May 2011

Contents:

FMWC Next Meeting

NEWS

Transmountain Corridor

Petitions

Castner Range

FMSP NEWS

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Ardovino’s Dessert Crossing Farmers’ Market

El Paso Museum of Archaeology

Free Tours of the Museum

2011 Summer Archaeology Day Camps

New Mexico Wilderness Alliance:

Track Your Wild Path:

Organ Mountains Plein Air Painting Workshop:

LONE STAR LEGACY

FMWC IN CYBERSPACE

FMWC BOARD

Next Meeting: WEDNESDAY, May 18, 2011

MEETING LOCATION: Our meeting will be held at The Garden Center, Memorial Park, 3105 Grant St. from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Map:
http://www.cichlidpress.com/elpasocactusclub/graphics/gardencenter.jpg

NEWS

Transmountain Corridor:

Austin law firm of Loweree, Frederick, Perales, Allmon & Rockwell submitted comments on behalf of the El Paso Regional Group (Rio Grande Chapter) of the Sierra Club on April 1, 2011, to TxDOT regarding TxDOT’s recently submitted Environmental Assessment (EA) of the proposed Transmountain Freeway Project. The law firm noted that the EA failed to adequately analyze the noise, visual, vegetation, wildlife, and cumulative urbanization-inducing impacts of the proposed Project. The EA also did not take a “hard look” at the impacts to Franklin Mountain State Park which “Section 4(f)” of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regarding “parkland” requires. These failings, viewed individually or, especially, in sum, result in an EA that cannot justify the “will not impact” conclusion the TxDOT EA reaches and cannot be accepted because it is unsupported. A full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) must be prepared.

The law firm comments were prepared in collaboration with David Simon, who served as the Director of the New Mexico State Park System from 2003 through 2010 and is a recognized authority on the impacts of urbanization on high-desert terrains and, especially, on parks in those terrains.

Word from Jim Tolbert on the petitions to preserve land in the Transmountain Corridor: “Keep collecting and asking others to collect. We are over 1548 – but those have not been checked and we can bet that many are not valid. Please get me petitions as you can so we can check them and not have to rush through them all at once. “ Petitions are available for downloading at our website.

Castner Range (Richard Teschner, Castner Conservation Conveyance Committee):

Texas House, Senate Pass FMWC/Frontera “4-C’s”-Sponsored Resolution Supporting Conservation of Castner Range

Thursday, May 5, 2011. Austin, Texas. Today the Texas State Senate unanimously passed a resolution which expressed its support for the conservation of El Paso’s eleven-square-mile/7,000-plus-acre Castner Range, a “closed” U.S. Army property between the eastern boundary of the Franklin Mountain State Park and the U.S. 54 Patriot Freeway. And two days earlier the Texas House of Representatives passed—also unanimously—an identical resolution supporting the conservation of Castner Range.

The resolution was written and promoted by the members of the joint Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition/Frontera Land Alliance “Castner Conservation Conveyance Committee” (aka “the 4-C’s”)—members Judy Ackerman, Steve Bonner (SONRI Corporation), Scott Cutler, Doug Echlin, Mike Gaglio, John Moses, Richard Teschner, Kevin Von Finger and Pat White. In the House, the resolution was sponsored by District 77 Representative Marisa Márquez (D-El Paso, ably assisted by her Chief of Staff Haley Greer); in the Senate the resolution was moved forward by State Senator José Rodríguez (D-El Paso), his Chief of Staff Corinne Chacón and his office’s Communications Director Emily Amps Mora. The 4-C’s greatly appreciate the support and hard work of Representative Márquez and Senator Rodríguez and their staffs. Ongoing efforts toward our common goals are being aided by a $300,000 Office of Economic Adjustment/Department of Defense grant to collect data concerning the application of a conservation conveyance onto the area. The grant was obtained for the 4-C’s in 2009 by U.S. Congressman Silvestre Reyes (D-El Paso), who was honored with Frontera’s “Rock Solid” award at its annual “Taste of Frontera” celebration in February 2010.

The joint resolution runs to over two pages and makes points that the readers of this newsletter have long been familiar with: that under the stewardship of the U.S. Army, Castner has been allowed to rest in its natural state since 1971, when munitions operations ceased; that since 1995 (and in particular recently) the Army has been clearing old artillery rounds from Castner’s surface; that the range contains “some of the most geologically complex and visually striking parts of the Franklins and is prized for its Mexican gold poppy”; that Castner is “the only known site in Texas where several rare plants can be found” as well as “the greatest concentration of springs in the Franklins”; that the El Paso City Council and the El Paso County

Commissioners Court have unanimously passed resolutions in recent years advocating that Castner be left undeveloped and conserved for recreational use; and that “the Franklin Mountains State Park management plan takes the range into account, envisioning a network of trails in the canyons and lower elevations.”

The joint resolution stipulated that the chief clerk of the House and of the Senate “forward official copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to the commanding general of Fort Bliss, to the secretary of the U.S. Department of Defense, to the president of the [U.S.] Senate and the speaker of the House of Representatives … and to all the members of the Texas delegation to Congress.”

FRANKLIN MOUNTAINS STATE PARK NEWS (John Nunez)

Greetings all from the crown jewel of El Paso: Franklin Mtns. State Park!

The latest news obviously at the park and all state parks is the issue regarding the state budget crisis. All park staff are waiting to hear how each park will be affected by the budget crisis. There have been rumours of park closures, but there will be no speculation till the park managers get the official word by June 1st to see how exactly the parks will be affected. We are hoping for the best.

Business as usual at the park. Park staff have been kept busy with the steady flow of people coming out to enjoy all the wonders the park has to offer. With increased visitation, however, there can be some negative consequences. After the crowd left on Easter, there was a great deal of trash that needed to be cleaned and picked up. Park Ranger Felipe Camacho was busy doing cleanup all day after Easter.

A major problem we are facing is the destruction of the Ron Coleman trail and the overall destruction of Smuggler's

Canyon. Unfortunately, when people hike the Ron Coleman trail they rarely stay on the trail causing several offshoot trails that are extremely dangerous. Another set back is after all the hard work we have done to repair the switchbacks and erosion barriers, they have been destroyed by people trying to make shortcuts. Some damage is the result of people being absolutely irresponsible with the mindset of "let’s go out and destroy everything we see in sight." The enclosed pictures* will show exactly what we are dealing with. Signs have been ripped out, some have been tagged with graffiti and some have been kicked and broken to pieces. As the pictures show, "graffiti artists" have left their mark. Another major problem we are experiencing is when military training occurs on the Coleman trail. Some soldiers have been disrespectful to park staff and park volunteers when they are approached about not staying on trail or for not paying the park use fee. Some have been caught hiking off trail and leaving empty US Govt. sand bags. We are not specifically targeting any group of people, but these are just some of the examples of the destruction that has been continuously occurring on the Coleman trail.

Another target area is the newly opened trailhead at North Hills. Park staff and volunteers have witnessed first hand people coming through parts of the fence that have been cut. Others have been seen walking right past the kiosk and pay station making rude comments about paying. What people don't realize is that area was set to be developed. The majority of the park's funding comes from the entrance fees.

All of us at Franklin have been working with each other to help improve the signage all around the park. Park rangers have been finishing up the trailhead kiosks and are near completion. Also new park trail signage will be installed in the Northeast side and all the signs at Tom Mays are currently being repaired.

It is that time of the year where all of us are busy with tours. Lately there have been large school groups attending the tours that we offer at Franklin. Tours are an excellent opportunity to teach people of all ages the many benefits that await them when they come out and hike in the Franklin Mountains. For many, it is the first time they have ever hiked in the Franklins. All park staff take pride in teaching people all that they can do to enjoy nature in their backyard.

With so much going on at the park and across the state, we are always busy and rarely is there ever a dull moment. Every day is different with many challenges ahead, but all of us at Franklin Mtn. State Park will continue working hard and take advantage of the fact that we leave the at the end of the day feeling a sense of great accomplishment.

