FRANKLIN MOUNTAINS NOTES
Newsletter of the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition
January, 2006
Next Meeting: Jan. 18, 2005
The next meeting of the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition is Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. It takes place in Room 411, Burgess Hall on the UTEP campus. Burgess Hall is at the intersection of Sun Bowl Drive and University Ave. on the west side of the campus. Please be prompt. The building entrance locks automatically in the evenings. If you arrive late and no one is at the door, call 861-4361 and someone will come to let you in. For more information contact Scott Cutler (581-6071).
Events of Interest
The Frontera Land Alliance Annual Meeting of the Board is Wednesday, January 25, 2006 at Ardovino’s Desert Crossing in Sunland Park, N.M. There will be a casual reception (hors d’oeuvres buffet and cash bar) at 6:00 p.m. The Board meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. Join us and help celebrate our first land acquisition: The Charlie Wakeem/Richard Teschner Nature Preserve of Resler Canyon. (Maria Trunk, President)
State of the State Parks: On February 15, 2006, Mr. Walt Dabney, Division Director for State Parks with Texas Parks and Wildlife, will give a “State of the State Parks” address. He will be informing us about what will be happening with the state parks in the coming years. Following his presentation he will answer questions. This will be a great opportunity to find out how our local state parks are doing and get answers to your questions.
TIME: 7:00 P.M.
PLACE: Memorial Park Senior Center, 1800 Byron Street
If you need more information, contact Scott Cutler at 581-6071.
Annual Dues
Annual dues for the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition are due in January each year. Even if you normally get our newsletter only via e-mail, in January you also get this hard copy, along with an annual renewal form and return envelope. If you are a Coalition member, please use these materials to renew your membership. If you are not a member, now would be an excellent time to join. The issues surrounding Castner Range promise to make this a pivotal year for the Franklin Mountains.
Castner Range Planning Begins
John Sproul
What is the future of Castner Range? That question may be answered in the year ahead.
Castner Range is the old military firing range on the east side of the Franklin Mountains. Today, it consists of 11 sections (square miles) of land west of the Patriot Freeway that have remained undeveloped due to the presence of unexploded ordnance. Over the past decade, some of this land has been cleared of old ordnance, but much has not.
Due to its outstanding ecological, scenic, recreational and cultural resources, we have long recommended most of the range be added to Franklin Mountains State Park. The 7 westernmost sections are rugged, upper-elevation land for which addition to the Park presents no controversy. The 4 easternmost sections are largely lower-elevation alluvial fans that are equally valuable as open space -- they include the heart of the poppy fields -- but are coveted by development interests.
Last summer, rumors about Castner Range began to swirl: Fort Bliss was investigating an “enhanced-use-lease” of the range. A land-use plan had been drafted. A high-tech office park for defense contractors was contemplated for the lower elevations. On September 26, we submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Fort Bliss as part of efforts to find out what, in fact, was happening.
Since then, the picture has gotten clearer but is still somewhat murky. According to Fort Bliss, the decision of the Department of Homeland Security to place a new Border Patrol headquarters on Castner Range made it realize a comprehensive land-use plan for the range was needed. Fort Bliss secured funding for preliminary biological and cultural-resource studies that are now underway. As noted below, the public will soon be asked to participate in this planning process.
On November 22, the Regional Economic Development Corporation (REDCO) approached Fort Bliss with a proposal for development on Castner Range. The proposal envisions the upper-elevation lands being added to the Franklin Mountains State Park and almost all of the lower-elevation lands being developed as an office park for high-tech defense contractors. The lone exception would be a narrow sliver north of Trans-Mountain Road that would protect a small portion of the poppy fields.
In a letter dated December 6, Col. Robert Burns, the Fort Bliss Garrison Commander, advised REDCO that it should pursue its interests through the land-use-planning process now underway. Col. Burns stated:
My environmental staff currently plans to hold initial public meetings on the Castner Range Land Use Plan in early 2006. The goal of the meetings will be to encourage a free exchange of community views regarding the future use of Castner Range and allow Fort Bliss to identify reasonable alternate approaches to the plan. Should options develop during the planning process that identify alternate beneficial uses of portions of Castner Range they will be fully considered during the planning process.
