January 2010

{FMWC} E-Newsletter January 2010

FRANKLIN MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS COALITION
http://www.franklinmountains.org/


NEXT MEETING: January 20, 2010

Our meeting will be held at the El Paso Public Library’s Main Branch located downtown at 501 N. Oregon St. The meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. in the Auditorium. The main branch’s location map and parking information are available online at:
http://www.elpasotexas.gov/library/ourlibraries/main_library/main_library.asp


VOLUNTEERS

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


MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT, SCOTT CUTLER

Two issues loomed large in 2009 for the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition. Preservation of Castner Range maintained a large part of our focus. The Coalition worked with Congressman Reyes’ office to include an appropriation in the 2010 Defense Appropriation Bill that would provide funds to plan how to put in place a conservation conveyance to preserve Castner. As of this writing, the House has approved the bill while the companion Senate bill is still under consideration. We continue to keep in touch with our Congressional representatives to help insure that the appropriation is kept within the final bill.

The second issue involved the City’s proposed Mountain to River Trail on the west side of the Franklins. A quarry on Government Land Office land adjacent to, and including part of the trail, presented a real threat to the integrity of the trail. Members of the Coalition stepped forward and put together an impressive petition campaign to inform the public and our elected officials of this issue and the negative impacts that would result. It now appears that the holder of the quarry lease has, through discussions with Representative Ann Morgan Lilly, agreed to preserve the arroyo within the lease so that the trail can be put in place as envisioned. While the outcome will hopefully be good, we will continue to monitor the situation and act as needed. Many thanks to the Coalition’s Mountain to River Trail committee for their hard work in putting together this great petition campaign.

If you haven’t noticed, the Coalition has a new set of officers for the coming year. They are listed below.

This newsletter is also our reminder to renew your membership or ask you to become a new member. Please send your renewal to our new treasurer, Pat White, 10525 Texwood, El Paso, TX 79925.

As always, I thank you for your support of the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition. With your support and participation we all will be able to preserve many wonderful places on our Franklin Mountains.


DUES DUE

Dues are due in January. So this month we sent a hard copy of the newsletter to all our supporters with our membership application form. You can get the form on line at the “How To Join” link, http://franklinmountains.org/ or use the attachment. Please send your new or renewing membership to our new treasurer, Pat White, 10525 Texwood, El Paso, TX 79925.

If you did not receive a hard copy of this newsletter in the mail, we do not have your US Postal address. Please send your address to judy Ackerman: j.p.ackerman@sbcglobal.net .


NEWS

Mountain to River Trail (Kathy McConaghie): My thanks to Ursula, Heather, Jim, Rick, Kevin, and Bill for their hard work on this campaign. The petition campaign has ended. If you have hard copy petitions please do not discard them. As Scott says, there is positive news on Arroyo 41A and the Mountain to River Trail but it is an ongoing situation, which a team is monitoring. Action will be initiated or campaigns modified according to developments. We will keep you advised. We are also looking hard at the larger issues of open space planning, sustainability practices and public lands usage as related to the Franklins.

Castner Range (Judy Ackerman): We have been sending email updates to our members as meetings and events are announced. A recent announcement: “The US Army is currently performing various activities at the Fort Bliss Castner Range (west of US 54, north and south of Transmountain Road) as part of the Wide Area Assessment Field Demonstration Project. The project team has remobilized and will finalize site preparation activities for the geophysical survey work. We will be flying low altitude (1-3 meters above ground surface) helicopter-borne magnetometry 11-16 January 2010. Local residents should not be alarmed to see a low-flying helicopter at Castner Range. Due to terrain constraints, the flight path will be concentrated on the eastern portion of the site, the area closest to US-54.” There is a Fort Bliss Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) meeting with Castner on the agenda January 13 and the second Technical Project Planning Meeting on January 14. Updates will be provided as information becomes available. Pictured below: Helicopter-Born Magnetometry, Ground-Based Geophysics and Frag found on Castner Range (pictures by Bob Gourdoux – deleted in this version)


Palisades Canyon Preservation: It is likely that El Paso Water Utilities Board will approve the purchase of the 202 acre Palisades Canyon property at their meeting on January 13. The acreage will be conserved by the PSB with possible transfer to the Park at a later date. Kudos to Risher Gilbert, Jack Maxon, Richard Teschner, John Moses, and many others for their hard work. Fingers crossed for more good news for the Franklins! For BREAKING NEWS see http://elpasonaturally.blogspot.com/2010/01/psb-votes-to-purchase-palisades-canyon.html.


FRANKLIN MOUNTAINS STATE PARK NEWS

Park Volunteer Richard Love writes: “Well, another two months have come and gone and we are in the middle of winter. The weather this year has been wonderful, four snow storms in one month is almost unheard of. There was snow on the mountain for the whole month of December. Get ready for an abundance of wildflowers this spring. The Poppies should have a banner year and all wildflowers a photographer’s dream. The spring cactus bloom should be awesome. All of you photographers break out the macro lens and get ready. The birds and small animals at the Wildlife Viewing Area have been steady but the snow seems to have scattered many of the birds. Park visitation during the holidays was brisk, with several visitors a day. We are seeing several Deer and an occasional Coyote throughout the park. The next event in the park will be the Puzzler Mountain Bike Race, on the 17th of January. If you are a mountain bike rider or a fan of the sport don’t miss this one. If you want to schedule a hike or a photo trek contact Kelly at 915 566-6441. This year the Park and the environmental community need all the support and backing we can muster. There are many very important issues coming to the forefront that can make or break our beloved mountain. Maybe this is the year that we can finally get a commitment from the government on Castner Range. See all of you at the Bike Race and the Poppy Festival or just drop by the Park.”

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

Texas Master Naturalist Trans-Pecos Chapter: We are now accepting applications for our next class which starts Feb 10th. Class size is limited so hurry. Contact Matt Santillan at Texas Agrilife Ext. phone 915-860-2515

El Paso Archaeological Society: January events at the Museum of Archaeology begin at Sunday Speaker Series --January 17, 2010, 3:00 pm: A. C. (Art) MacWilliams Illustrated Presentation: Cerros de Trincheras: Living on Hills in the Desert (Free admission)

-- January 24, 2010, 2:00 to 3:30 pm: Fun Learning Aztec and Maya Math, A Workshop for Children by Carlos Aceves (Free admission, materials fee $2.00, call 915-755-4332 to reserve a seat)

-- January 30, 2010, 2:00 pm: Zip Tour of the exhibit Rarámuri: The Foot Runners of the Sierra Madre guided by photographer and guest curator Diana Molina (Free admission) The exhibit is on view through Sunday, February 14, 2010

Borderland Mountain Bike Association: 3rd Annual El Paso Puzzler, January 17 at Bowen Ranch, 35 and 50 Mile MTB Race, Toughest MTB Race in Texas! Go to http://www.elpasopuzzler.com/ for more information. Registration closes January 15.

2010 Franklin Mountain Poppies Celebration: Thanks to the expertise of Dawn Thurmond of MCAD (Museums and Cultural Affairs Department) and Poppies Planners this year’s Poppies Celebration promises to be bigger and better than ever. The rains and snows of fall and winter are good omens for poppies blooming in the Spring. The 2010 Franklin Mountain Poppies Preservation Celebration on Castner Range will be Saturday 20 March 2010. We need volunteers for many jobs including information booth, parking coordinators, VIP contacts and many more. If you can assist, please contact Dawn Thurmond: ThurmondD1@elpasotexas.gov , 915-755-4332, 915-541-4280. The next meeting of the Poppies Planners is 9 AM, Thursday, 4 Feb 2010, at the Museum of Archaeology, 4301 Transmountain Rd.