*Photos available in our e-newsletter.


More FRANKLIN MOUNTAINS STATE PARK NEWS

All the latest news and information about upcoming events at the Park are available at the Park’s great website. Check it out!!


MARK YOUR CALENDARS


Starting 28 May, Every Saturday, 7am - Noon

Ardovino’s Dessert Crossing Farmers’ Market

Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition has had great success with our booth at Ardovino’s Dessert Crossing Farmers’ Market on Saturday mornings from 7am to noon. This year we will team with The Frontera Land Alliance to share the booth. You can join in the fun by helping to staff the booth. FMWC President Scott Cutler is working with Richard Teschner of the Frontera Board to coordinate volunteering activities. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Richard at teschner@utep.edu. He will send you the sign-up sheet which indicates the dates that are still open.


El Paso Museum of Archaeology

Exhibit, Programs, Tours

May – August 2011

El Paso Museum of Archaeology Continuing Exhibit extended through October 9, 2011:

Settlement Legacy: Native Americans of the Pass of the North

Free Admission

Guest Curator Nicholas P. Houser, local anthropologist and historian, tells the dramatic story of the Manso, Suma, Piro, and Tigua Indians who, over four centuries ago, founded the missions and pueblos that evolved into today’s sister cities, El Paso-Ciudad Juárez.


Sunday, May 15, 2011

Dr. Mario Garza speaking on the Coahuiltecans: The Struggle for Legitimacy in a Hispanic World

This lecture is presented by the El Paso Archaeological Society in partnership with the El Paso Museum of Archaeology and is made possible in part by a grant from Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Specifically, the award has been drawn from a federal grant made available through We the People, an initiative designed by the National Endowment for the Humanities to strengthen the teaching, study, and understanding of American history and culture.


Free Tours of the Museum

Saturday, May 14, 2011, 1:00 pm

Museum Tour for Adults

Saturday, May 21, 2011, 1:00 pm

Museum Tour for Families with Elementary-School Age Children

Sunday, May 22, 2011, 2:00 pm, Free Admission

Zip Tour of the Settlement Legacy exhibit

Free Lecture with Sign Language interpreters for the hearing impaired at 2:00 pm in conjunction with the exhibit:

2011 Summer Archaeology Day Camps

9 am to 12 pm, Tuesday through Friday

For ages 7 to 9 years/Grades 2-4 (must have completed first grade)


June 28 to July 1 or July 26 to 29

For ages 10 to 12 years/Grades 5-7, July 12-15 or August 9-12

An interactive, hands-on course about the science of archaeology and the prehistory of the Americas held on the museum’s grounds and in the galleries with a field trip (to be announced). Cost $70 for non-members, $55 for museum members per child. Space is limited to 12 students per camp. Registration taken on a first come, first served basis. For information and registration form: 915-755-4332 or guidamr@elpasotexas.gov.


June 11, 10:00 am

Master Gardeners/Master Naturalists Speaker To Be Announced, Free Admission.


June 19, 2:00 pm

El Paso Archaeological Society, speaker, Dr. Arthur Harris, Professor of Biology, UTEP, Free Admission


August 13, 10:00 am,

Master Gardeners/Master Naturalists, speaker Dr. Corral, Free Admission

August 13, 2:00 pm,

Family Workshop with Ceiba, Exploring the Music of the Americas, Free Admission


August 21, 2:00 pm,

El Paso Archaeological Society, speaker to be announced

Year Round:

Teachers and Group Leaders: Schedule a Free Tour of the museum for your School or Group with two weeks advance reservation, call 915-755-4332


New Mexico Wilderness Alliance:

If you haven't already picked up a copy of the 2011 Wild Guide, now's the time. Don't miss out on any more action! Order your guide online or contact craig@nmwild.org because just a few of these fun-packed, beautifully designed books are left!


Track Your Wild Path:

May 22 in Santa Fe - This free family event at Santa Fe's Museum Hill features interactive art projects with local artist Daniel Richmond. Get to know the endangered animals that inhabit our state's wild lands. Plus get free admission to Santa Fe museums! Learn more online or contact demis@nmwild.org

Organ Mountains Plein Air Painting Workshop:

May 20-21

Student art show to follow May 22 -

Let yourself be inspired by the stunning backdrop of the Organ Mountains at this outdoor painting workshop taught by critically acclaimed local artists Bonnie Mandoe and Nancy Begin. Beginning to intermediate painters of all ages encouraged to attend. The class will be held at beautiful Aguirre Springs Recreation Area outside Las Cruces; lunch will be provided Friday and Saturday.

Learn more & get registration info online or email Bonnie at bdmandoe@gmail.com

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: Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, Attention: Lone Star Legacy, P.O. Box 191207, Dallas, TX, 75219. Mark your donation to the endowment fund for Franklin Mountains State Park.

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.

Many of you also receive the paper version of this newsletter. If you wish to help us save paper and postage by receiving the e-newsletter only, contact: j.p.ackerman@sbcglobal.net.

FMWC BOARD

President: Scott Cutler

Vice President: Jane Fowler

Secretary: Judy Ackerman

Treasurer: Pat White

At Large Members:

Raul Amaya

Nick Havlik

March 2011

NEWSLETTER
March 2011

Contents:
FMWC Next Meeting
Message From Our President
Petition Drive And North West Open Space
5th Annual Poppies Celebration 2011
Poppies Schedule Of Events
Volunteer For Poppies!
Borderland Mountain Bike Association
Teaming With Wildlife
Park News
Mark Your Calendars
Poppies Day Proclamation
TXDOT Public Hearing Transmountain Rd
El Paso Museum Of Archaeology:
Earth Day Celebrations
FMWC Board
Lone Star Legacy
FMWC In Cyberspace


NEXT MEETING: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. THURSDAY, March 17, 2011

MEETING LOCATION: The Garden Center, Memorial Park, 3105 Grant Map:
http://www.cichlidpress.com/elpasocactusclub/graphics/gardencenter.jpg


MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT, Scott Cutler

First, I would like to thank all who were able to attend the annual meeting in January. It was one of the largest crowds we have had in quite a few years and I hope everyone enjoyed the company and the presentation by Steve Bonner. He updated us on the current status of the federal grant to study how a conservation conveyance can be applied to surplus military properties. It is hoped this will translate to a mechanism that will permit Castner Range to be preserved as open space.

I would like to take this opportunity thank our out-going at-large board members Jim Tolbert and Matt Carroll for their service to the group and participation in the board meetings. Their help is much appreciated.

Please welcome our two new at-large members: Raul Amaya and Nick Havelick. We greatly appreciate their willingness to attend the bi-monthly board meetings and participate in the board’s decision making processes and look forward to working with them in the coming year.

It is hard to believe but the 5th annual Poppies celebration is fast approaching. Please see the information below about how you can help make this event a success. It is a huge undertaking and volunteers are always needed. If you have time to help out, please do. In any case, I hope you will be able to come and enjoy this important event that keeps the idea of preserving Castner Range as open space at the forefront of everyone’s minds.


PETITION DRIVE AND NORTH WEST OPEN SPACE
For the latest information on this topic, check Jim Tolbert’s Blog, elpasonaturally.


5TH ANNUAL POPPIES CELEBRATION 2011

Franklin Mountains Poppies Preservation Celebration, takes place on Saturday, March 26, 2011at the El Paso Museum of Archaeology, 4301 Transmountain Road. Free parking is at EPCC NE Campus on Gateway North. NO parking for the public at the museum or on Transmountain Road! We have ADA Free Shuttle service from EPCC NE Campus to Museum 9:30 am to 6:30 pm.2011 marks the fifth year for the Franklin Mountains Poppies Preservation Celebration – a FREE Family Fun Event that will include a full day of programming with Children’s Activity Center, nature talks and walks, wildlife displays and visits with a real wolf and a Golden Eagle, educational exhibits, demonstrations, art vendors, film festival, live music and food. El Pasoans care deeply about the Franklin Mountains – one of our area’s greatest assets. We are frequently blessed with a stunning wildflower display over particular parts of the Franklin Mountains when the Mexican golden poppies burst forth on Castner Range. In addition to the poppies, the Festival is an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful outdoors and all our mountains have to offer. The grounds of the El Paso Museum of Archaeology boast examples of more than 200 native plants. Witness unparalleled views of the Franklin Mountains, the Hueco Bolson that stretches from the Franklin east to the Hueco Mountains, and on clear days, Mt. Sierra Blanca.