The information gathered in that meeting or meetings will be used as a basis for development of a Programmatic Land Use Plan that will serve as the basis for the development of environmental documentation required under the National Environmental Policy Act and the Army’s decision regarding future use of the range. Fort Bliss and the Army will fully comply with NEPA. As we discussed, that process will include additional opportunities for public participation.
On January 9, Newspapertree.com published a comprehensive article by Sito Negron on the recent developments involving Castner Range. In it, Keith Landreth, director of the Fort Bliss Directorate of Environment, is quoted as saying, “We’re trying to schedule a whole day public meeting some time in February. If there’s anything I want to get across it’s that this is complete public participation process; there aren’t any deals being made in smoke-filled rooms.”
The wheels are now in motion. If we want to see Castner Range protected, vigorous participation in this planning process will be critical. We’ll keep you posted as soon as we know details of the upcoming meeting(s).
More on Castner Range
Scott Cutler
On Tuesday, January 10, the City Council met to consider making a policy statement on Castner Range. Two agenda items were discussed, one from Rep. Susie Byrd and one from Rep. Melina Castro, both of whose districts border the range. The City Council voted to have a committee write a letter advising the Army that the City is interested in preserving Castner Range as part of Franklin Mountains State Park. The Mayor said the letter would include a proposal for Castner Range that differs from the one presented by REDCO development.
Additionally, an article appeared in the e-newspaper, “Newspaper Tree”, that gives a fairly good overview of current Castner Range events. You can view the whole piece online at http://newspapertree.com/view_article.sstg?c=9bcb57d56124498a and a few excerpts follow.
Rep. Susie Byrd: “I feel like there has to be in the long term a recognition of how important and how valuable that kind of open space on the mountain is and we really need to preserve some of that for perpetuity and I think Castner is one of those pieces of land we should talk about preserving,” Byrd said. “A visual landscape defines your home. Right in the middle of the city to have a really incredibly scenic and untouched desert landscape is really remarkable. I don’t know that it’s possible but I think we shouldn’t shy away from the conversation.”
Carl Robinson, a Northeast resident who is active in several civic groups, said the prevailing sentiment is, leave Castner alone. He points to thousands of acres of Public Service Board land that already has been master planned in anticipation of growth in Northeast El Paso, which is poised to absorb thousands of new troops at Fort Bliss. “There is and will be a movement to oppose development on Castner. We want to preserve that area. There’s plenty of land to build,” Robinson said.
Bob Cook, interim president of REDCO (a private development group): “There’s no specific proposal or plan, but we have a concept we want to discuss with Northeast neighborhood groups and environmental groups. We started communicating with a select group of people and probably will initiate a more public process in the next couple of weeks. I want to be clear, this is just a concept with no relationship with developers, planners, architects or engineers,” Cook said. The concept was developed by his staff, Cook said.
State Senator Elliot Shapleigh said his preference would be to create a master plan that preserves the poppy fields, places most of Castner into the Franklin Mountains State Park, and sets standards for “good development” on the section along the Patriot Freeway.
Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition’s main goal, as stated on its web site, is to secure Castner for the Park. “Castner Range extends from the Patriot Freeway almost to the mountain ridgeline and includes some of the most scenic and ecologically significant parts of the mountains. Hidden springs, complex geological features, unique plant associations, diverse landforms and noteworthy archaeological sites are among the elements that make it, in many ways, the heart and soul of the Franklin Mountains,” the site states.
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.
Franklin Mountains State Park Update
Danny Contreras, PRII,ADSO
Greetings, from the Franklin Mountains State Park. Everyone here at the Park would like to take the opportunity to wish everyone a Prosperous New Year! Due to the unseasonable weather, we have been keeping busy with visitors at the Park.
All of us at the Park have been involved with “Keep El Paso Beautiful” in conjunction with the El Paso Police Department’s West Side Command Center and the Texas Youth Commission, Schaffer House.
On Saturday, February 18, 2006 you all are invited to the “5th Annual Far West Texas Jack Rabbit Rally”, which will be held at the Franklin Mountains State Park. Events will include a 43K Trail Run, 30K Trail Run, 12K Trail Run, and an Off-Road Duathlon with a 15K Bike Ride and 5K Run. For information, please contact Mark Dorian at 915-581-9541 or markd@utep.edu or myself, Danny Contreras. We look forward to seeing you all there!