FMWC ON FACEBOOK

The Coalition is up and running on Facebook. All member organizations are linked to our page. Please become a fan of our page if you have a Facebook account or open an account to keep up with us – it’s easy! We plan to use the page for breaking news and other announcements and as a site to share stories and photos – would really love to see some more fan photo postings! This is a great site for networking and getting the news out. Call Kathy McConaghie at 227-5330 if you would like further information on how to get started. Hope to see you there! Coalition's Facebook home page at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Franklin-Mountains-Wilderness-Coalition/224824046647?ref=ts .


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: 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 • 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

November 2009

{FMWC} E-Newsletter November 2009


FRANKLIN MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS COALITION
http://www.franklinmountains.org/

NEXT MEETING: November 18, 2009


Our meeting this month will be held from 6 - 8 p.m. at the El Paso Public Library’s Richard Burges Branch located in Northeast El Paso at 9600 Dyer St.

Map available at:
http://www.elpasotexas.gov/library/ourlibraries/our_libraries.asp

You might notice the e-news looks different this month. Well, Judy's out of town so I'm in charge. Sorry, folks, but I'm not as techno-savvy as she is, so there's no contents with links and all that "fancy" stuff this month. Richard Love's photos of the park visiting birds are attached to this email as are BMBA's trailblazing photos. My apologies that the photos are not next to the text. Please check them out anyway and please read on because there's some important and interesting news in here. Thanks, Kathy McConaghie, Newsletter Editor

Please try to attend the meeting but, if you can’t, please make use of the contact information in this newsletter and volunteer to help in the Coalition’s efforts. There are plenty of areas to choose from:

Help Man the Booth: We set up the FMWC display board and literature at various events such as Ardovino’s Farmers Market, the Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta, and the Environmental Summit. It is great fun to talk to people about our Franklin Mountains and FMWC.

Politics: We meet with our elected officials to tell them about FMWC and the work we do.

Poppies Planning: The Franklin Mountains Poppies Preservation Celebration on Castner Range 2010 will be March 20, 2010, but planning is underway now. We need volunteers to help coordinate: Transportation, Parking, Exhibitors, Vendors, Education, Media and VIPs, Information Booth, Event Day Troubleshooter, Equipment/Furniture Coordinator, Sound systems, Photography, Video, Testimonials, Food, Set-up, and Clean-up. For more info call 915-755-4332 or write lobellorl@elpasotexas.gov

Outreach: Do you know an organization that needs a speaker or might join FMWC? Give us an introduction! Do you have a place to display or distribute our rack cards? Ask and we will send you some.

Newsletter: Articles, photos and stories are accepted for our bimonthly newsletter any time – please email to Kathy McConaghie at kmcconaghie@gmail.com, call me for pickup at 915-227-5330, or postal mail to 272 Shadow Mountain, Apt. 12, El Paso, Texas 79912. We’d love to share your mountain news, memories and stories!

MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT,
SCOTT CUTLER

Protecting anything of value often entails challenges. The Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition has recently taken on a new challenge: an effort to generate public awareness of the proposed Mountain to River Trail on the west side of the mountain and threats to its integrity. This multi-use trail is to occupy the last unobstructed arroyo going from its mountain source within the State Park to the Rio Grande. Quarry operations on leased General Land Office property adjacent to the trail will negatively impact this trail. The Coalition is working to insure this unique arroyo and planned trail system are not altered by the quarry.

At the same time, we are maintaining our long standing efforts to have Castner Range protected as open space and see it added to the Franklin Mountains State Park. Discussions with Congressional representatives are ongoing for funding to create a conservation conveyance that would secure the land as open space. The Coalition is also working with its partner organizations to produce the 4th Annual Poppies Celebration on Castner Range at the Museum of Archaeology.
These are busy times for the Coalition. A dedicated cadre of volunteers is giving their all to further these projects, efforts that will protect and enhance the quality of visitors’ experiences with the Franklin Mountains. If you would like to get involved with either of these projects, please contact me at 581-6071.

Thank you for your support of the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition.

PLEASE SIGN OUR ONLINE PETITION NOW AT
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/3/help-save-el-pasos-franklin-mountains

FMWC ELECTION 2009 RESULTS
Thanks to all members who voted in our recent election and congratulations to the members who were elected to our Board of Directors. President: Scott CutlerVice President: Jane FowlerSecretary: Judy AckermanTreasurer: Pat WhiteAt Large Members: Matt Carroll Jim Tolbert

PARK NEWS
Park Volunteer Richard Love writes:
“Well, here we are in the fall season, the first freeze and the first snowfall in the park have come and gone. The Volunteers from the park, the Master Naturalists and our Urban Biologist are in the middle of the annual deer survey. It has been very productive. The park had a fine festival and Chili Cook-off in September. The numbers of guests were up this year and we hope will continue to rise. The fall migration of birds was high this year: we spotted several Warblers, a Scrub Jay, and several Red Shafted Northern Flickers visiting the Wildlife Viewing Area. The winter birds are here now and visiting daily. A great opportunity for the photographers to get super shots of Gamble's Quail, Scaled Quail, and with a little patience our Cactus Wren and Lesser Gold Finches. For the next few days some of the shrubs along the trail to Cottonwood Springs, and up several of the canyons are dressed out in fall colors. From now until Thanksgiving is forecast as nearly perfect weather for hiking, biking or bird watching. Now is the time to plan a picnic and outing in the mountains. See you soon.” (Please see photo attachments)













































OTHER NEWS:

Mountain to River Trail (Kathy McConaghie): The Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition took the unprecedented step of holding two emergency meetings in October to address the issue of a quarry operation gearing up on the western slope of the Franklins below Tom Mays Park. Members had alerted FMWC when the quarry operator bulldozed across Lower Sunset Trail in mid-October and we learned at the October meetings that the planned quarry will directly impact the proposed Mountain to River Trail in the City’s Open Spaces Plan. Hence the emergency meetings and the formation of the Mountain to River Trail Committee.
The committee is comprised of Jim Tolbert, Rick LoBello, Kevin von Finger, Ursula Sherrill, Heather McMurray and Bill Addington. I was honored to be voted chairperson of this fine group of dedicated volunteers. We have worked many hours so far on several aspects of the issue and there is much more to be done. The primary impetus of the committee is organizing a public relations campaign. We will soon have more information available for you but you can start right now at http://www.elpasonaturally.blogspot.com/ or check out recent articles in El Paso, Inc.* and El Diario**

It is inconceivable to me that a 480 acre quarry is about to be dug and blasted across the virtually unspoiled face of an area adjacent to the Tom Mays section of our State Park. A stunning view now visible from major highways, upscale developments, and Upper Valley communities of the unbroken side of our mountain range will be destroyed. The last remaining natural corridor linking the mountains to the river will be forever disrupted, impacting wildlife, watershed, hikers, bikers, etc. I sure am hoping that these things are not inevitable and that our members will feel as compelled to work on this campaign as they were on Castner Range.
We are pleased to announce a petition drive as the first step of many in our campaign. The drive will be very similar to our efforts on behalf of Castner Range. Hard copy petitions, issue information and volunteer signup sheets will be available very soon on our website for you to download. You may also request these documents by contacting me at 915-227-5330 or kmcconaghie@gmail.com. We will be happy to provide copies to individuals or organizations, arrange drop off or pickups, etc.