This spectacular event is made possible by our sponsors: El Paso Electric, El Paso Natural Gas, El Paso Regional Economic Development Corporation (REDCo), El Paso Community College, El Paso Times, El Paso Natural Gas, Bowen Ranch, COSTCO, Slakabilly, Texas Commission on the Arts, and Ysleta del Sur Pueblo.

Organizing sponsors include Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition, El Paso Archaeological Society, El Paso Cactus and Rock Club, El Paso County Master Gardeners, El Paso Museum and Cultural Affairs Department, El Paso Museum of Archaeology, El Paso Native Plant Society, El Paso/Trans-Pecos Audubon Society, El Paso Water Utilities, El Paso Zoo, Environmental Protection Agency, Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition, Friends Of The Rio Bosque, League Of Women Voters Of El Paso, Rio Grande Council of Governments, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Trans Pecos Chapter Of The Texas Master Naturalists, United Inter-Tribal Nations.Everyone is welcome to come out and enjoy the beauty of the mountains and the poppies during this FREE Family Fun event. For more information, please call the El Paso Museum of Archaeology at (915) 755-4332. Check http://www.franklinmountains.org/ for the latest information.


SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 2011 FRANKLIN MOUNTAINS POPPIES PRESERVATION CELEBRATION:

Outside Activities:
10am-4pm Information Exhibitors10am-6pm Art VendorsLeyton Cougar with Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary in Ramah, New Mexico will have a socialized live wolf from his sanctuary at the celebration.

At the Bandstand (under the carport):
10am-10:30am Welcome Presentations from Event Committee and Public Officials
10:30am United Inter Tribal Nations morning blessing with traditional drum and dance
11 am Special Presentation by the Southwest Environmental Education Center
Noon Ysleta del Sur Pueblo traditional drum and dance1pm Ceiba, Native Folk Music
2pm Cheryl Garing, Plants of the Franklin Mountains
2:30pm Katherine Palafox, Keep El Paso Beautiful
3pm Rick LoBello and Meet Takota, The El Paso Zoo's new Golden Eagle Ambassador for Conservation of the Chihuahuan Desert, Why we need to save the Castner Range and how you can help.
4pm-6pm Slackabilly (Band)

Children’s Activity Center (Gazebo) 11 – 4:
Continuous fun, educational activates for children of all ages including sand art, potato stamps and beanbag toss. Face painting all day in the Exhibit area.
Feature Activities:
11:00am – Journal Making
1:00pm – Basket Making

Tours - All tours will be on the Museum grounds and last less than an hour. The start point - the gazebo.
10:00am Indian Uses of our Desert sponsored by the Museum of Archaeology
11:00am Identification of Native Plants sponsored by the El Paso Native Plant Society
12:00pm Indian Uses of our Desert sponsored by the Museum of Archaeology
1:00pm West TX Cacti Tour El Paso sponsored by the Cactus and Rock Club
2:00pm Indian Uses of our Desert sponsored by the Museum of Archaeology
3:00pm Identification of Native Plants sponsored by the El Paso Native Plant Society
4:00pm Indian Uses of our Desert sponsored by the Museum of Archaeology
5:00pm West TX Cacti Tour sponsored by the El Paso Cactus and Rock Club

Inside Film Activities:
10 am–11am - Lords of Nature: Life in a Land of Great Predators, Green Fire Productions 11am-noon – Legends of El Paso Mountains, CAPSTONE PRODUCTIONS INC.
Noon –1pm – What is the Future for Castner Range? By FMWC.
1pm-2pm – El Paso’s Mount Cristo Rey, CAPSTONE PRODUCTIONS INC.
2pm – 3pm – Lords of Nature: Life in a Land of Great Predators, Green Fire Productions
3pm-4pm - Ghost Stories of El Paso Vol. 2, CAPSTONE PRODUCTIONS INC. (1 hr) w


VOLUNTEER FOR POPPIES!

We are calling for Volunteers for 5th Annual Franklin Mountains Poppies Preservation Celebration on Castner Range. This is a great opportunity to acquire volunteer hours AND be an integral part of this fun filled event. Please fill out volunteer applications available at the El Paso Museum of Archaeology website: http://www.ci.el-paso.tx.us/arch_museum/ and return them to Socorro Diamondstein: diamondsteinsq@elpasotexas.gov or drop-off at: Museums and Cultural Affairs Dept, City Hall, 1st Floor, 2 Civic Center Plaza, El Paso, Texas 79901. For more information call Socorro at (915) 541-4481.

Volunteer Duties Include:
• Direct people to the shuttle loading areas
• Parking lot attendants
• Food vendor assistants (helping serve Buffalo Stew, must have a food handler’s card)
• Assist event goers to separate and recycle their trash
• Assist children of all ages with arts and crafts activities
• Help exhibitors to set up and/or tear down their exhibit spaces
• Shuttle bus tour guide as event attendees travel from the parking lot to the event (a script is provided).


BORDERLAND MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION:

The Borderland Mountain Bike Association has been quietly working in the background on a few projects. Our biggest project is about to become a reality as the city has allowed us to construct a parking lot at the end of Redd Rd. near the water tanks. This will be a nice addition to the area as parking at this time is limited to the road or the dentist office. Parking on the road will not be possible when Helen of Troy is completed. The lot will have 27 spaces and the club will be installing signage to the trails and a trail map will be installed next to the water tanks. Financial donors to this project will have their name printed on the map/information kiosk. If you would like to donate, contact Brent Sanders at brentep@yahoo.com.

Geobetty.com, the title sponsor of January's Puzzler race has officially launched their website. It is really cool in that it provides printable and downloadable maps of all the great rides and hikes in El Paso. They are also hosting their first virtual race where anyone can enter for free! Just register at geobetty.com, upload the race file to your gps device, go ride the route as fast as you can, and send your new file back to geobetty between March 7 and April 30. They are giving away a $100 prize to one lucky contestant. Also, if you have a favorite ride that you don't see on their website, upload it from your gps device onto their page and become a contributor to the new site.

The Coyote Classic is coming AGAIN March 20! For 20 something years the Coyote Classic has been the opening event for the New Mexico Off Road Series. The courses are currently available on geobetty. Early registration ends March 14. Register http://www.newmexicosportsonline.com/events/details.aspx?id=213
BMBA Blog: http://bmba.wordpress.com/


TEAMING WITH WILDLIFE:

Fish and wildlife conservation have been on the funding chopping block. Please consider Teaming with Wildlife, a coalition of more than 6,300 organizations supporting increased public funding for wildlife conservation and related education and recreation. Organization membership will help ensure that state wildlife agencies and their conservation partners have the funding they need to fully implement their wildlife action plans, conserving wildlife and natural areas for future generations. Go to https://tex.tpwd.state.tx.us/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.teaming.com for more details.


PARK NEWS (John Nunez)

Well, it certainly has been busy, yet lots fun here at Franklin Mountains State Park! This last weekend all of us at the park were happy to be a part of the Texas Outdoor Family Program. Hosted by Texas Parks and Wildlife, this event was all about teaching families how to be well prepared for a successful camping trip. Ten local families, (approximately 40 people), participated in the event which included courses on how to cook in the outdoors, set up camp and enjoy nature responsibly. For those that have never had the opportunity to enjoy the wonders of camping, this event was the perfect introduction to camping in the great outdoors. Parks and Wildlife staff Cassie and Lindsey from the Austin and Dallas areas hosted the event and provided tents, lanterns, camp stoves and water to the families that participated. Park volunteers George Murray and Richard Love also helped out with the set up and photography of the event.