I hope you all have had a chance to meet Mr. Mitch Pickens, our new and first Park Host. Also please join us in recognizing the tremendous help Mitch has been to us here at the Franklins. He has been helping with tours and trail work and doing a great job.
We would also like to thank Major Joe Cancellary and the Bowie High School R.O.T.C. for the continuous work they have put in on the Eastside Multiuse Trails.
We also would like to recognize Erika Rubio, Franklin Mountains State Park Clerk, who has taken on the extra workload of the Administrative Technician. Erika is doing a wonderful job and all her efforts are greatly appreciated.
Newsletter Contributions
Come on now, folks, don’t be shy, we’d still like to see your special memories of the Franklins or your questions/concerns. Please feel free to submit your contributions to Kathy McConaghie at kmcconaghie@elp.rr.com or 272 Shadow Mountain, #12, El Paso, Texas 79912. The deadline for our March, 2006 newsletter will be March 9, 2006, but submissions will be accepted any time between now and the deadline.
The Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition
Borderland Mountain Bike Association - - Celebration of Our Mountains - - Chihuahuan Desert Wildlife Rescue - - El Paso Archeological 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 Wilderness Preservation Committee - - El Paso Women’s Political Caucus - - Friends of the Franklins - - 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
VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT http://iloveparks.com/fmwc/
Sunday, January 1, 2006
Tuesday, November 1, 2005
Novenber 2005
FRANKLIN MOUNTAINS NOTES
Newsletter of the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition
January, 2006 [Actually November 2005 - jPA]
Next Meeting: Nov. 16, 2005
The next meeting of the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition is Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. It takes place in Room 411, Burgess Hall on the UTEP campus. Burgess Hall is at the intersection of Sun Bowl Drive and University Ave. on the west side of the campus. Please be prompt. The building entrance locks automatically in the evenings. If you arrive late and no one is at the door, call 861-4361 and someone will come to let you in. For more information contact Scott Cutler (581-6071).
PARK FUNDING UPDATE
By John Sproul
As you know, if you’ve been following the funding travails of El Paso’s proposed 4-year medical school, the State’s Legislative Budget Board has not met during these past 2 months to consider possible adjustments to the state budget. The Sept. 14 meeting was first postponed a week, then postponed indefinitely due to uncertainty over the impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on the budget. Thus, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s supplemental budget request for $2 million/year for each of the next 2 years has seen no action…and the impoverished state park system has seen no relief.
Coalition Officers ---- 2005
President: open
Vice-Pres: open
Secretary: Nora Butler 915-755-0671
Treasurer: Scott Cutler 915-581-6071
Newsletter: Kathy McConaghie 915-227-5330
FRANKLIN MOUNTAINS STATE PARK UPDATE
By Danny Contreras, PRII, ADSO
We, at the Franklin Mountains State Park, hope you all have been enjoying the weather, definitely unseasonably warm for this time of year. Because of this unusual weather, snakes, quail, and other desert animals are still being spotted. Even some of the desert flowers are still in bloom. On Monday, October 31st at approximately 4:50 p.m. Lead Ranger Robert Pichardo spotted a bobcat about a quarter mile from the park entrance.
Please join us in welcoming Mr. Mitch Pickens as our new and first Park Host here at the Franklin Mountains State Park. Mr. Pickens is retired and was an avid runner. He has hiked in the Franklins for many years. He was interested in being a Host at the our park and maybe rotating out to other state parks in the Hill Country. He will also help us with trail maintenance and tours. We are excited to have Mitch at the park.
As you all know, October was the kickoff for the Celebration of the Mountains. It kicked off without any hitches and the response from the public was great. Maria Trunk played an integral part in helping to coordinate the events throughout October. We would like to thank her for her tireless efforts and involvement during the Celebration of the Mountains.
Work continues on the Eastside Multiuse Trails due to the continuous efforts put in by Major Joe Cancellary and the Bowie High School R.O.T.C. The trails are nearing completion but access to them is an issue that has yet to be resolved. Work also continues on the road damaged by heavy rains. This work is being coordinated by our Regional Headquarters at Fort Davis and is still in the beginning stages.
We have also begun replacing signage and repairing some of the Mountain Bike Trails along with the help of Park Volunteer Robert Newman and some of the Yucca Council Eagle Scouts.