An online petition link is already available for those of you who would like to sign it. Please go to http://www.thepetitionsite.com/3/help-save-el-pasos-franklin-mountains to sign the petition and forward to your family and friends. The link will be available on our website and we encourage member organizations to share the link with their membership. I’m looking forward to working with you all and making this campaign a resounding success.

*El Paso Inc. article
http://elpasoinc.com/readArticle.aspx?issueid=256&xrec=4586
**El Diario article (in Spanish)
http://www.diario.com.mx/nota.php?notaid=f40efb232a656bd0a1b0dcf8d2674583

Castner Range (Judy Ackerman):
After two years of no comment from the Army on Castner Range, October brought three public meetings. First was the Restoration Authority Board (RAB) meeting on 14 Oct 2009 which outlined two projects: The Wide Area Assessment on the Range and a remediation project the Army will conduct near Hueco Tanks. El Pasoans demonstrated their dedication to preserving Castner – about 60 people attended.

The critical topic was the Wide Area Assessment (WAA) to Characterize Munitions Density at Closed Castner Firing Range. This project started in Oct 2009 and data collection will continue until Apr 2010. On 16 Oct, the Army conducted a more detailed public meeting on the WAA. Due to public comments at the RAB two days before, the Army changed their plans and eliminated an assessment method that would have caused significant environmental damage by using vehicles to tow sensor equipment across Castner Range. Public involvement makes a difference!

The WAA is a demonstration (test) of known technologies to see if they will work to identify positions of munitions on terrain such as Castner. They will collect data about where munitions are located (and not located) for future use in the congressionally mandated process called Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Data analysis and report writing is scheduled to be complete in May 2011. At that time, the Army will have the most accurate information possible on the location of munitions on Castner, but there are no plans to do the next step – the clean up. We want to ensure that Castner Range is locked into a preservation status with a conservation conveyance BEFORE there is any clean up of unexploded ordnance.

Do you want more information? Get on the Army’s distribution lists for information on Castner Range. For RAB announcements, contact the new Ft Bliss RAB coordinator: Patricia A. Rice, President, Scientific Research & Technology, Inc., (SRT, Inc. Cage Code 1YV11), P.O. Box 13208, El Paso, Texas 79913-3208, (915) 373-2446 (cell), (915) 581-0853 (FAX) Rwrice@aol.com . For WAA information, contact the Project Manager: Ms. Kimberly Watts, U.S. Army Environmental Command, at (410) 436-6843, kimberly.watts@us.army.mil .

Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition (Rick LoBello): Our website, http://www.chihuahuandesert.org/ has some interesting news on wild birds reported from the El Paso Zoo plus information on how you can now easily renew your membership or become a member online using PayPal.

Please remember to send us your news items and events using guidelines shown on our calendar page.

El Paso Archaeological Society (Kay Luther): In compliance with the city’s requests, EPAS has changed its monthly lectures to the 3rd Sunday of every month at 3:00 PM at the El Paso Museum of Archaeology, 4301 Transmountain Rd. This month on 11-15-09 The El Paso Archaeological Society presents David H. Greenwald, Director of Research at DMG Four Corners Research, Inc. He will be speaking on The Forgotten Few - Looting and Recovery within the Fort Craig Military Post Cemetery, Socorro County, New Mexico. Results of the archival research, excavation & recovery of human remains will be presented in this talk. This is a free presentation. Join us.

Borderland Mountain Bike Association (David Wilson):
New Trail to Complete Huge Loop Around Franklins
Members of the BMBA have begun scraping out the new trail in Hitt Canyon that will soon make it possible to complete a loop around the north Franklin range without having to leave the State Park. Robert Newman received approval for construction a couple of months ago and was the first to start scratching in a path. Five BMBA members met for the first official trail building day on November 8th and cut a significant portion of trail through what is considered to be the most difficult section. The section consisted of long sections of jagged Franklin red granite, huge lechuguilla patches, and plenty of cat claw bushes. Once completely out of that area, trail construction should move quickly.

This trail is going to be a magnificent trail for both bikers and hikers. The views in upper Hitt Canyon are beautiful and the trail winds its way up into some neat side canyons. The BMBA is hoping to have the trail finished by the New Year as they are hosting the 3rd Annual El Paso Puzzler endurance mountain bike race on Martin Luther King weekend (January 17th). The goal is to keep the race out of the BLM land to the north due to excessive amounts of target shooting in that area.

If you would like to contribute some sweat equity to this trail or you know of others that are looking for a good volunteer service project, please contact BMBA President David Wilson at bmbaelpaso@hotmail.com. More trail days are planned for the next few Sundays and can be scheduled for other days if you have a group that wants to help. If you can trim shrubs or wield a garden rake, the BMBA can use you. The club is also offering BMBA Bucks for your efforts. One hour of trail work will earn you $1 in BMBA Bucks which are redeemable at supporting bike shops. (Please see photo attachments)

New Mexico Wilderness Alliance: Sportsmen, business owners, conservationists, local elected officials and other community members hailed the introduction Thursday of The Organ Mountains – Desert Peaks Wilderness Act, by Senator Jeff Bingaman and Senator Tom Udall. The measure will protect nearly 400,000 acres of public land in Doña Ana County, by designating 271,050 acres as wilderness and creating a 109,600-acre National Conservation Area around the Organ and Doña Ana Mtns. and parts of Broad Canyon.

“We applaud Senators Bingaman and Udall for helping ensure that more of New Mexico’s spectacular natural lands will be around for our children’s children to use and enjoy,” said Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima. “This legislation follows years of discussion and collaboration with community members with many different interests and concerns.”

Bonnie Burn, President of the League of Women Voters, added, “We all share the goal of protecting Doña Ana County’s unique and precious open areas which are key to our quality of life.”

“This important conservation bill comes as the nation celebrates the 45th anniversary of the Wilderness Act and the development of the nation’s wilderness preservation system,” said Stephen Capra, executive director of the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance.
More information at:
http://bingaman.senate.gov/news/20090917-01.cfm

EDITOR’S COMMENT: Why aren’t communities, organizations and elected officials in the El Paso area banding together like these folks in New Mexico to protect our remaining wild areas?

FMWC on Facebook: Apologies to those of you who might have been looking for us on Facebook. We’ve been diverted by some pressing issues but plan to get our account up and running soon. Hope to see you there!

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!!

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.
(Return to Top)

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 • Bordersenses • Celebration Of Our Mountains • Centro San Vicente • Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition • Chihuahuan Desert Wildlife Rescue • 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 • 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 •
Welcome to new members: EcoClub EPCC -- Environmental Advocates at UTEP -- Friends of the Arroyo

September 2009

{FMWC} E-Newsletter September 2009

FRANKLIN MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS COALITION
http://www.franklinmountains.org/

NEXT MEETING: September 16, 2009

Our meeting will be held at the El Paso Public Library’s Main Branch located downtown at 501 N. Oregon St. The meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. in the Maud Sullivan Gallery. The main branch’s location map and parking information are available online at:
http://www.elpasotexas.gov/library/ourlibraries/main_library/main_library.asp


Please try to attend the meeting but, if you can’t, please make use of the contact information in this newsletter and volunteer to help in the Coalition’s efforts. There are plenty of areas to choose from:

Help Man the Booth: We set up the FMWC display board and literature at various events such as Ardovino’s Farmers Market, the Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta, and the Environmental Summit. It is great fun to talk to people about our Franklin Mountains and FMWC.

