistory to families, children and adults.  You receive discounts in the museum store, on camps and events, invitations to member-only events, and other benefits at higher levels. Memberships start at $15 for students, $20 for seniors, $40 for families. More membership rates and info from 915-755-4332, enriquezrx@elpasotexas.gov


Native American Storytelling
Saturday, January 19, 2013, 4 to 7 pm

Advanced registration and payment required before 3:00 pm, January 18, 2013.  Gather on the museum’s grounds as storyteller Alex Mares tells stories of Pottery, Coyote and the Night Sky from Navajo, Pueblo, and Apache tribes and leads an exploration of the night sky.  Recommended for adults and children over 4 years, bring chair and flashlight for each person. Space for 85 people, registration packet and info from Curator of Education, Marilyn Guida, 915-755-4332 or guidamr@elpasotexas.gov
Admission fees per person:
Museum Members: $2.00 ages 4-12;
$4.00 ages 13 and above
Non-Members: $4.00 ages 4-12
$6.00 ages 13 and above

El Paso Museum of Archaeology
4301 Transmountain Road, El Paso Texas 79924;
915-755-4332;
guidamr@elpasotexas.gov;
www.elpasotexas.gov/arch_museum/
Closed Mondays and City Holidays

2013 Franklin Mountains Poppies Fest on Castner Range planned for March 23

Sign up to be a volunteer, exhibitor or vendor 

The seventh annual 2013 Poppies Celebration on Castner Range will take place on Saturday, March 23 at the El Paso Museum of Archaeology at 4301 Transmountain Road. The day will feature a full program of nature talks, wildlife displays, educational exhibits, demonstrations, live wolf, Houdini the Harris Hawk, children’s activity center, music and refreshments. Everyone is welcome to come out and enjoy the beauty of the mountains and the poppies during this free educational family fun event.

What: 2013 Franklin Mountains Poppies Celebration on Castner Range
When: Saturday March 23, 2012
Time: 10am – 4pm
Where: El Paso Museum of  Archaeology (4301 Transmountain Road)

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for this event please contact Sylvia Price at slyfox7tx@att.net.

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor or vendor for this event please contact Lisa Gutierrez at 915-269-1239 or lisamarie177@juno.com.

Free Admission and Parking at El Paso Community College NE Campus. Also free Shuttle service provided from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm.

This event celebrates the marvelous open space in Northeast El Paso where we frequently enjoy a stunning spring display of our native Mexican Gold poppies. This festival is an opportunity to enjoy our beautiful outdoors while learning about all our mountains and desert have to offer. It takes place on the 15-acre grounds of the El Paso Museum of Archaeology. The museum’s Chihuahuan Desert Gardens boast examples of more than 200 native plants.

Castner Range is a former artillery range known for its cultural, geologic and unique biology. If the rain and weather cooperate, it is most known for its beautiful and vast display of Mexican Poppies in the spring.

Friends of the Rio Bosque

The Friends of the Rio Bosque is the volunteer-support group for Rio Bosque Wetlands Park. The Friends are active in all aspects of the park, from education programs, to outreach, to ecosystem management, to faunal monitoring, to fundraising, to advocacy.

Vision
Rio Bosque Wetlands Park will be a unique natural landscape where visitors from throughout the Paso del Norte region and the world experience first-hand the biologically rich ecosystems once found in our river valley, learn about those ecosystems, and become inspired to be careful stewards of our natural world.

Mission
Our mission is to provide the volunteer support needed to make Rio Bosque Wetlands Park a world-class nature park through active involvement in the Park’s habitat-restoration, education, research, public outreach, advocacy and fundraising programs.

More at www.riobosque.org

TX Master Naturalists Class

The Trans Pecos Chapter of the TX Master Naturalists is accepting applications for their 2013 class which runs from February to May.  If you are interested in working with one of the friendliest and most fun groups around, please contact Matt Santillan at msantill@ag.tamu.edu, 860-2515 for details.

Welcome Trinity First United Methodist Men!

FMWC’s newest Member Organization is Trinity First United Methodist Men.  Their representative to our Coalition, Rodney Smith, explains that the Methodist Men have been serving our community for decades, helping families and individuals in need.  If you would like more information, contact Rodney at 915-755-0110 or RJDPKM@aol.com

We now have 31 local non-profit/civic organizational members of the FMWC.  These organizations support our efforts to preserve and protect our Franklin Mountains and designate a representative to serve on the FMWC Board.  If you know of an organization that might be interested in joining, please contact judy Ackerman, 915-755-7371 or jpackerman@gmail.com.