On the 29th of October, Major Joe Cancellary, while working on the Multiuse Trails, spotted two gentlemen with rifles. He was able to confront them and inform them that they were on State Park property. He was also able to get a vehicle description and a license plate number. This information was passed along to our Complex Office.
Park Manager Rodney Wells is in Fort Davis on Park business, along with other Texas State Park personnel. Together, they are trying to develop a protocol for mountain lion sightings.
I would like to express my regrets for not attending the recent meetings. I am currently attending evening classes and, as soon as I am able, will resume attending Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition meetings. Your patience is appreciated.
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.
NEWSLETTER CONTRIBUTIONS NEEDED
We are soliciting more contributions from our members for our F.M.W.C. newsletter, specifically short essays about special memories of experiences in our beautiful Franklin Mountains. We also welcome your current questions or concerns about mountain issues and will try to address them in upcoming newsletters.
Please feel free to submit your contributions to Kathy McConaghie via email at kmcconaghie@elp.rr.com or postal mail to 272 Shadow Mountain Dr., #12, El Paso, Texas 79912. The deadline for the January, 2006 newsletter will be January 11, 2006, but submissions will be accepted any time between now and the deadline.
So sit down and pen a special memory or experience for publication - a wonderful opportunity to honor the mountains we all love and to share your unique perspective with everyone.
The Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition
Borderland Mountain Bike Association - - Celebration of Our Mountains - - Chihuahuan Desert Wildlife Rescue - - El Paso Archeological 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 Wilderness Preservation Committee - - El Paso Women’s Political Caucus - - Friends of the Franklins - - 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
VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT http://iloveparks.com/fmwc/
Newsletter of the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition
January, 2006 [Actually November 2005 - jPA]
Next Meeting: Nov. 16, 2005
The next meeting of the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition is Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. It takes place in Room 411, Burgess Hall on the UTEP campus. Burgess Hall is at the intersection of Sun Bowl Drive and University Ave. on the west side of the campus. Please be prompt. The building entrance locks automatically in the evenings. If you arrive late and no one is at the door, call 861-4361 and someone will come to let you in. For more information contact Scott Cutler (581-6071).
PARK FUNDING UPDATE
By John Sproul
As you know, if you’ve been following the funding travails of El Paso’s proposed 4-year medical school, the State’s Legislative Budget Board has not met during these past 2 months to consider possible adjustments to the state budget. The Sept. 14 meeting was first postponed a week, then postponed indefinitely due to uncertainty over the impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on the budget. Thus, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s supplemental budget request for $2 million/year for each of the next 2 years has seen no action…and the impoverished state park system has seen no relief.
Coalition Officers ---- 2005
President: open
Vice-Pres: open
Secretary: Nora Butler 915-755-0671
Treasurer: Scott Cutler 915-581-6071
Newsletter: Kathy McConaghie 915-227-5330
FRANKLIN MOUNTAINS STATE PARK UPDATE
By Danny Contreras, PRII, ADSO
We, at the Franklin Mountains State Park, hope you all have been enjoying the weather, definitely unseasonably warm for this time of year. Because of this unusual weather, snakes, quail, and other desert animals are still being spotted. Even some of the desert flowers are still in bloom. On Monday, October 31st at approximately 4:50 p.m. Lead Ranger Robert Pichardo spotted a bobcat about a quarter mile from the park entrance.
Please join us in welcoming Mr. Mitch Pickens as our new and first Park Host here at the Franklin Mountains State Park. Mr. Pickens is retired and was an avid runner. He has hiked in the Franklins for many years. He was interested in being a Host at the our park and maybe rotating out to other state parks in the Hill Country. He will also help us with trail maintenance and tours. We are excited to have Mitch at the park.
As you all know, October was the kickoff for the Celebration of the Mountains. It kicked off without any hitches and the response from the public was great. Maria Trunk played an integral part in helping to coordinate the events throughout October. We would like to thank her for her tireless efforts and involvement during the Celebration of the Mountains.
Work continues on the Eastside Multiuse Trails due to the continuous efforts put in by Major Joe Cancellary and the Bowie High School R.O.T.C. The trails are nearing completion but access to them is an issue that has yet to be resolved. Work also continues on the road damaged by heavy rains. This work is being coordinated by our Regional Headquarters at Fort Davis and is still in the beginning stages.