Politics: We meet with our elected officials to tell them about FMWC and the work we do.

Poppies Planning: The Franklin Mountains Poppies Preservation Celebration on Castner Range 2010 will be March 20, 2010, but planning is underway now. We need volunteers to help coordinate: Transportation, Parking, Exhibitors, Vendors, Education, Media and VIPs, Information Booth, Event Day Troubleshooter, Equipment/Furniture Coordinator, Sound systems, Photography, Video, Testimonials, Food, Set-up, and Clean-up. For more info call 915-755-4332 or write lobellorl@elpasotexas.gov

Outreach: Do you know an organization that needs a speaker or might join FMWC? Give us an introduction! Do you have a place to display or distribute our rack cards? Ask and we will send you some.

NEWS FLASHES

Preserving Castner Range:

El Pasoans care deeply about Castner Range, the crown jewel of the Franklin Mountains, where, weather permitting, poppies bloom in the spring. Preserving Castner Range is a top priority for FMWC and, thanks to Congressman Silvestre Reyes, we have some progress on this project. Since January 2008, FMWC has been working with the Congressman Reyes’ staff to determine the best way to permanently preserve Castner Range as natural open space. The end goal is to make Castner Range part of the Franklin Mountains State Park, however, the park cannot accept any land that remains contaminated with unexploded ordnance.

We have a new tool to preserve Department of Defense (DOD) land (like Castner Range) – a Conservation Conveyance. The Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act, passed in 2002, authorizes a Conservation Conveyance to transfer contaminated DOD land to a non-profit conservation organization. The land would be preserved in its natural state until it can be cleaned of contaminants (unexploded ordnance in the case of Castner). Once cleaned, the land would be transferred to the Franklin Mountains State Park.

Congressman Reyes included language in the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act regarding Castner Range Complex at Fort Bliss and expressing interest “[I]n maintaining this land for a conservation purpose.” Congressman Reyes included money for a Castner Range Conservation Conveyance Study in the Department of Defense Appropriations Bill.
(Mike Gaglio, Congressman Reyes, judy Ackerman)
In July, Congressman Reyes’ staff invited Mike Gaglio (The Frontera Land Alliance) and judy Ackerman (FMWC) to D.C. to talk about Castner Range. They met with Assistant Deputy Secretaries of the Army in the Pentagon, senior House Armed Service Committee staff, and Legislative Assistants of Senators Hutchison and Cornyn. Everyone they met was supportive of preserving Castner Range.

We anticipate more information from our new DC contacts after the August Congressional recess. Congressman Reyes and his staff deserve our thanks for their proactive efforts to preserve Castner Range – a natural treasure. You can contact him at 310 N. Mesa, Suite 400, El Paso, Texas 79901, Phone: (915) 534-4400.

Contact Kathy if you’re interested in having more Castner info e-mailed to you.


FMWC on Facebook:

Coalition members recently attended the Social Media workshop hosted by Nonprofit Enterprise Center at the El Paso Community College, perfect timing for our upcoming project to dip our toes into social networking with a Facebook page! Kathy McConaghie will be working on and editing this project – anyone interested in helping maintain the page, submitting photos, essays, etc. please contact her by email kmcconaghie@gmail.com or phone 915-227-5330.


City Sustainability Plan will go before Council on September 15th. Please contact Kathy by email if you would like a copy of the plan emailed to you. Thanks to Jim Tolbert for supplying this information to us. Jim has good blogs at www.elpasonaturally.blogspot.com and www.newmanpark.blogspot.com .


International Park:

Rick LoBello has a story at iloveparks.com summarizing renewed efforts to move the long proposed US Mexico International Park Proposal forward. Rick also has a summary of recent developments, including a new map and historical timeline, at iloveparks.com/peaceparks . We encourage everyone to learn more about this great project. Rick has also recommended two recent articles by Bonnie McKinley about the bears of the international park area - “If there ever was a symbol for this giant park I would say it was the Mexican black bear.” Read more at http://www.bigbendgazette.com/blog/_archives/2009/1/3/4044427.html &http://www.bigbendgazette.com/blog/_archives/2009/1/3/4120740.html


MARK YOUR CALENDARS !

5th Annual Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta:

September 19, at Tom Mays Park in El Paso. FREE entry to Franklin Mountains State Park Tom Mays section all day as members of the community come together to celebrate the Chihuahuan Desert (www.chihuahuandesert.org).

Special presentations at the last picnic area on the left right before the end of the loop road:
10am Kevin von Finger – The Chihuahuan Desert Past and Future
11am Rose Janice – All about the State Reptile of Texas, Texas Horned Lizards
Noon Virginia Morris – Plants of the Franklin Mountains
1pm Rick LoBello – Wildlife of the Franklin Mountains
2pm Cesar Mendez – Franklin Mountains State Park Update

Franklin Mountains State Park will also be hosting a Chili Cook-off sanctioned by the Chili Appreciation Society International. The judged competition will include a public tasting and a “showmanship” category.
The Climbers of Hueco Tanks Coalition will be giving free tutorials on climbing basics. Join Park Ranger, Kelly Serio for an interpretive presentation on birds. There will be an outdoor equipment and basic skills presentation given by Park Rangers.

Park volunteers will sell donated items at the Fiesta from 9 to 3. PLEASE DONATE your good, clean, used hiking/camping/biking equipment and clothing to support your Franklin Mountains State Park.
Proceeds will go to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation’s Lone Star Legacy endowment fund to be used exclusively for the programs and conservation of our beautiful Franklin Mountains State Park. If you have items to donate, please call Jim Tolbert at 915-613-4902 (leave your name and number if nobody answers); or email him at jimhtolbert@elp.rr.com.

If you would like to make a cash donation, please write a check to “Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation” and in the memo put “Franklin Mountains State Park”. Please mail your check to: Franklin Mountains State Park/1331 McKelligon Canyon Rd/El Paso, TX 79930-2649.


Friends of the Arroyo:

September 19th: Before you head up to the Fiesta, Friends of the Arroyo is having a workday the morning of Saturday, Sept. 19. Meet at the bench at the bottom of Virginia St. below Robinson, the Tennis Club parking lot. If you have garden tools such as hedge clippers, pruning shears, hoes or rakes, please bring them, as the supply of tools is limited. Many thanks from Matt Carroll, Senior Leader.


Celebration of our Mountains:.

September 19 through November 8, Get involved in this year's events. Learn more at www.celebrationofourmountains.org


El Paso/Trans-Pecos Audubon Society:

September 21, Monthly Public Meeting at 7:00 p.m. at the Rio Grande Campus of El Paso Community College, 100 W. Rio Grande, Bldg 4010, Room 119. “Rio Bosque Birdlife: Thirty Years of Change.” John Sproul, with UTEP’s Center for Environmental Resource Management, will speak on the changes in the birdlife at El Paso’s Rio Bosque Wetlands Park over the past 30 years. The public is welcome. Refreshments will be served.


El Paso Pride Environmental Summit:

September 25 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Camino Real Hotel, 101 S. El Paso, TX. Cost: Free. Information: the Summit brings together government agencies, local companies, high school students, environmental experts, and El Paso residents to discuss the different environmental issues in the community, find possible solutions, and implement the solutions. There will be continental breakfast and sit down lunch at no charge. Topic: “A New Day in the Sun”, to include renewable energy, solar, city of El Paso sustainability, tires and rubber pavement, and illegal dumping. RSVP REQUIRED: Grace Terrazas 834-4970 –FMWC will have a booth there (thanks, Judy!)


