July 2010

{FMWC} E-Newsletter July 2010

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


Next Meeting: July 21, 2010
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 pm
ATTENTION - NEW MEETING LOCATION:
Our meeting will be held at The Garden Center, Memorial Park, 3105 Grant from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Map:
http://www.cichlidpress.com/elpasocactusclub/graphics/gardencenter.jpg

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

Time again for Farmers Market at Ardovino’s Saturdays. We can use volunteers for our booth. Call Judy, it’s fun!

MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT,
SCOTT CUTLER

The Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition continues to work on two important issues: Castner Range and the Mountains to River Trail. The Coalition, in partnership with The Frontera Land Alliance, will soon have all the pieces in place to begin working on its study forging guidelines that the military can use to apply conservation conveyances to properties it no longer needs for its mission, as part of Castner Range preservation. Additionally, the Coalition held a stakeholders meeting on July 12 for corporations and governmental agencies with some connection to the Mountains to River Trail (MRT) system. It was attended by over 30 people from a wide array of agencies with presentations on the history of the Mountains to River Trail concept, conservation options, and design techniques that could be used to preserve the integrity of the MRT as it was envisioned.Your support of the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition is greatly appreciated and provides us with the means to continue working on these issues that are so important to the community.Thank you.

NEWS

The New Mexico Wilderness Alliance is pleased to offer a limited edition of the first Conservation Wolf Stamp sold in the United States. The 2011 stamp pictured here is not a postage stamp, and is the first in a series of annual wolf stamps offered to collectors.

The Mexican wolf is the most endangered wolf in the world, with a total population of less than 50 in the wild in 2009.

The Mexican Wolf Stamp is a conservation project created by the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance. The concept is similar to the Duck Stamp sold by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, except no hunting will be related to the sale of the Mexican Wolf Stamp.

Instead a Wolf Conservation Fund, administered by the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance, will raise money for the conservation of the Mexican wolf by funding projects in the U.S. and Mexico for Mexican Wolf Recovery.

The cost is $20 (+$2 for S/H) for a 3x5 inch stamp, designed by New Mexico artist, Virginia Maria Romero. Stamps can be ordered online by going to http://www.nmwild.org/. For further information: contact Trisha London at (505)843-8696 or trisha@nmwild.org.


PARK NEWS
From John Nunez:

We would like to welcome Park Intern Jacob Bilbo to our staff. Jacob is a UTEP student studying Environmental Science. Jacob has been assisting park staff from office to field work and has been quite helpful.

These past two months have been just as busy as ever. Park rangers have been busy with all sorts of activities and projects here at the park. Park Rangers Felipe Camacho and Alvaro Garcia have successfully repaired two of the park vehicles. Since the park's budget is tight, park staff has to do its best to keep the work trucks running. Thankfully, they have the skills needed to properly maintain our vehicles.

Park Rangers John Nunez, Alvaro Garcia and Jesse Kapenga have been busy replacing and installing new signage throughout the park. We’re about half way done with the first batch and are anticipating the arrival of another sixty or so new signs. We have been utilizing help from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice work crews and El Paso County Community Service. We’ve also been busy making repairs at the campsites at the Tom Mays Unit and ongoing trail work. Lead Ranger Robert Pichardo, along with Ranger Garcia have been working on repairs of the park facilities. Rangers Garcia and Nunez have been installing gabian baskets throughout the Ron Coleman Trail to prevent erosion and to deter hikers from cutting across switchbacks. Ranger Kapenga has been working with Park Volunteer Robert Newman on the mountain bike trails on the west side of the park. Trail work is a big part of what we do at the park and we enjoy making the park more accessible to park visitors.

Park Interpreter Kelly Serio and Volunteer George Murray have been hosting Moonlight Hikes at the Tom Mays Unit. These hikes have become very popular and we are seeing an increasing number of participants. The next Moonlight Hike will be on the 24th of July. We encourage everyone to come out and enjoy the park in a different "light." Along with the Moonlight Hikes, park staff have been busy with hosting tours throughout the summer months. These tours have been great opportunities to introduce the park to a large number of new visitors. It has been rewarding to see the looks on people's faces when they walk a trail for the first time in our amazing mountains! We also utilize these opportunities to educate the public of the importance of preserving the Franklin Mountains and about the history of our park and our mountains.

On June 13th, FMSP hosted the El Paso Rattler Outdoor Challenge. This was a race for mountain bikers and runners that began at the Tom Mays Unit and ended with a canoeing race on the Rio Grande near the Borderland region of the Upper Valley. It was a successful first time venture and plans are being made for another race in the future. This year’s race involved approximately 80 participants. The course include several miles of the mountain bike trails in the Tom Mays Unit with a major part of the course being right through the arroyo that is part of the proposed Mountain to River Trail. This was another opportunity for visitors to realize the importance of preserving this arroyo.

During the summer months we encourage all park visitors to be safe on the trails and come prepared. We constantly remind visitors to bring plenty of water and to wear the proper clothing for hiking in this season. Yet there have been several instances where park visitors have come without enough water or have found themselves off trail and in dangerous parts of the mountain. Please be careful out there!