We have also begun replacing signage and repairing some of the Mountain Bike Trails along with the help of Park Volunteer Robert Newman and some of the Yucca Council Eagle Scouts.
On the 29th of October, Major Joe Cancellary, while working on the Multiuse Trails, spotted two gentlemen with rifles. He was able to confront them and inform them that they were on State Park property. He was also able to get a vehicle description and a license plate number. This information was passed along to our Complex Office.
Park Manager Rodney Wells is in Fort Davis on Park business, along with other Texas State Park personnel. Together, they are trying to develop a protocol for mountain lion sightings.
I would like to express my regrets for not attending the recent meetings. I am currently attending evening classes and, as soon as I am able, will resume attending Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition meetings. Your patience is appreciated.
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.
NEWSLETTER CONTRIBUTIONS NEEDED
We are soliciting more contributions from our members for our F.M.W.C. newsletter, specifically short essays about special memories of experiences in our beautiful Franklin Mountains. We also welcome your current questions or concerns about mountain issues and will try to address them in upcoming newsletters.
Please feel free to submit your contributions to Kathy McConaghie via email at kmcconaghie@elp.rr.com or postal mail to 272 Shadow Mountain Dr., #12, El Paso, Texas 79912. The deadline for the January, 2006 newsletter will be January 11, 2006, but submissions will be accepted any time between now and the deadline.
So sit down and pen a special memory or experience for publication - a wonderful opportunity to honor the mountains we all love and to share your unique perspective with everyone.
The Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition
Borderland Mountain Bike Association - - Celebration of Our Mountains - - Chihuahuan Desert Wildlife Rescue - - El Paso Archeological 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 Wilderness Preservation Committee - - El Paso Women’s Political Caucus - - Friends of the Franklins - - 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
VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT http://iloveparks.com/fmwc/
Thursday, September 1, 2005
September 2005
FRANKLIN MOUNTAINS NOTES
Newsletter of the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition
September, 2005
Next Meeting: September 21, 2005
The next meeting of the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition is Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. It takes place in Room 411 Burgess Hall on the UTEP campus. Burgess Hall is at the intersection of Sun Bowl Drive and University Ave. on the west side of the campus. Please be prompt. The building entrance locks automatically in the evenings. If you arrive late and no one is at the door, call 861-4361 and someone will come to let you in. For more information contact Scott Cutler (581-6071). WELCOME TO GUEST SPEAKER: CITY PLANNER CHUCK KOOSHIAN
CHIHUAHUAN DESERT FIESTA
Be sure to visit Franklin Mountains State Park on Saturday, Sept. 24, for the first-ever Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta. Sponsored by the Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition and Texas Parks and Wildlife, the fiesta will be a Lone Star Legacy event, which means entrance fees to the Park will be waived that day. The focus of the Fiesta will be on learning about the remarkable natural resources of our Northern Chihuahuan Desert. Exhibits, talks, tours and entertainment are all on the schedule. The event will be in the Tom Mays Unit of the Park (off Trans-Mountain Road, west side of Franklins) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Stop by the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition’s exhibit when you come!
STANTON STREET EXTENSION TRIMMED
On the west side of El Paso, there are two streets named Stanton Street separated by approximately 1.5 miles of un-roaded, upper-elevation lands. For years, City of El Paso transportation plans included a proposed connection between the two, the Stanton Street Extension. The only feasible way to build this road requires placing part of it within Franklin Mountains State Park, a move that would be damaging to the Park and incompatible with the Park’s management plan. At its August 9th meeting, the City Council voted unanimously to delete the southern part of the proposed extension -- the part that would pass through the Park -- from the City’s 2025 Proposed Thoroughfare System. Still on the books, the northern part of the extension, which would extend Stanton south from near Festival to the proposed Arterial 1. Arterial 1 includes a proposed tunnel through the Franklin Mountains.
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.
Coalition Officers ---- 2005
President: open
Vice-Pres: open
Secretary: Nora Butler 915-755-0671
Treasurer: Scott Cutler 915-581-6071
Newsletter: Kathy McConaghie 915-227-5330
CITY ARROYO INVENTORY:
WORK IN PROGRESS
Growing public interest in preserving El Paso’s arroyos has convinced city leaders to begin studying how natural arroyos can be preserved as part of a citywide open space plan.