On the River, For the River:

September 26: Southwest Environmental Center's 13th annual On the River, For the River gala fundraiser, scheduled for Saturday, September 26, 5-10:30 pm. You won't want to miss this event. Chef Brian Curry and Andele Restaurant have teamed up to create a gourmet menu to rival the finest restaurants. And don't worry about food lines this year--there will be servers and multiple serving stations along with great music, High Desert Brews, fine wines, silent auction, and mingling with some of the friendliest and most interesting people around, all under the stars at the beautiful Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park. Local NPR radio host Carrie Hamblen will preside over the festivities. Governor Richardson has been invited as the keynote speaker. Guided tours of the park will be offered between 4:30 and 6 pm on the half hour. Tickets are $50 in advance, $55 after 9/23. ($25 is tax-deductible). Tickets are available at SWEC's office, Mountainview Market, Malooly's Flooring Company, Andele Restaurant, Las Cosas Kitchen Shoppe, and Milagro Coffee y Espresso. Great food, great fun, a great cause--it's a winning combination! Get your tickets today! For more info, call (575) 522-5552.


8th Annual Elephant Festival:

September 26, 27 The El Paso Zoo highlights our city’s favorite pachyderms Savannah and Juno in a celebration of elephants worldwide. Go to www.elpasozoo.org/adventure for more information about this delightful and educational event.


Teaching Ecological Complexity Through Field Science Inquiry (Ecoplexity):

September 26, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Location: Carlos M. Ramirez Tech2o Learning Center, 10751 Montana, El Paso, TX 79935. Cost: No charge. Teachers must make reservations. Contact Diane Perez willie@epwu.org. The Ecoplexity Project is a four-year project funded by the National Science Foundation. The purpose of the project is to provide resources and training for upper middle and high school teachers that will allow them to engage in authentic field research studies with their students. Training emphasizes the use of conceptual models and authentic field research skills.


El Paso/Trans-Pecos Audubon Society:

September 26, Field Trip - “Birds of Keystone Heritage Park.” 7:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m. Since Keystone opened in 1997, over 200 species of migratory and local birds and 22 rare birds have been found in this 52-acre permanent wetland. Keystone attracts a variety of ducks and shorebirds, plus other birds that are passing through. Young and beginner birders are welcome. Bring binoculars, although a few pairs will be available to loan. Call Ursula at 526-7725 for more info.


El Paso/Trans-Pecos Audubon Society:

September 27, Field Trip - “Day Trip to Otero Mesa, NM”. The public is welcome. Call Ursula at 526-7725 for more info.


Meet Your Neighbors – Animals and Plants of the Chihuahuan Desert Lecture Series:

October 8, 15, 22, 29, 7pm to 8pm. Meeting Place: El Paso Zoo in the El Paso Water Utilities Discovery Center, Meet at the Front Gate at 6:45 pm. Leader(s) name(s): Rick LoBello, Education Curator. 915-521-1881, lobellorl@elpasotexas.gov. This four part free lecture series is designed to introduce teens on up to the animals and plants of the Chihuahuan Desert with a focus on those species found within City limits and in local State Parks and wildlife refuges. Session 1 on Thursday October 8 will include an overview of the Chihuahuan Desert and places to explore the desert here in El Paso and the surrounding region. Session 2 on Thursday October 15 will focus on the plant life of the Chihuahuan Desert. Session 3 on Thursday, October 22 will focus on the invertebrates and reptiles and amphibians of the Chihuahuan Desert. Session 4 on October 29 will focus on the birds and mammals of the Chihuahuan Desert.


BOO at the ZOO:

October 24, 25, 31, It's merry not scary - kooky not spooky! It’s the largest outdoor, safe trick or treat event in El Paso! Pumpkin Bowling, Kiddie Mazes, Costumes Galore, Candy at Treat Stations sponsored by local businesses. We invite you to bring the kids to our fun, candy-filled zoo! Watch different animals eat, smoosh or play with pumpkins! Your kids will go away with a full bag of treats and a smile on their faces – you’ll leave with great photos and warm memories of your adorable little ones. (Call 521-1899 for event & booth sponsor info).


Schools Only: TecH2O Water Festival

October 29-30, Time: 9:00 a.m – 11:00 a.m. or 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. Location: Carlos M. Ramirez Tech2o Learning Center, 10751 Montana, El Paso, TX 79935.Cost: No charge. Information: Water Festival is a fun hands-on event to promote water awareness and education that will lead to understanding of the regional water resources and to help protect it through conservation and pollution prevention, by inspiring thoughtful and proactive stewardship throughout the community.


Public: TecH2O Water Festival:
October 31, Time: 9:00 a.m – 1:00 p.m. Location: Carlos M. Ramirez Tech2o Learning Center, 10751 Montana, El Paso, TX 79935. Cost: No charge. Information: Water Festival is a fun hands-on event to promote water awareness and education that will lead to understanding of the regional water resources and to help protect it through conservation and pollution prevention, by inspiring thoughtful and proactive stewardship throughout the community. Children wearing Halloween costumes will receive a prize.


Park News
John Moses would like us to pass along these tidbits:

“Franklin summit hikers who want to walk the ridge south of Ranger Peak onto Comanche Peak need to remember that this is private property and the tower operator there will enforce trespass. The state park boundary ends roughly at the 3 utility poles in the saddle where Thousand Steps Trail heads down to the NW.

Dr. Marc Thompson has retired as Director of the El Paso Museum of Archaeology. He served in that capacity since 1998. It is not known if the city plans to seek replace- ment for him immediately.

If you missed the cover of the August issue of Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine and the accompanying article entitled "No Hike for Old Men -- Hiking the Spine of the Franklin Mountains" see: http://www.tpwmagazine.com/archive/2009/aug/ed_1/ “

Thanks to the Master Naturalists for passing another great article along: http://www.tpwmagazine.com/archive/2008/jan/getaways1/

And thanks again to Park volunteer, Richard Love, who writes: “Well Summer is winding down and the mornings are a lot cooler up on the mountain. The fall migration is under way and we are seeing new birds every day. The hummingbirds’ migration started real early. The resident Black-chinned hummers were joined by the Rufous hummingbirds. The first part of this month we were visited by the smallest hummingbird in the United States. The Calliope, who usually calls the North Western states and Canada home, visited our feeders for about 5 days before he moved on. Some of the other hummingbirds that visited our feeders are the Broad-tailed ,and Ruby-throated and possibly an Allens hummingbird as the last two are very hard to tell apart. The bird blind has been renamed. It is now officially called The Wildlife Viewing Area. We have a much better water feature with a solar powered water recirculation pump. The water is much cleaner and is a lot more photogenic. Some of the other animals seen recently: Rock Squirrel, Texas Antelope Squirrels and Cotton-tailed Rabbits. In the near future we will be doing some stealth photos to see what might be coming to water at night. There are still early morning hikes that can be scheduled - call Kelly for details. See you all at the Festival on the 19th. “
(Check out Richard’s photos in our e-newsletter - this month features Black-chinned, Broad-tailed and Calliope hummingbirds.)


MORE ZOO NEWS

From Rick LoBello:

Have you seen our javelinas? Are they pigs?
Meet the javelina, one of the newest animals at the Zoo. Javelinas, also called collared peccaries, are related to pigs, but actually are in a family of their own called Tayassuidae. Pigs are in the family Suidae.