In preparation for the event, Park staff has been working for the past month on the conversion of some of the picnic sites near the Aztec Cave trailhead and at the end loop near the Schaeffer Shuffle trailhead into campsites. Ten picnic sites are now set up with tent pads for campers increasing our campsite availability to 15 campsites. Hard work it was, but a great deal of fun and a great workout for all of us that were on the project!


Obviously there is a new look to the park lately with the extra campsites but that has not been the only addition to the park. The Lower Sunset, West Cottonwood, Aztec Cave, Nature Walk, Upper Sunset and Schaeffer Shuffle trailhead kiosks are now complete! Lead ranger Robert Pichardo recently installed the interpretive panels that display information and maps in English and Spanish giving the trailheads a polished look.
Now that the days are starting to warm up, more and more people are coming out to enjoy all that the park has to offer. Lately park volunteers Robert Cosell, George Murray, and Heath Shawhart, have been giving tours on the weekends mostly to folks who have never visited the Franklin Mountains before. Park staff, along with the much appreciated help from dedicated volunteers, has led guided tours to some of the area’s schools.
It is rewarding to see more people come out and enjoy El Paso’s natural wonder for the first time. It is often heard from people who live in El Paso say that they had never visited the park before. It is the goal of all of us that work and volunteer at the park to encourage people to come out and enjoy a hike through their park.

Please see our e-newsletter for photos of the recent activities at the park provided by volunteer Richard Love. Enjoy!


MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Tuesday, Mar. 15, 2011:
El Paso City Council will proclaim March 26, 2011 as “Franklin Mountains Poppies Preservation Day”. Join us at City Hall by 9:00 a.m. to show your support for preserving Castner Range, the only place in Texas where Mexican Gold Poppies bloom.

Tuesday, Mar. 22, 2011:
Public Hearing - Loop 375 TransMountain Rd. Project I-10 to east of the Franklin Mountain State Park Entrance. The Open House starts at 6 p.m. and the Public Hearing starts at 7 p.m. The location is Canutillo High School Cafeteria, 6675 South Desert Blvd. El Paso, TX.

Your participation is critical to ensure the Transmountain road expansion meets the needs of El Pasoans. How do YOU want this road to look? TXDOT is asking for your comments.

This is not a Question and Answer session. TXDOT will give a briefing and ask for your comments, verbally or in writing. You do not have to be present to comment. See the TXDOT website http://www.txdot.gov/public_involvement/hearings_meetings/elp_375_032211.htm for more details.

TXDOT: “The purpose of the hearing is to provide information about the proposed improvements to Loop 375 from I-10 to east of the Franklin Mountains State Park entrance, a distance that includes approximately 3.6 miles of main lanes and approximately 2.10 miles of frontage roads (from Northwestern Drive to Paseo Del Norte Drive).

The proposed improvements will consist of expanding the current two-lane undivided roadway to a four-lane divided roadway with two-lane frontage roads. The improvements also include grade separated intersections at Northwestern Drive, Resler Drive, Plexxar Drive and Paseo del Norte Drive as well as two direct connectors from Loop 375 west to I-10 east and from I-10 west to Loop 375 east. As part of this project shared hike-and-bike trail will be constructed separate from the roadways, near the Loop 375 right-of-way line, between the intersections of Northwestern Drive and Paseo del Norte Drive. Access to the LP 375 main lanes and frontage roads will be by means of entrance and exit ramps at various locations between intersections. The right-of-way (ROW) footprint and geometric design provides for expansion to six main lanes from Northwestern Drive to east of Paseo del Norte Drive.”


EL PASO MUSEUM OF ARCHAEOLOGY:

Teachers and Group Leaders: Schedule a Free Tour of the museum for your School or Group with two weeks advance reservation, call 915-755-4332

El Paso Museum of Archaeology Continuing Exhibit through August 14, 2011:
Settlement Legacy: Native Americans of the Pass of the North
Free Admission - Guest Curator Nicholas P. Houser, local anthropologist and historian, tells the dramatic story of the Manso, Suma, Piro, and Tigua Indians who, over four centuries ago, founded the missions and pueblos that evolved into today’s sister cities, El Paso-Ciudad Juárez.

Three Free Lectures at 2:00 pm in conjunction with the exhibit:
Saturday, March 12, 2011, Nicholas P. Houser, Guest Curator, speaking on the Manso, Suma, Piro, and Tigua Indian settlements of El Paso-Ciudad Juárez

Saturday, April 2, 2011, Dr. David Carmichael speaking on the origins and migrations of the Mescalero Apache

Sunday, May 15, 2011, Dr. Mario Garza speaking on the Coahuiltecans: The Struggle for Legitimacy in a Hispanic World

Saturday, March 19, 2011, 1:00 pm, Free Admission

Museum Tour for Adults - These free one-hour, docent-led tours of the El Paso Museum of Archaeology will introduce participants to the people of El Paso’s ancient past from the Paleoindians who lived here 14,000 years ago to the Mescalero Apache people of today. Visitors will also see prehistoric artifacts from several regions of México. To enjoy the gardens, wear suitable clothing, shoes, and sun protection.
Reservations are not necessary but contact the museum if you plan to attend, 915-755-4332; guidamr@elpasotexas.gov.

March 15-18, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Spring Archaeology Camp, $70 per child for non-members, $55 per child for members
For children 7 to 12 years old, child must have completed first grade, pottery making and other activities, limited to twelve students, advanced paid registration required, contact for registration form and payment: 915-755-4332; guidamr@elpasotexas.gov

March 20, 2011, 2:00 pm, Free Admission
El Paso Archaeological Society Speaker:
Larry Baron speaking on the Tarahumara/Anasazi Connection


April 2, 2011: The City of El Paso Environmental Services Department is sponsoring a funfilled family day and educational event to kick-off Earth Day Celebrations in El Paso. Our event will be free and open to the general public. It will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Album Park, 3001 Parkwood Drive in East El Paso. The outdoor event aims to promote recycling, waste reduction and the preservation of the environment and of our natural resources.


FMWC BOARD

President: Scott Cutler
Vice President: Jane Fowler
Secretary: Judy Ackerman
Treasurer: Pat White
At Large Members: Raul Amaya and Nick Havelick


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: Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, Attention: Lone Star Legacy, P.O. Box 191207, Dallas, TX, 75219. Mark your donation to the endowment fund for Franklin Mountains State Park.


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.
Many of you also receive the paper version of this newsletter. If you wish to help us save paper and postage by receiving the e-newsletter only, contact: j.p.ackerman@sbcglobal.net.


The Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition:

Borderland Mountain Bike Association * Border Toasters, Toastmasters International * Celebration of Our Mountains * Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition * Chihuahuan Desert Wildlife Rescue * El Paso Archaeological Society * El Paso Cactus and Rock Club * El Paso Native Plant Society * El Paso Regional Group of the Sierra Club * El Paso/Trans-Pecos Audubon Society *El Paso Youth Symphony * Friends of the Rio Bosque *Jolly Elders * League of Women Voters of El Paso * Mesilla Valley Audubon Society * Mountain Park Community Association * Photography Enthusiasts of El Paso * Southern New Mexico Group of the Sierra Club * Southwestern Environmental Center * Skyline Optimist Club of El Paso * Trans Pecos Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists * Vista Hills Rotary Club

January 2011

NEWSLETTER January 2011
Contents:

Dues Are Due
Annual Meeting
Please check newsletter
Petition
Map
Natural Open Space
Remembering John Green
Park News
Mark Your Calendars
Poppies
Museum of Archaeology
TX Wildlife Trail
Lone Star Legacy
Cyberspace
FMWC Board

FRANKLIN MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS COALITION


http://www.franklinmountains.org/


Dues Are Due

With the New Year we ask that you consider renewing your support of the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition. Your donation will help us in our efforts to protect the Franklin Mountains and provide support to the Franklin Mountains State Park. Please complete the membership card available on our website, http://www.franklinmountains.org/ under the “How to Join” tab. Then, sent it to FMWC Treasurer, Pat White, 10525 Texwood, El Paso, Texas 79925 and enclose a check made payable to Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition. Thank you


ANNUAL MEETING January 19, 2011
(Scott Cutler):

Happy New Year! As we begin 2011, FMWC will hold its annual meeting on Wednesday, January 19th. This will be a great opportunity to visit with friends and learn about the Coalition’s many activities in 2010. The highlight of the evening will be a presentation by Mr. Steve Bonner of SONRI, Inc. Steve is working with the Coalition and The Frontera Land Alliance on the federal grant that Frontera received to study and define how the conservation conveyance tool can be used to transfer surplus military lands to conservation organizations for the protection of open space. This has great potential to help preserve Castner Range. Steve will present us with an update on where things stand in the process. It should be a very informative and fun evening. I look forward to seeing you on the 19th!