As a first step, the city’s Department of Planning, Research and Development is developing an inventory of Franklin Mountain arroyos to help evaluate them for potential preservation. Staff members and volunteers are collecting information on the physical, biological and economic characteristics of hundreds of intermittent stream beds and the arroyos or canyons they have formed. City Planner Chuck Kooshian has been working on the project for several months and has a lot of information to share with the public. He will make a presentation to the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition at the upcoming meeting of September 21st.
Computer-generated 3-D topographic maps, satellite imagery of vegetation cover, land ownership maps and on-the-ground photographs are some of the tools being used in compiling the inventory. Once all the data is gathered, it will be used to generate a set of criteria to determine which arroyos will be preserved. These criteria in turn will guide the creation of an overall open space plan, a process which should be open to public input.
Arroyos are a valuable part of the natural habitat of the Franklin Mountains. The water, shade and protection they offer make them the preferred home of many animal species and plant communities. Although urban development occasionally spares arroyos, the recent trend has been simply to fill them in. Current regulations permit filling if pipes or channels are built to accommodate the storm water runoff, as is often the case.
COME AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE ON 9/21
PARK FUNDING WOES CONTINUE
The big news on the state-parks front in recent weeks was the decision by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission at its August 25 meeting to reject a proposal to sell some 46,000 acres in Big Bend Ranch State Park to a Houston businessman. Commissioner Robert Brown of El Paso made the motion to reject the sale. Good news, but as long as Texas state parks remain woefully underfunded, we can expect more proposals to downsize the state park system to surface. At the same meeting, the Commission approved conveying the 217-acre Bright Leaf State Natural Area in Austin to either the Austin Community Foundation, the Nature Conservancy or another appropriate entity.
The Legislative Budget Board (LBB), a permanent joint committee of the Texas Legislature, meets several times each year to consider possible adjustments to the state budget. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has submitted a supplemental budget request to the LBB for $2 million/year for each of the next 2 years. If the request is not granted, the TPWD has advised the LBB it will lay off 80 employees, including 40 from the Parks Division. There are reports that 4 - 9 state parks would have to be closed to public access due to lack of staff to operate them. The LBB is scheduled to act on this request soon.
Members of the LBB include Lt. Governor David Dewhurst; State Representatives Tom Craddick , Jim Pitts, Vilma Luna, James Keffer and Fred Hill; and State Senators Steve Ogden, Robert Duncan, John Whitmire, and Judith Zaffirini - PLEASE CONSIDER CONTACTING THE MEMBERS PRIOR TO SEPTEMBER 20 CONCERNING THIS VITAL FUNDING - go to Texas Legislature Online at http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/ for each LBB member’s contact information and home page e-mail links.
The Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition
Borderland Mountain Bike Association - - Chihuahuan Desert Wildlife Rescue - - El Paso Archeological 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 Wilderness Preservation Committee - - El Paso Women’s Political Caucus - - Friends of the Franklins - - 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
VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT http://iloveparks.com/fmwc/issues.htm
Newsletter of the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition
September, 2005
Next Meeting: September 21, 2005
The next meeting of the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition is Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. It takes place in Room 411 Burgess Hall on the UTEP campus. Burgess Hall is at the intersection of Sun Bowl Drive and University Ave. on the west side of the campus. Please be prompt. The building entrance locks automatically in the evenings. If you arrive late and no one is at the door, call 861-4361 and someone will come to let you in. For more information contact Scott Cutler (581-6071). WELCOME TO GUEST SPEAKER: CITY PLANNER CHUCK KOOSHIAN
CHIHUAHUAN DESERT FIESTA
Be sure to visit Franklin Mountains State Park on Saturday, Sept. 24, for the first-ever Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta. Sponsored by the Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition and Texas Parks and Wildlife, the fiesta will be a Lone Star Legacy event, which means entrance fees to the Park will be waived that day. The focus of the Fiesta will be on learning about the remarkable natural resources of our Northern Chihuahuan Desert. Exhibits, talks, tours and entertainment are all on the schedule. The event will be in the Tom Mays Unit of the Park (off Trans-Mountain Road, west side of Franklins) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Stop by the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition’s exhibit when you come!