Javelina are found throughout much of the tropical and subtropical Americas, ranging from the Southwestern United States to northern Argentina in South America. They feed on fruits, roots, tubers, palm nuts, grasses, invertebrates and small vertebrates. Javelinas live in the desert around the Franklin Mountains but are rarely seen.


New Interpretive Aide Training Program
October 10, 2009 to January 30, 2010
The El Paso Zoo Education Department is happy to announce a new training program for current and new Zoo Volunteers wanting to help with Education Programs in 2010. A new Interpretive Aide volunteer position has been created for those with a passion to help others better understand animals and the natural world at the El Paso Zoo. This training opportunity is free to anyone who is at least 18 years old and is able to meet the qualifications to become an El Paso Zoological Society Volunteer. Interpretation is defined as a mission-based communication process that forges emotional and intellectual connections between the interests of the audience and meanings inherent in the resource. Here at the Zoo our mission is to celebrate the value of animals and natural resources and create opportunities for people to rediscover their connection with nature. Interpretive Aides will help the Education Team at the Zoo accomplish that mission.

Twelve new Interpretive Aide training days are planned on Saturdays from October 10, 17, 24, 31, November 7 & 14, December 5 & 12, 2009 and January 9, 16, 23 & 30, 2010. Those completing requirements for Certified Interpreter, Animal Handling, America’s Interpretive Program, Asia Interpretive Program and Africa Interpretive Program will receive special patches signifying that they have completed all the Zoo requirements for each qualification. From October, 2009 to January 2010 volunteers are asked to attend at least 6 of the 12 sessions. The number of sessions you complete will determine what areas of the Zoo you are qualified to volunteer in, whether it is in the Americas Area, Asia or Africa. Education staff will offer a limited number of make-up sessions whenever possible during the 2010 calendar year for those who can not attend all the sessions they wish to attend. Each applicant accepted into the program will be asked to volunteer at least 8 hours a month helping with the Zoo’s education program or 96 hours from February 2010 to January 2011. To apply to be a candidate for the upcoming training program please contact Education Curator Rick LoBello at lobellorl@elpasotexas.gov by October 2, 2009. For more information call 915-521-1881.


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!!

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 • 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

July 2009

FRANKLIN MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS COALITION
JULY 2009
http://www.franklinmountains.org/

NEXT MEETING: Wednesday, July 15, 2009
6:00 p.m. in the Maud Sullivan Gallery at the El Paso Public Library’s Main Branch located downtown at 501 N. Oregon St. The main branch’s location map and parking information are available online at:
http://www.elpasotexas.gov/library/ourlibraries/main_library/main_library.asp

Our Coalition’s continued vitality, efficacy and strength depend upon membership participation. Individual member or representative of a member organization - we hope to see you at the meeting!


WELCOME!

Speaking of members: a belated welcome to our new member organizations: Bordersenses, Centro San Vicente, El Paso County Master Gardeners, El Paso Zoo and Voter Education Project, Inc. We also have numerous new individual members but space does not permit welcoming each of you by name. Please know how much we value your commitment.

RECENT EVENTS

Castner Range: Congressman Sylvester Reyes included the following critical policy language in the National Defense Authorization Act.

The committee understands that the Department of Defense ceased operations at the Castner Range Complex at Fort Bliss, Texas, in 1971. In testimony, the Army indicated that Castner Range is “wholly impractical to use for any range activity.”
The committee is interested in maintaining this land for a conservation purpose. The committee encourages the Department to enter into an agreement in furtherance of conveyance with eligible conservation entities.
If you haven’t already, please send Congressman Reyes your thanks: 310 North Mesa, Suite 400, El Paso, TX 79901, 915-534-4400, or e-mail: http://reyes.house.gov/Contact/vyo.htm
And a big thank you to Sito Negron at Newspaper Tree for his article “Incrementally Preserving the Castner Range Status Quo” – check it out at: http://newspapertree.com/news/3983

New Garden: Kudos to the volunteers from El Paso Cactus and Rock Club, Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists, and the Native Plant Society for their hard work this spring creating a new cactus garden for the Lee and Beulah Moor Children’s Home.


MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

Sunrise Hikes: Did you know that there’s a hiking group that hikes various trails on the Franklin Mountains at sunrise several days a week? The group includes Park volunteers, trail experts and generic citizens and hikes from 6 a.m. until 8 a.m. Interested in learning more about Franklin Mountains hiking trails or joining the group, email Jim Tolbert @ jimhtolbert@elp.rr.com

Farmer’s Market: at Ardovino’s Desert Crossing continues every Saturday through mid October from 7:30 AM–12:00PM: http://www.ardovinos.com/farmersmarket.html for more information, including directions.

Poppies Celebration 2010: The Fourth Annual Franklin Mountains Poppies Celebration at Castner Range – a FREE Family Fun Day – is planned for Saturday, March 20 at the El Paso Museum of Archaeology, 4301 Transmountain Road and will include a full program of nature talks, wildlife displays, educational exhibits, demonstrations, vendors, music and refreshments.
El Pasoans care deeply about the Franklin Mountains – one of our area’s greatest assets. We are frequently blessed with a stunning wildflower display on particular parts of the Franklin Mountains when the Mexican golden poppies burst forth on Castner Range.

Sponsors include El Paso Archaeological Society, El Paso Museum of Archaeology, Franklin Mountains State Park, and Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition.
For more information: 915-755-4332 or lobellorl@elpasotexas.gov.
Exhibitors are invited to join in planning the event.

As last year, we will charge a small fee for exhibitor organizations but the fee will be waived for those organizations who are actively involved in planning the event.

Please attend the next planning meeting: Wednesday, 5 Aug 09, at 0900, at the Museum of Archaeology. See you then!

PARK NEWS

Franklin Mountains State Park volunteer, Richard Love, writes: “Well, summer is in full swing, and things are hopping around the bird blind. The hummingbird count is up to ten. They recently had a shock when they came in to eat. The feeder was occupied by a female Ladder-back Wood Pecker. At first I thought she was robbing a drink of nectar, but after watching her for a while I discovered she was moving hole to hole eating the bees and ants that come in. The very next day an Ash-throated Flycatcher was on the Hummingbird feeder after the sweet Bees. With the recent rains and the few flowers that have already opened there have been a large number of Butterflies. I have seen four different butterflies mostly at the End Loop. There was a good year for the different lizards in the park. I have seen lots of juveniles, and they are healthy and colorful. We have had a couple of twilight hikes and have had very good feedback. Weekends and holidays there are guided hikes and tours, and lots of campers using the facilities. In the next few weeks there will be some great additions to the park so keeping track of upcoming events will be easier. In September there will be a CASI Chili Cook Off in conjunction with the Celebration of the Mountains. We’re looking for judges so, if you or a friend have a very high tolerance for hot and spicy food, please call Kelly at 566-6441. Right now after the rains it is a photographers dream - almost any time of day you can find willing (some not so willing) subjects to photograph. Each day that goes by more flowers open. One staple of nature photography is to shoot right after a rain. The colors and the landscape are like no other time. See you soon...” Thank you, Richard, for news of the Park.

Borderlands Photography Exhibit in Las Cruces

Member organization Southwest Environmental Center is hosting a stunning photo exhibit through the end of July at the Center’s Cottonwood Gallery in Las Cruces. On loan from the International League of Conservation Photographers, the 30 photograph exhibit entitled Continental Divide: Borderlands, Wildlife, People and the WALL, shows the diversity of wildlife, cultures and communities that exists in the fragile borderlands, but is now jeopardized by the 630 miles of pedestrian and vehicle fencing dividing the U.S. from Mexico.