Meeting Details
When: Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Time: 6 – 8 pm
Where: Jaxon’s Restaurant, 1135 Airway Blvd.
Costs: $16 per person – includes non-alcoholic beverage, salad, baked potato, tip, and tax. Dessert is extra.

Menu options
Grilled chicken
Santa Barbara beef
Veggie fajitas

Please make your reservations and menu selection with our Treasurer, Pat White, at 591-3562 or pat_white@hotmail.com

Reservations must be made by January 16 and a check received by Pat to confirm your reservation. Send check made payable to Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition to Pat White, 10525 Texwood, El Paso, Texas, 79925.


Please check for your hard copy and e-mail newsletter!

In January of each year, FMWC sends a hard copy of the newsletter to all our members. If you did not receive your newsletter in the mail, we do not have your US postal address. Please send your address to Secretary, judy Ackerman, j.p.ackerman@sbcglobal.net or 3344 Eileen Dr, El Paso, TX 79904. If you did not receive your e-mail version of the newsletter, please send judy your e-mail address. Thank you for helping to keep our data up to date!


YOUR PRESENCE URGENTLY NEEDED:
(Jim Tolbert):

Please plan to attend City Council meeting!

Tuesday, January 11, 2011, City Council will decide whether to zone 792 acres along Transmountain Road next to the State Park as Natural Open Space or allow that land to be developed with commercial and low-density homes and permit the construction of a major multi-lane arterial that will run the length of the Franklin Mountains State Park in Northwest El Paso.

Your presence at the meeting in support of Natural Open Space is critical!


Keep Getting Petition Signatures
(Jim Tolbert):

We are coming to a critical deadline for both of our petitions to preserve land in the Scenic Transmountain Corridor. Next Tuesday, January 11, 2011, City Council will decide whether to zone 792 acres along Transmountain Road next to the State Park as Natural Open Space or allow that land to be developed with commercial and low-density homes and permit the construction of a major multi-lane arterial that will run the length of the Franklin Mountains State Park in Northwest El Paso.

FMWC President, Scott Cutler, recently responded to questions about the petitions this way: “The Coalition has, since its inception in 1978, worked to protect open space not only for the spiritual renewal and healthful activities open space provides people but also to provide habitat for wildlife as well which also enhances the human experience in the out of doors.”

City Council is still waiting for TxDOT to complete an Environmental Assessment. Because it may be another 6 to 8 weeks before that EA is finalized, we plan to continue to collect signatures for a few more weeks. If you are a registered voter in the City of El Paso, you can voice your opinion to our City Council.

Go to http://www.franklinmountains.org/ for more info. Please print out both petitions in full-page landscape configuration

http://www.iloveparks.com/fmwc/PDFs/Initiative%20Petition%20Form.pdf & http://www.iloveparks.com/fmwc/PDFs/Initiative%20Petition%20Form2.pdf , sign and send them to: Jim Tolbert, 2701 Frankfort Ave., El Paso, TX 79930 so that they reach him before the end of the month. If you can collect more than your own signature, be sure that those who sign are registered voters residing in the City of El Paso. Notarizing is not necessary but will keep the Municipal Clerk from tossing a full page of petition signatures if only one mistake is found.

Of course, if you can get the petitions to Jim before January 11th, that will be the best thing to do. Thank you!


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.

















TXDOT highway plan and proposed NOS


Natural Open Space
(Rick Lobello):

On April 6, 2010 I presented to City Council a PowerPoint on how Natural Open Space benefits our community. Helping people understand why we need to protect our environment is an important part of my job at the El Paso Zoo. What follows is an updated summary of my presentation on natural open space.

1. Natural Open Space helps people enjoy the benefits of the natural world.

Here in El Paso we have lots of natural open space on the high mountain ridges of the Franklin Mountains, but little natural open space in the lower elevations immediately surrounding the mountain range where most people prefer to hike and walk. Lower elevation natural open space is also critical to many species of plants and animals that live only in lower elevation habitats or need both lower and higher elevations areas.

Protecting natural open space is not only a problem in El Paso, but around the world. To varying degrees humans have already altered nearly half of the earth’s land surface. If current land development trends continue this number could easily reach 70% in the next thirty years.

2. The availability of natural open space helps to prevent nature deficit disorder by giving people more opportunities to explore the natural world, especially children.

Nature deficit disorder is a growing trend in this country where the average American child spends 44 hours a week with electronic media. Effects of Nature Deficit Disorder include: Childhood obesity, attention disorders and depression and long term inability to cope with stress and adversity.

3. Natural Open space is important to the water cycle, nature’s ability to produce oxygen and capture CO2 and other ecological services such as pollination and the services provided by millions of different species of microbes.

A single tablespoon of healthy soil might contain over a billion beneficial soil microbes!!! How many microbes live in one acre of natural open space in El Paso is anyone’s guess. The number is too big for most of us to fathom. Microbes provide amazingly complex ecological services. These services include reprocessing materials into available forms (i.e., mineralization) and into microbial cells and humus. Soil bacteria microbes fix atmospheric nitrogen and help plants to grow in areas where nitrogen is scarce. Other minerals like sulfur and phosphorus require microbial transformation in the soil that surrounds the roots to make them more available to plants. They also improve aeration by loosening dense and compacted soils.

Most importantly microbes decompose organic waste materials such as leaves and manure into organic humus. Our desert needs this humus to store both moisture and nutrients in the soil. Without healthy soils most plant species could not survive and the entire desert ecosystem as we know it would likely collapse.

Microbes are also important to balancing soil acidity and alkalinity, creating the carbon dioxide plants need, as well as producing vitamins, toxins, and hormones that both feed and protect the plant system.
Most people looking out across the desert landscape are not aware of the role microbes play in the desert and or in their everyday lives. Trying to imagine all that microbes do for us in maintaining the ecosystem is like trying to imagine all the stars and galaxies in the night sky.

4. Natural Open space provides habitat for thousands of species of animals and plants native to our Chihuahuan Desert and a part of our natural heritage.

Protecting Natural Open Space and a wide variety of habitats at all elevations requires strategic planning designed to protect these habitats and wildlife corridors important to species needing to move from one elevation to the next in search of food and water. Animals also need natural open space for protection from the powerful rays of the sun, wind and rain. To adequately raise their young natural open space is needed to protect many animal species from human disturbance and natural predators.

At this time strategic plans for the continued development in El Paso and the surrounding area focus almost solely on the needs of humans and not on the natural environment. “Smart growth” elements in planning may appear in part to be green, but do not address the habitat needs of most species of native wildlife including a careful analysis of wildlife corridors needed to maintain sustainable populations of larger animals like mule deer, javelina, coyotes, foxes and bobcats.

We need natural open space because we are connected to the natural world in countless ways. Every time we allow another acre of natural open space to be transformed by development activities including urban sprawl, wider roads and mining, we weaken the ecosystem and its services, all critical to our own survival.