The coming months will be just as busy and exciting as we see increasing numbers of people at the park, especially new visitors. It is great to see people enjoying our mountains and we encourage everyone to come out and explore the Franklin Mountains State Park!


FROM PARK VOLUNTEER, Richard Love:

It has been a short summer so far. The hot dry weather has been hard on the bird population. Some of last year’s birds haven't made it back yet. A couple of new birds came around, but were just traveling through. We had a beautiful western tanager come through and a bronzed cowbird. The hummingbirds were late arriving, but are here in numbers right now. In fact until October will be fun hummer watching. The resident quail covies hatched several broods of little ones. The fall quail population should be amazing this year. After finding several signs that we had a nocturnal animal visiting the Wildlife Viewing Area we did some stealth photography and found we had a rather large skunk visiting nightly. He has been a model neighbor so far. The rain finally came on July 12th - early in the AM about 2 inches fell. The ground was so dry and the rain spread out most of the night no damage was done at the park. The rains came in time and enough that we should have another round of blooms before fall. Start planning now for the big doings on September 18th. Let’s make this festival the best one yet.

gambles quail

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

El Paso Zoo: Frog Fest, Saturday, July 17Ribbit, Ribbit, Ribbit! Our El Paso Zoo is jumping in again to join other Association of Zoos and Aquarium zoos nationwide to celebrate frogs and bring awareness of man-made problems for all amphibians. So, hop on down to the El Paso Zoo to find out how you can help frogs. Ribbit! Frog Fest at the Zoo will be from 10 am to 4 pm where Zoo staff and volunteers will host a variety of frog discovery stations in and around the El Paso Water Utilities Discovery Center. Zoo visitors will also be able to see a variety of live frogs including a number of species native to El Paso. Everyone will be invited to help frogs by learning how to create safe places for them in El Paso in our backyards and by helping to protect local desert and wetland habitats where frogs breed and lay their eggs after summer rains.
For more info: http://www.elpasozoo.org/Press-Release-5.php


El Paso Museum of Archaeology:

Unknown México: On view July 20 through September 12, 2010, Free Admission - - Dr. Richard Durschlag, Curator of the El Paso Museum of Archaeology, will present three Zip Tours of the temporary exhibit, Unknown México, at 2:00 pm on the following dates: Saturday, July 24, 2010; Wednesday, August 11, 2010; and Saturday, September 4, 2010. A Zip Tour is a brief informal introduction to an exhibit.

Exhibit Description: The photo-text panel exhibit, Unknown México, is panorama of the peoples of ancient West México whose cultures were markedly different from the more well-known Aztec and Maya civilizations. The West Mexico cultures included in this exhibit, located in the current Méxican states of Nayarit, Jalisco, and Colima, span several time periods from 500 BC to Twentieth Century folk art of the Cora and Huichol Indians. This exhibit was organized by Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and is based on an original exhibition of artifacts at the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences.

A Musical Journey into Ancient and Modern Latin America A Family Workshop by Ceiba: Saturday, July 31, 2010, 2:00 to 4:00 pm; No Reservations Needed; Free Admission - - Families with children age six years and up are invited to participate in a creative exploration of music and art inspired by ancient and modern Latin America, from México to the Andes, led by the El Paso musical group Ceiba. This program is being held in conjunction with the museum’s temporary exhibit Unknown México, about ancient and contemporary West Mexico.

Adults and children will listen and respond to music and create together, speaking and writing in small groups and making art in response to the music they hear. Ceiba will play a variety of musical pieces and ask participants to respond to questions such as what did you hear, where did you go in your mind while listening, what did you feel, and how would you draw that music. Children will take home the art they make. Both English and Spanish will be spoken during this workshop.

Ceiba musicians perform on a variety of instruments from indigenous cultures of Latin America such as the charango, rain stick, various flutes of wood, ceramic, and bamboo, percussion instruments made of turtle shell and gourd, as well as the guitar and a variety of drums.


8th Annual Butterfly Flutterby at the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park - - The Asombro Institute for Science Education invites you to celebrate butterflies at the 8th Annual Butterfly Flutterby at the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park on Saturday, August 21, 2010 from 9 am to noon. Butterflies are delicate creatures that grace our world and delight people of all ages. Learn all about butterflies at the park! For the kids there will be arts and crafts, butterfly sponge toss, and face painting. Make a butterfly watering plate to attract these dainty creatures to your yard. Families can enjoy strolling along the Desert Discovery Trail or browsing our bucket auction (tons of great items up for grabs). All proceeds from the bucket auction benefit the Asombro Institute’s education programs and site development. Admission is $2.

The Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park is located northeast of Las Cruces. From I-25 in Las Cruces, head east on Highway 70. Take the Mesa Grande Road exit (at Oñate High School). Make a U-turn under the highway to head west and stay in the right lane. Turn right (north) on Jornada Road. Follow Jornada Road for 6.4 miles and turn left at the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park sign. Follow the entrance road to the parking area and trailhead.