The border wall has drawn heavy criticism from conservation organizations including the Southwest Environmental Center, Defenders of Wildlife and the Sierra Club, civil-rights groups, private landowners, tribes and communities along the border for reasons as varied as habitat destruction, infringement on property rights, and damage to historic and cultural sites.

Documenting the region’s wildlife and ecology, the photographs were taken earlier this year by world-renowned ILCP photographers who had visited the borderlands along with a team of writers, filmmakers and scientists to highlight the effects of the wall.

“We hope the exhibit will provide viewers with a more intimate connection to the people and wildlife of the borderlands,” said Krista Schlyer, ILCP exhibit coordinator and expedition leader. “The photographers involved in the expedition saw first hand the damage that border wall and other infrastructure are doing to borderlands communities.”

The Department of Homeland Security – the federal agency tasked with building the wall – waived some 36 laws during its construction, including measures protecting the environment and religious freedoms.

In 2005, Congress passed the REAL ID Act, giving the former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff the authority to waive laws that slowed new walls and infrastructure – a move which is still being challenged in the courts as a constitutional violation.

Today, some 50 miles of wall continue to be built without the guidance of environmental laws, scientific study or public input. Some segments of wall will cut landowners off from their own property, and place some US homes south of the border wall.

The resulting damage to the region’s fragile ecosystem has not been fully documented, but the ILCP’s photographs and multimedia presentation taken over a two-month period show that the destruction is extensive.

Meanwhile, construction continues.

“In west Texas, the wall was recently built along nearly 90 miles of the Rio Grande, blocking access by mountain lions, bobcats, deer, javelina, pronghorn and many other wildlife species to this critically important resource,” said Kevin Bixby, Executive Director of the Southwest Environmental Center. “This is how animals go extinct—by fragmenting larger populations into smaller ones, and by destroying habitat. We need to find better ways to secure our borders that are not environmentally destructive.”

In late April, U.S. Representative Raúl Grijalava (AZ) introduced legislation aimed at improving border security, while also helping to restore the natural environment. The Border Security and Responsibility Act (HR 2076) includes provisions that would require environmental studies to review the impacts the wall has had on wildlife and the environment, and to identify ways to mitigate the damage that’s already been done.

The exhibit is cosponsored by the Center for Latin American Studies at New Mexico State University, and City of Artists Promotional Association. Later this year Borderlands will travel to Berlin, Germany, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

For more information contact Roger Turner, SWEC, (575) 522-5552 or roger@wildmesquite.org



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!!



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 • Bordersenses • Celebration Of Our Mountains • Centro San Vicente • Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition • Chihuahuan Desert Wildlife Rescue • 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 • 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 •

May 2009

{FMWC} E-Newsletter – May 2009

FRANKLIN MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS COALITION
http://www.franklinmountains.org/


Next Meeting:
Wednesday, May 20, 2009

New Meeting Place and Time

Our meeting this month will be held at the El Paso Public Library’s Main Branch located downtown at 501 N. Oregon St. The meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. in the Maud Sullivan Gallery. The main branch’s location map and parking information are available online at:
http://www.elpasotexas.gov/library/ourlibraries/main_library/main_library.asp

This meeting’s agenda concerns important issues, such as the status of the preservation of Castner Range, conservation conveyance and funding, about which critical decisions must be made. We strongly encourage individual members to attend and for each member organization to send at least one representative. We hope and need to see you there!


Recent Events

Land Transfer: A Land Transfer Ceremony was held in April in Northeast El Paso to mark the transfer of 1,659 acres of PSB land to Texas Parks and Wildlife to expand Franklin Mountains State Park. Great news!

Earth Day: On April 22nd, FMWC participated in the first Earth Day event sponsored by the Eco-Club at El Paso Community College Rio Grande Campus. The event was well organized and many students and staff attended. We sold T-shirts, postcards and signed up many potential members. Our e-mail distribution list now has over 400 members! Please let us know if you hear of future events where we can set up our display.

Loop 375 Underpass: Our thanks to Rick Bonart, et.al. for their work on drainage erosion control leading to cooperation between TxDOT and TPWD on an agreement for a future park trail following completion of construction of the TxDOT project. Construction is anticipated late this calendar year or possibly spring next year. As Charlie Wakeem puts it, “Rick accomplished this project ... through persistence and dedication to quality open space and recreation for our community. He was able to bring TexDOT and TPWD together to make it happen. We all should learn from him. “


Cactus Rustling: Rick LoBello recently traveled to Austin at Senator Shapleigh’s request to testify in support of the Senator’s Plant Protection Bill, SB212, which was approved by committee and is now progressing through the Legislature. Show your support to Senator Shapleigh on this matter by contacting him at http://shapleigh.org/ . More information about this issue can be found at www.chihuahuandesert.org. Another good article, John Pickrell’s “Cactus Smugglers Threatening Desert Ecosystems” can be found at http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/04/0421_030421_cactus.html

There was initially some confusion as to whether Rich would be able to testify before the committee. He was eventually able to and has been kind enough to supply us with the gist of it. His words about desert plants and wildlife touch us all and provide good talking points should you wish to contact your elected representatives:

“I would like to offer my full support for SB 212 relating to the sale or transport of certain desert plants in Texas. I came today with the support of many people who care about our desert including members of the Native Plant Society of El Paso, the Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition, the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition, Frontera Land Alliance and the El Paso Zoo Conservation Committee.

I believe that it is critical to the future of Texas in protecting our natural environment that SB 212 be passed into law. To illustrate the urgency of this legislation I am attaching pictures of a truck recently seen near Sierra Blanca, Texas that was loaded with ocotillo plants headed for Arizona. The people who are involved with this industry are clear cutting our desert and removing large areas of ocotillo and yucca forests as well as the microbial crust layer of soil so important to plant regeneration. In some areas the damage to our desert is so severe that it may never be able to recover back to its natural state and when the soil is removed with the plants, many other species of animals and plants are severely impacted.

Over the past 35 years I have been actively working as an educator, park ranger, researcher and park administrator in the Chihuahuan Desert region of West Texas. Most of my time has been spent living in our national parks where I spent 17 years living in Big Bend National Park and 8 years working at Guadalupe Mountains and Carlsbad Caverns National Parks. During this time I have come to know this important eco-region which has been recognized internationally as a hotspot for conservation.

One of the greatest threats to the natural history of Texas and to our environment in West Texas is the growing impact on the land from those who are destroying the desert for commercial interests centered on the sale of desert plants like yucca and ocotillo. On numerous occasions over the past 20 years I have seen a growing number of trucks on Texas highways hauling these plants to out of state retail establishments where the plants are used for landscaping. While I support the use of native plants for landscaping, I believe that the plants needed for this industry should come largely from nurseries.
Having spent most of my career working in national parks I can assure this committee that no park is an island and without the presence of intact ecosystems on private and public lands outside the parks, the parks themselves are threatened.

Here in West Texas we are experiencing a big problem in protecting the Chihuahuan Desert and our parks when people who gather these plants for the retail industry take plants illegally from public and private lands. SB 212 will give us a regulatory mechanism to help prevent the illegal taking of these plants and is an important step in protecting our natural heritage for future generations.

I urge you to support the passage of this important piece of legislation. As I am sure you are well aware if our world becomes unsafe for native plants and animals it certainly will not be a safe place for people. We are all connected to the natural world and what happens to it ultimately affects our own well being. “


Mark Your Calendars!