(The long-tailed weasel is one of the most secretive animals living in the Franklin Mountains. Lowland areas like those being developed along the Trans Mountain Scenic Corridor are important to many desert wildlife species like the long-tailed weasel that prey upon pocket gophers and ground squirrels. ©Will Wilson)







REMEMBERING JOHN GREEN
(John Sproul):

It was late March in 1979. HB 867, the bill to establish Franklin Mountains State Park, was about to get its first test, a hearing before the House Environmental Affairs Committee. Four members of the Wilderness Park Coalition (now Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition) had traveled to Austin to speak in support of the bill. John Colburn, Joan Duncan, Carrol Hedrick and Richard Worthington had marshaled their facts and honed their arguments. They were ready to make their case.

They also had one other tool in their toolkit, a slide presentation prepared by Coalition member John Green. It was entitled “The Franklin Mountains: El Paso’s Wilderness Heritage.”

Legislative hearings can be long, drawn-out affairs and can test the patience and concentration of the committee members. The Environmental Affairs Committee had already heard two hours of testimony on other bills before HB 867 came before them. Would the committee members stay focused? Would they hear the message of the El Pasoans? Would a group of East Texas legislators see the special value in an arid West Texas landscape?

State Representative Ron Coleman, the bill’s sponsor, spoke first. Next was John Colburn, who gave the slide presentation. Here, the message came through clearly and dramatically, thanks to John Green’s artful photography. The legislators “got it.”

At the end of the hearing, the committee referred HB 867 to its Urban Parks Subcommittee. Referral to a subcommittee can be a death knell for proposed legislation, but not this time. Impressed by the El Pasoans’ testimony and the remarkable landscape brought to life through John Green’s photos, the committee ultimately reported the bill favorably to the full House.

HB 867 was on its way. More hurdles lay ahead, some quite formidable. But each was cleared, and a jewel of a park was born.

In the ensuing years, the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition dealt with many other challenges. John Green, one of the Coalition’s most loyal and dedicated members, was always there to help. His passions were archaeology, botany and photography. He applied all three as an eloquent voice for the Franklin Mountains.

John Green passed away November 18, 2010 at the age of 83. In the Franklin Mountains, his legacy lives on.


PARK NEWS
(John Nunez):

Happy New Year from all of us at Franklin Mountains State Park!

Park visitation has been higher than usual this holiday season due to the pleasant weather we were blessed with throughout November and most of December. It has been great to see so many people come out and enjoy the mountains! With the recent snow sprinkled across the mountains, we have seen many people come out to enjoy the mountains and snow as well.

Park rangers have been busy with the usual park maintenance. The rangers will begin to re-paint all the picnic sites and metal tables at the Tom Mays Unit. Park Manager Cesar Mendez just received the green light from our Region 1 Headquarters to go ahead and convert some of the picnic sites near the Aztec Cave and End Loop area to campgrounds. Some of these campsites will be ADA accessible as well. Work is expected to begin soon.

In early December, work on clearing out overgrowth on the Nature Trail was completed with the assistance of the TDCJ trustee work crew. Also more work has been done to our Wildlife Viewing Area (Bird Blind), with much help from our volunteers Richard Love and George Murray. They are out there almost every day to make sure the Bird Blind is ready for the birds and visitors alike.

Park rangers have been working on the park vehicles as well. This type of work is ongoing since a couple of our work trucks are well over the 200,000 mile mark. As mentioned previously, due to budget cuts, it may be a while before park staff could expect to receive a new work truck. Much credit goes to Rangers Felipe Camacho, Alvaro Garcia and Lead Ranger Robert Pichardo for their hard work and ingenuity for keeping the work trucks running.

Budget cuts are being anticipated for the coming year at the park. Park staff will be limited as far as patrolling the back country so we ask volunteers or coalition members to report any suspicious activity that may be witnessed while out and about in the mountains. Please report any suspicious activity to the park at either 566-6441 ext #21 or 487-1982 (booth phone #).

Many thanks to our volunteers for all their help with giving guided hikes at the park and for helping with patrolling and educating the public about hiking safety and etiquette. Park volunteer George Murray has been assisting park staff with several guided tours throughout November and December. New volunteer Heath Shawhart gave a guided tour for some visitors to the West Cottonwood mine shaft in December. Since the park is currently under staffed, park rangers have been very grateful to our volunteers for helping out with the tours.

Park staff is anticipating the Puzzler mountain bike race on January 16, 2011. The race will begin in the northeast side at the Round House at the Bowen Ranch towards the North Hills area up to the Tin Mines and cross over Mundy's Gap towards the Tom Mays Unit. The race will continue to the Northern Pass trail up and over the ridge to Hitt Canyon (the Bone yard) and then south back to the Round House. Park staff will assist with water stations and keeping track of the racers throughout the race. All at Franklin Mtn. State Park are more than happy to offer assistance for such an exciting event!

Other than that, business as usual at the park. Park rangers are continuing with the signage project. The main focus now is to finish restoring and installing new signs at the Tom Mays Unit and around the northwest area of the park. With the assistance of volunteers, park staff will also continue with installing signs in the Tin Mine Unit as well.

With everything going on at the park, it is never a dull moment for all park staff. Every day is different and exciting! Many thanks to our volunteers! Cheers!


MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

5th Annual, 2011 Franklin Mountains Poppies Preservation Celebration on Castner Range

will take place from 10 am to 6 pm on Saturday, March 26th at the El Paso Museum of Archaeology, 4301 Transmountain Road and will include a full day of programming: Nature talks and walks, wildlife displays and a visit with a real wolf, film festival, educational exhibits, demonstrations, art vendors, live music and food. NEW this year is a dedicated children’s activity center. We will have convenient free ADA accessible shuttles from El Paso Community College NE campus. Previous year’s celebrations have attracted thousands of attendees from near and far to this Free Family Fun day.

We need volunteers to assist with a wide variety of activities and we are looking for Vendors and Non-profit Exhibitors to participate. Non-profit organizations who are actively involved in event planning can reserve their exhibitor booth for free. Contact Maria Aragon or Ben Fyffe of the Museum and Cultural Affairs Department (MCAD) 541-4481or MCAD@elpasotexas.gov for more information.


El Paso Museum of Archaeology:

Wed., Jan. 12, 1:00 pm, Free Museum Tour for Adults

Sat., Jan. 15, 2:00 pm, Free Zip Tour of the Traditions and Symbols exhibit with artists Oscar Moya and Lydia Limas

Sun., Jan. 16, 3:00 pm, Free Showing of The Mystery of Chaco Canyon, presented by the El Paso Archaeological Society

Wed., Jan. 19, 1:00 pm, Free Museum Tour for Adults

Sun., Jan 23, 1:00 pm, Free Museum Tour for Families with Elementary School Children with family-friendly docent Art

Sat., Jan. 29, 1:30 to 3:30 pm, Family Workshop: Metal Embossing/Repujado with Maria Almeida Natividad, small charge, reply for details, ADVANCED PAID RESERVATION REQUIRED, Limit of 25 participants age 6 and up

Sun., Jan. 30, 1:00 pm, Free Museum Tour for Families with Elementary School Children with family-friendly docent Art


FAR WEST TEXAS WILDLIFE TRAIL, TPWD News Release, 12/20/2010:

Some of Texas’ most remarkable natural history and most iconic wildlife can be found at sites featured on the Far West Texas Wildlife Trail whose debut this month completes a statewide wildlife trail system launched 15 years ago to bolster birding and other forms of nature tourism.

The Great Texas Wildlife Trail system’s ninth and final trail spans the vast reaches of West Texas – from El Paso to the Permian Basin to the Big Bend -- and features 10 driving loops and 57 sites. Sites located along the 940-mile circuitous route highlight the region’s tallest mountains, grandest rivers, starriest skies, vast sand dunes, sprawling desert and an encyclopedic roster of much of the state’s most noteworthy flora and fauna.