STANTON STREET EXTENSION TRIMMED
On the west side of El Paso, there are two streets named Stanton Street separated by approximately 1.5 miles of un-roaded, upper-elevation lands. For years, City of El Paso transportation plans included a proposed connection between the two, the Stanton Street Extension. The only feasible way to build this road requires placing part of it within Franklin Mountains State Park, a move that would be damaging to the Park and incompatible with the Park’s management plan. At its August 9th meeting, the City Council voted unanimously to delete the southern part of the proposed extension -- the part that would pass through the Park -- from the City’s 2025 Proposed Thoroughfare System. Still on the books, the northern part of the extension, which would extend Stanton south from near Festival to the proposed Arterial 1. Arterial 1 includes a proposed tunnel through the Franklin Mountains.
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.
Coalition Officers ---- 2005
President: open
Vice-Pres: open
Secretary: Nora Butler 915-755-0671
Treasurer: Scott Cutler 915-581-6071
Newsletter: Kathy McConaghie 915-227-5330
CITY ARROYO INVENTORY:
WORK IN PROGRESS
Growing public interest in preserving El Paso’s arroyos has convinced city leaders to begin studying how natural arroyos can be preserved as part of a citywide open space plan.
As a first step, the city’s Department of Planning, Research and Development is developing an inventory of Franklin Mountain arroyos to help evaluate them for potential preservation. Staff members and volunteers are collecting information on the physical, biological and economic characteristics of hundreds of intermittent stream beds and the arroyos or canyons they have formed. City Planner Chuck Kooshian has been working on the project for several months and has a lot of information to share with the public. He will make a presentation to the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition at the upcoming meeting of September 21st.
Computer-generated 3-D topographic maps, satellite imagery of vegetation cover, land ownership maps and on-the-ground photographs are some of the tools being used in compiling the inventory. Once all the data is gathered, it will be used to generate a set of criteria to determine which arroyos will be preserved. These criteria in turn will guide the creation of an overall open space plan, a process which should be open to public input.
Arroyos are a valuable part of the natural habitat of the Franklin Mountains. The water, shade and protection they offer make them the preferred home of many animal species and plant communities. Although urban development occasionally spares arroyos, the recent trend has been simply to fill them in. Current regulations permit filling if pipes or channels are built to accommodate the storm water runoff, as is often the case.
COME AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE ON 9/21
PARK FUNDING WOES CONTINUE
The big news on the state-parks front in recent weeks was the decision by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission at its August 25 meeting to reject a proposal to sell some 46,000 acres in Big Bend Ranch State Park to a Houston businessman. Commissioner Robert Brown of El Paso made the motion to reject the sale. Good news, but as long as Texas state parks remain woefully underfunded, we can expect more proposals to downsize the state park system to surface. At the same meeting, the Commission approved conveying the 217-acre Bright Leaf State Natural Area in Austin to either the Austin Community Foundation, the Nature Conservancy or another appropriate entity.
The Legislative Budget Board (LBB), a permanent joint committee of the Texas Legislature, meets several times each year to consider possible adjustments to the state budget. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has submitted a supplemental budget request to the LBB for $2 million/year for each of the next 2 years. If the request is not granted, the TPWD has advised the LBB it will lay off 80 employees, including 40 from the Parks Division. There are reports that 4 - 9 state parks would have to be closed to public access due to lack of staff to operate them. The LBB is scheduled to act on this request soon.
Members of the LBB include Lt. Governor David Dewhurst; State Representatives Tom Craddick , Jim Pitts, Vilma Luna, James Keffer and Fred Hill; and State Senators Steve Ogden, Robert Duncan, John Whitmire, and Judith Zaffirini - PLEASE CONSIDER CONTACTING THE MEMBERS PRIOR TO SEPTEMBER 20 CONCERNING THIS VITAL FUNDING - go to Texas Legislature Online at http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/ for each LBB member’s contact information and home page e-mail links.
The Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition
Borderland Mountain Bike Association - - Chihuahuan Desert Wildlife Rescue - - El Paso Archeological 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 Wilderness Preservation Committee - - El Paso Women’s Political Caucus - - Friends of the Franklins - - 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
VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT http://iloveparks.com/fmwc/issues.htm
Friday, March 1, 1991
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