The El Paso Zoo will observe national Endangered Species Day on Tuesday May 19th and will offer workshops and presentations about endangered species and how individuals can help. For more information on this event call the Zoo at 915-521-1850 or go to www.elpasozoo.org .

Ardovino’s Desert Crossing opens its 8th Annual Farmers’ Market on May 23rd, 2009. We will have a booth (set up is 6 AM) for Opening Day. Please call Judy at 915-755-7371 if you can help for even 30 minutes. This event is really fun. The Market is open every Saturday through mid October from 7:30 AM – 12:00PM. Go to http://www.ardovinos.com/farmersmarket.html for more information, including directions.


Summer Birds at the Park

Franklin Mountains State Park volunteer, Richard Love, writes: “Well, summer is just around the corner and the birds of summer are arriving daily. This week an Ash-Throated Flycatcher, a pair of Say's Phoebes and a Black-headed Grosbeak female came into the bird blind. Haven't seen the male yet but he will be around. The Scaled Quail have paired off and are no longer running in coveys. We aren't seeing large numbers at one time but a steady stream of pairs are coming in. Other birds are still coming in large numbers.

I mentioned the bird blind earlier and I just supposed that everyone knows about it. We (The Volunteers and Rangers) have built a brand new bird blind that will be officially put into service next week or so. The finishing touches are going on daily. When it is officially opened it will be a great place for research on the birds of the Franklins and to sit in out of the sun enjoying the birds and the antics of the local Texas Antelope Squirrels. Local photographers can use the blind to get really good shots of some hard-to-find birds.

I will try to keep abreast of what birds are coming in and the best way to see them, and keep people notified by news letters and on the bulletin boards at the entrance and booth in the Park. For instructions to find the bird blind ask any Ranger. If you have a small group that wants to bird watch or study the birds call the park office and reserve it for your time frame. Small groups of 4 to 6 people are best - larger groups tend to keep the birds just out of range. Small groups who book the blind can call Erica or Kelly at 566-6441 to arrange to use our binoculars.

Of course, if you are in the park and just want to drop in with your binos or camera, that's fine, too. Here’s some info for photographers: birds and squirrels come in to about 25 feet and closer. Longer lenses (300 to 400 MM) work best if you have them but the 200 MM will work with a little patience.

A word of caution in closing: there are birds and small game around most of the time with a water source nearby so there will be rattlesnakes come to visit. Do not molest the snakes - if you see one report it to a Ranger. The park and the mountains are home to many kinds of wildlife. The snakes are as much a vital part of the system as any of the other wildlife.”

Thanks to Richard for the lovely article and the wonderful photo. The new bird blind sounds like a fantastic addition to the Park.


Stunning Victory for Otero Mesa

Kevin Bixby, Executive Director of our member organization, Southwest Environmental Center, has shared wonderful news: “the United States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver issued a decision April 28th invalidating the Bureau of Land Management’s oil and gas drilling plan for New Mexico’s Otero Mesa. The court ruled that the BLM’s original Resource Management Plan Amendment, which opened the vast majority of Otero Mesa to oil and gas leasing and limited protection for the desert grasslands, was fatally flawed due to its failure to consider protection for Otero Mesa and the Salt Basin Aquifer. Essentially the BLM has to return to the drawing board, and fix the original Amendment before it can do anything further. The decision was a stunning vindication for the Southwest Environmental Center and other conservation groups that have been fighting to protect the grasslands, wildlife and water of Otero Mesa for the past 7 years.”

SWEC’s article appears below. You can also check out their website at http://www.wildmesquite.org/index.htm for more information. As Kevin points out, “The decision reaffirms the significance of Otero Mesa and reaffirms the case for its permanent protection from oil and gas drilling. The momentum has shifted in our favor, but we need to make sure the victory is permanent. Contact your Congressman (NM and TX). Tell them the Court got it right. Tell them it’s time to introduce and support legislation for permanent protection.”

Anyone who may doubt the importance of banning oil and gas drilling close to important water sources such as the Salt Basin Aquifer should check out this link for a report on contamination of public and private water sources by high pressure natural gas mining in Ohio, Pa. and Colorado:
http://www.propublica.org/feature/officials-in-three-states-pin-water-woes-on-gas-drilling-426


Huge Victory in Battle for Otero Mesa
reprinted by SWEC permission

Court invalidates BLM drilling plan; momentum shifts towards protection
In a stunning victory for the Southwest Environmental Center and other conservation groups that have been fighting to protect the grasslands, wildlife and water of Otero Mesa for the past 7 years, the United States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision on April 28 invalidating the Bureau of Land Management’s oil and gas drilling plan for New Mexico’s Otero Mesa.

The court ruled that the BLM’s original Resource Management Plan Amendment, which opened the vast majority of Otero Mesa to oil and gas leasing and limited protection for the desert grasslands, was fatally flawed due to its failure to consider protection for Otero Mesa and the Salt Basin Aquifer.

The ruling came in connection with a lawsuit filed by a coalition of conservation organizations including SWEC, the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance, The Wilderness Society, the New Mexico and National Wildlife Federations, and WildEarth Guardians, and a lawsuit filed by the State of New Mexico.

“This is a major boost in our fight to protect one of New Mexico’s most ecologically valuable and unique places,” Governor Bill Richardson said. “I am pleased that the courts share our steadfast position that the public must have a voice in decisions affecting oil and gas leasing on Otero Mesa.”

The court ruled that the BLM had to consider an alternative that closed Otero Mesa to oil and gas leasing, admonishing the agency that “[d]evelopment is a possible use, which BLM must weigh against other possible uses—including conservation to protect environmental values, which are best assessed through the NEPA process.”

The court went on to write that, “applying the rule of reason, we [the court] agree...that analysis of an alternative closing the Mesa to development is compelled.”

The court also rejected the BLM’s position that there were no significant risks to the Salt Basin Aquifer, which contains millions of acre-feet of potable water, from oil and gas, noting that the agency had not reviewed “relevant data” and characterized the information included in the agency’s own documentation as “point[ing] uniformly in the opposite direction from the agency’s determination, we cannot defer to that determination.”

Perhaps most sigificant was the court’s rejection of BLM’s argument that prohibiting development of Otero Mesa would violate its mandate under federal law to manage for “multiple use.” The court ruled that the multiple use concept “does not mandate that every use be accommoCdated on every piece of land; rather, delicate balancing is required.”

In an Associated Press story, New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Secretary Joanna Prukop was quoted as saying she was pleased with the ruling’s strong language regarding compliance with the National Environmental Protection Act.

“In additional to protecting the fragile ecosystem of the Chihuahan Desert, this decision will apply to development of all kinds on federal lands throughout the 10th Circuit and help assure that environmental impacts are appropriately considered,” she said.


FRANKLIN MOUNTAINS STATE PARK NEWS

For the latest news and information about the Park, visit their great website:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/franklin/

MEMBER WEBSITES:
Up to date information on some of our member organizations can be found at:
http://bmba.wordpress.com/ for Borderland Mountain Bike Association

www.trans-pecos-audubon.org for El Paso/Trans-Pecos Audubon Society's newsletter, The Roadrunner.

www.lwvep.org for League of Women Voters in El Paso

Members, we’d love to get the word out about all your websites – please email Kathy at kmcconaghie@gmail.com .


FRANKLIN MOUNTAINS STATE PARK NEWS

For the latest news and information about the Park, visit their great website:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/franklin/


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.

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 * 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 * Voter Education Project, Inc