“West Texas is a huge area still somewhat unfamiliar to many travelers who don’t know where to go to see the best of what the region offers,” says TPWD nature tourism manager Shelly Plante. “The trail map makes the vast area more manageable and provides guidance on where to go and how to contact chambers of commerce for information on where to stay and dine. It’s a wonderful complement to the historical commission’s Texas Mountain and Texas Pecos trail maps, putting all of West Texas’ cultural and natural resources at your fingertips.”

The colorful, 27 x 36-inch map points the way to such West Texas landmarks as the Franklin and Guadalupe mountains, Big Bend National Park, Indian Lodge, the McDonald Observatory, Hueco Tanks State Park, Wyler Aerial Tramway and Chinati Hot Springs. Each Far West Texas Wildlife Trail roadside site is marked by the trail’s brown sign sporting the outline of a scaled quail. Also highlighted on the state’s newest wildlife trail are top local and regional parks, nature-rich golf courses, nature trails and nature centers.

Travelers can refer to the map, which is marked with the 57 sites broken down into 10 loops, to find out which sites charge a fee and which are open daily and allow camping, are day-use only or require calling ahead of time to visit. Each site listing provides a synopsis of best spots to view indigenous and migratory bird species, as well as West Texas critters such as horned lizards, roadrunners, bighorn sheep, mule deer, bobcat and the occasional mountain lion.

The new West Texas map and the other eight in the state’s suite of wildlife/birding trail maps can be purchased for $2 each from the Texas AgriLife Extension Bookstore. The set of nine maps can be purchased together at the discounted price of $10. The maps will guide you to more than 900 distinct birding and wildlife viewing sites throughout Texas. Each map includes driving loops, and each site is designated with a unique highway sign and site number corresponding to the map. The maps also have information about the wildlife likely to be found at each site. For more information, visit TPWD’s Great Texas Wildlife Trails website.

For information on the Texas Heritage Trails visit the Texas Mountain Trail Region (www.texasmountaintrail.com) and Texas Pecos Trail Region (http://www.texaspecostrail.com/ ) online.

Photo Editors: For j-peg images of the new West Texas trail sign, scenics and maps of the four trails, please visit:


http://archive.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/news_images/?g=far_west_texas_wildlife_trail


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.


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 Association • Border Toasters, Toastmasters International • Bordersenses • Celebration Of Our Mountains • Centro San Vicente • Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition • Chihuahuan Desert Wildlife Rescue • Eco-Club EPCC • El Paso Archaeological Society • El Paso Cactus And Rock Club • El Paso County Master Gardeners • El Paso Native Plant Society • El Paso Regional Group Of The Sierra Club • El Paso/Trans-Pecos Audubon Society • El Paso Youth Symphony • Environmental Advocates at UTEP • Friends of the Arroyo • Friends Of The Rio Bosque • Jolly Elders • League Of Women Voters Of El Paso • Mesilla Valley Audubon Society • Mountain Park Community Association • Photography Enthusiasts Of El Paso • Southern New Mexico Group Of The Sierra Club • Southwest Environmental Center • Skyline Optimist Club Of El Paso • Sunrise Neighborhood Association • Trans Pecos Chapter Of The Texas Master Naturalists • Vista Hills Rotary Club • Voter Education Project, Inc •

NEWSLETTER November 2010

FRANKLIN MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS COALITION

http://www.franklinmountains.org/

Contents:
Next Meeting

President’s Message

News

Castner Range

Wolf Stamp

TX Master Naturalist Class

Park News

Ranger Nuñez

Volunteer Richard Love

Mark Your Calendars

Museum of Archaeology

Protect Otero Mesa

Volunteers

Board

Loan Star

Cyberspace

Next Meeting: Wednesday, November 17, 2010

MEETING LOCATION: The Garden Center, Memorial Park, 3105 Grant
http://www.cichlidpress.com/elpasocactusclub/graphics/gardencenter.jpg

TIME: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.


MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT, SCOTT CUTLER:

Welcome to the November edition of the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition newsletter.

As most of you may be aware, there has been a flurry of discussion regarding how the City's public lands, managed by the Public Service Board, should be zoned. Members of FMWC and other organizations have been advocating that the City Council rezone the land as Natural Open Space, a zoning designation that would keep the land in its natural state. The City Planning Commission will be reviewing the measure by City Council to preserve 900 acres along Transmountain Rd to preserve the scenic vistas. Your attendance at the meeting will help show the CPC that the public supports this innovative approach to keeping our public land public.
Details:
Date: November 18, 2010
Place: El Paso Public Library, 500 N. Oregon, El Paso, TX 79901 (NEW Location)
Time: 1:30pm

And if you haven't already signed the petition urging the City Council to rezone as open space its public lands around the Franklin Mountains, please do so online at: http://www.iloveparks.com/fmwc/

This issue and many more will be discussed at our next meeting on November 17. I hope you will be able to attend and learn more about what the Coalition is doing.


NEWS

Castner Range

A meeting of the Fort Bliss Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) took place on November 10 at the Eastside Police Command Station. The company implementing the Wide Area Assessment of Castner Range (a test of UXO detection methods for use on Army lands) talked about how the assessment method has been going, the techniques being used, and what has been found. The work will continue for another few months after which the corporation will write up their results and eventually give a presentation of their findings to the public - probably at another RAB meeting.

Of particular interest to Coalition members was the presentation by consultant Steve Bonner on the Office of Economic Adjustment federal grant to The Frontera Land Alliance for a study of how conservation conveyances could be applied to surplus military property. As with the Wide Area Assessment, Castner Range will be the model used to develop the guidelines for implementing the conveyance process. The project is expected to be completed in the last quarter of 2011. The Coalition, closely partnering with Frontera to get the grant, had a very strong presence in the audience with more than half of the attendees connected with FMWC. Thanks to all who were able to attend and show that strong support continues for the preservation of Castner Range.


New Mexico Wilderness Alliance Awards First Conservation Wolf Stamp Grant

NMWA is excited to announce that it has awarded its first-ever Conservation Wolf Stamp Grant to filmmaker and conservationist Elke Duerr for her Wild Wolf Film project. The grant of $2,500 supports Ms. Duerr’s Wild Wolf Film a multi-year outreach effort educating the public on Mexican Gray Wolf reintroduction and “advancing the coexistence of wilderness and civilization.” “Ms. Duerr has shown the heart and passion needed by us all if we are to save this magnificent creature,” said NMWA Executive Director Stephen Capra…Upon receiving the award, Duerr commented: “Thank you to the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance for acknowledging my efforts to aid in the recovery of the Mexican Gray Wolves by awarding me a grant. It is my heart’s desire to create awareness for the interconnectedness and beauty of all life on this planet and to help implement creative solutions to a healthy coexistence between wolves and humans. We all belong in the web of life.” Read about Elke Duerr’s Wild Wolf Film project on the artist’s website
http://www.wildwolffilm.com/.

The grant is the first to be awarded from NMWA’s Conservation Wolf Stamp Fund, generated from the sale of our Conservation Wolf Stamp; similar to the Duck Stamp sold by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, except no hunting is related to the sale of the Wolf Stamp. All proceeds go into the Conservation Wolf Stamp Fund, administered by NMWA and distributed directly to projects and organizations working for Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery. NMWA will award further grants to worthy projects in the coming months and looks forward to releasing a new Wolf Stamp for sale each year. To learn more about the Wolf Stamp, visit the NMWA website at http://www.nmwild.org/blog/wolf-stamps-available-order-today/


2011 Master Naturalist Class

We hope to start the next master naturalist class on Wednesday Feb. 09, 2011. It will run thru May 14th. It is never too early to give your friends and enemies a poke to let them know so that they can start arranging their schedules.
The classes will be on Wednesdays from 6:00 P.m. until 9:00 p.m.


PARK NEWS
From Ranger John Nuñez

Greetings from Franklin Mountains State Park!

First, I would like to mention that we recently lost one of our former rangers. Unfortunately, Gilberto Vargas, who was the Maintenance Technician IV at the Wyler Aerial Tramway State Park passed away on November 1st. Ranger Vargas was at the Tramway for thirty years. I had the pleasure of working with Gilbert when I worked at the Tram and I must say he will be greatly missed. He was well known for his great sense of humor and wisdom. Our best goes out to Gilbert’s family and to those who were his friends. He will be greatly missed.

September and October have been some eventful months for us at the park. We have been busy since the beginning of September with our Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. This event was held on September 11. This is an event we hold annually as a way to say thanks to our volunteers for all their help. This year was a special year since we had two winners for the Volunteer of the Year award. This year we all voted that Richard Love and Robert Newman were both more than qualified for this award. Richard is at the park almost daily to ensure that the Wildlife Viewing Area (bird blind) is well maintained and he is out capturing the amazing beauty of the wildlife in the park with his camera. Robert has been helping us almost daily with building and maintaining the many miles of mountain bike trails in the park. He’s been working on the mountain bike trails since 1998 and has helped us decide the best way to build a bike trail and the best design for hiking trails. It is common for Robert to hike an area several times to flag the best possible routes for new trails. All of us at are very grateful to Richard and Robert, and all of our volunteers for their assistance.
On Saturday, September 18, the Park hosted the Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition Fiesta with roughly 850 people in attendance. It was another successful event where we had the opportunity to introduce the many wonders of our park and surrounding areas to the general public.

We recently hosted an event with the Borderland Mountain Bike Association on October 23. The Twelve Hours of Old El Paso mountain bike race was held on the northeast side of the park near the Bowen Ranch and the Old Tin Mines. The race had roughly 150 participants and went well into the evening hours with a celebration afterwards at the Bowen Ranch Round Room.

Speaking of mountain bikers, Park Ranger Jesse Kapenga recently departed the park to pursue a Master’s Degree in Political Science at UTEP. We regretted to see Jesse leave since he was very helpful, especially with the mountain bike trails. However, we support his decision to continue with his education. I’ll see you around UTEP Jesse, good luck with your endeavors!

Volunteers Richard Love, George Murray and Robert Newman along with Lead Ranger Robert Pichardo, Rangers Alvaro Garcia and John Nuñez have been working on installing park trailhead signs throughout the northeast side of the park and at the Tom Mays Unit. We are making progress, but still have a ways to go.

As part of the Celebration of the Mountains, we have been busy giving tours throughout the park. This has been a great opportunity for staff and volunteers to introduce the Park to newcomers to the area. Due to the great weather we have been having lately, many people are starting to venture out and explore the Park and take advantage of the many tours available through the Celebration of the Mountains. Visitation has been high, to the point where there are not any parking spaces available at the trailheads. Good job, El Paso, explore your mountains!

Well, the coming months will be just as busy. Park staff and volunteers will continue with working on the signage, giving tours and park vehicle maintenance.


Park Volunteer Richard Love writes

If you are a bird watcher or a wildlife photographer or just love to get out in the beautiful fall days that happen here in the southwest, boys and girls, you are in luck. The fall and winter birds are in the Park and are in prime condition. We have birds that are visiting the Wildlife Viewing Area that have not been in the area in a while. We had a flock of Pine Siskins

Pine Siskin 1

that have decided to call the Park home for a while. I have had some excellent photo ops with them. We have several Ladderback Woodpeckers

Ladderback Woodpecker 1
visiting, unfortunately they are trying real hard to dismantle the bird blind. Brave little guys attack the blind with me in it. What a thrill, in all my years that is a first. The Lesser Goldfinches are in numbers not seen before. A new sparrow like bird, in the process of being identified, will raise the life list for the bird blind to over 65 different birds. Last week I spotted a large flock of Canada Geese flying over the Park. This is the second flock I have seen this year. For the people who are fans of our resident birds, the quail

Gamble's Quail 1
raised lots of their hatchlings to adulthood. The other resident birds are here and also in prime condition. The days are cooling down and the weather is near perfect for mountain biking, hiking, and just load up the grill and picnic. This is the time of the year for getting out and enjoying the beautiful autumn days. For a time the tiny Texas Antelope Squirrels left the Wildlife Viewing Area. Many of the children who come ask why did the little squirrels leave. They were gone most of the summer but now have returned. The large rock squirrels are frantically trying to fill up the den with nuts for the winter. The last phase of remodeling the bird blind is about 70% complete. Then there will be some surprises for next year at the wildlife area. Get out and visit the park. Meet the rangers and the volunteers. We have some new volunteers and they are working on giving tours and leading people into the wonderful world of the Park.


MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

El Paso Museum of Archaeology:

Sundays, November 14 and 28, 2:00 pm

Zip Tours of the exhibit Tradiciones y Simbolos, Traditions and Symbols, Free Admission, A Zip Tour is a brief introduction to the exhibit in which ten members of the Juntos Art Association of El Paso explore Hispanic-American traditions through their art. The exhibit’s theme of traditions and symbols addresses contemporary, historic and prehistoric Mexican-American, Mexican and Native American culture. Reservations are not necessary, but contact the museum if you plan to attend, 915-755-4332; guidamr@elpasotexas.gov.

Sunday, November 21, 2010, 3:00 pm

Chinese Interactions with Inner Asia and Beyond before the Silk Road By Ken Hammond, Ph.D. Free Admission. Professor Hammond's talk will examine recent archaeological evidence from China and Inner Asia which suggests that there was extensive interaction between these zones well before the period generally associated with the rise of the Silk Road trade around the 2nd century BCE. Presented by the El Paso Archaeological Society in partnership with the El Paso Museum of Archaeology.


DECEMBER 4: Your Voice Needed to Protect Otero Mesa

The Obama administration needs to hear from all New Mexicans one more time, urging the President to create the Otero Mesa National Monument. It is with your voice that we can actually see this occur before the end of the year. Please join us on Saturday, December 4th, from 1:00 to 3:00 in Downtown Albuquerque at the KiMo Theater, on the corner of Central and 5th, at our Otero Mesa National Monument Rally. We would love to have your support at this crucial event. It is important to RSVP if you are planning to attend. For more information and to RSVP, please contact Nathan Newcomer at nathan@nmwild.org or 505-843-8696 x 106.


Volunteers

FMWC Booth and Korina Navarro at EcoSummit 2010.
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 bi-monthly newsletters. Please contact Judy at j.p.ackerman@sbcglobal.net, 755-7371 or Kathy at kmcconaghie@gmail.com, 227-5330 if you are interested in volunteering.


FMWC BOARD

President: Scott Cutler

Vice President: Jane Fowler

Secretary: Judy Ackerman

Treasurer: Pat White

At 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.


FMWC Newsletter Archive

New and historic versions of FMWC newsletters are now available online at
http://www.franklinmountains.blogspot.com/, thanks to Judy Ackerman.


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 Association • Border Toasters, Toastmasters International • Bordersenses • Celebration Of Our Mountains • Centro San Vicente • Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition • Chihuahuan Desert Wildlife Rescue • Eco-Club EPCC • El Paso Archaeological Society • El Paso Cactus And Rock Club • El Paso County Master Gardeners • El Paso Native Plant Society • El Paso Regional Group Of The Sierra Club • El Paso/Trans-Pecos Audubon Society • El Paso Youth Symphony • El Paso Zoo • Environmental Advocates at UTEP • Friends of the Arroyo • Friends Of The Rio Bosque • Jolly Elders • League Of Women Voters Of El Paso • Mesilla Valley Audubon Society • Mountain Park Community Association • Photography Enthusiasts Of El Paso • Southern New Mexico Group Of The Sierra Club • Southwest Environmental Center • Skyline Optimist Club Of El Paso • Trans Pecos Chapter Of The Texas Master Naturalists • Vista Hills Rotary Club • Voter Education Project, Inc •