The Asombro Institute for Science Education is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing scientific literacy by fostering an understanding of the Chihuahuan Desert. The Asombro Institute provides hands-on science education programs for more than 12,000 students throughout southern New Mexico and west Texas each year. Anyone interested in learning more about the Asombro Institute for Science Education, membership, and volunteer opportunities should call the Institute office at 575-524-3334 or check our web site at http://www.asombro.org/ .


FMWC BOARD

President: Scott Cutler

Vice President: Jane Fowler

Secretary: Judy Ackerman

Treasurer: Pat White

At Large Members: Matt Carroll and Jim Tolbert


LONE STAR LEGACY

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


FMWC In Cyberspace

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


The Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition

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

May 2010

{FMWC} E-Newsletter May 2010

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


Next Meeting: May 19, 2010
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Location: El Paso Public Library’s Main Branch located downtown at 501 N. Oregon St. 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


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

Through the efforts of Congressman Reyes and his staff, and the tireless work of the Coalition's Judy Ackerman, FMWC has received an appropriation to study how a conservation conveyance could be applied to Castner Range. The Coalition, partnering closely with The Frontera Land Alliance, is currently working to submit the needed paperwork to allow FMWC and Frontera to begin the study. The outcome will be a roadmap that not only Fort Bliss but any Army installation can use to apply a conservation conveyance to appropriate surplus lands. This is very exciting work and has the potential to produce some very useful procedures that can directly bear on the preservation of Castner Range.

On the other side of the mountain, the Coalition has been working to protect the Mountains to Rivers Trail from encroachment and continues discussing the issue with our elected officials and city staff. It is hoped that these educational efforts will make all stakeholders aware of the value of an extensive natural trail system through Arroyo 41A. We are hopeful that broad support from all members of the community will bring about the preservation of all of Arroyo 41A.

Your continued support of the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition is vital to our being able to effectively work to preserve these important locations. If you would like to get involved, please contact me to discuss how you would like to assist us.

NEWS

FMWC Organizational Members (Judy Ackerman): A hearty warm welcome to new organizational member Sunrise Neighborhood Association. We’re looking forward to hearing from you and working with you on issues of common concern.

Castner Range (Judy Ackerman): Fort Bliss has published their Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on Army Growth and Force Structure Realignment. The paragraph on Castner Range states, “The Army has no plans for future use or disposal of Castner Range. Consequently, Castner Range is not discussed any further in this document.” However, in response to several public comments the EIS says, “At this time Fort Bliss is performing a detailed survey of Castner Range to determine the extent and quantity of unexploded ordnance (UXO) both at the surface and subsurface level. This will determine what efforts will be required to remove UXO and make it safe for addressing the various options for the use or disposal of Castner Range at a later date. Until that occurs, Castner Range will remain a closed range and off-limits to the public. Fort Bliss plans to complete all site investigations at Castner Range by 2010, which is a comprehensive process entirely separate from the GFS Draft EIS. Following completion of site investigation activities, Fort Bliss will execute follow-up phases/actions as required by the individual site cleanup strategies and appropriate regulatory controls.”

The Final EIS is 720 pages and may be available on line at http://www.bliss.army.mil/About%20Ft%20Bliss/NEW-EIS/index_EIS.htm . For further information, contact Mr. John Barrera, Fort Bliss Directorate of Public Works, Environmental Division, ATTN: IMWE-BLS-PWE; B624, Pleasonton Road, Fort Bliss, TX 79916-6812; 915-568-3908 or e-mail bliss.eis@conus.army.mil
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RAB Openings (Judy Ackerman): There are openings on the Ft Bliss Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) for applicants from El Paso, Doña Ana or Otero County. The RAB is an interface between Ft Bliss and the local community particularly on environmental restoration issues. They meet four times per year. “The mission of the Fort Bliss Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) is to promote the restoration of the Chihuahuan Desert ecosystems on Fort Bliss through collaborative efforts with the US Army Air Defense Center and Fort Bliss, cooperating and regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders in West Texas and Southern New Mexico.”
Please contact Judy or Kathy for an application if you’re interesting in applying for the RAB or see our e-newsletter for a link to a downloadable application.
Friends of the Arroyo (Matt Carroll): We thank all those who participated in our April 17 cleanup. Our area of the Arroyo is beautiful now with many flowering plants and colorful insects. We invite you to visit.

Sustainability (Rick LoBello): There is not a whole lot we can do from here to save the Gulf of Mexico, but there is much that we can do to save our Franklin Mountains and the surrounding Chihuahuan Desert. Please help others in El Paso better understand our Sustainability Plan.

When I was on a committee to help draft the city of El Paso’s first Sustainability Plan I insisted that the plan include important goals designed to help protect our native wildlife and habitat. As a result the plan includes four very important goals directly related to each other: 1)Complete a biodiversity inventory 2) Identify and prioritize habitat that will be protected; 3) Develop a mechanism and resource base to enable natural areas preservation, acquisition and possible enhancements; and 4) Develop a mechanism to increase the knowledge base of our wonderful natural area site for citizens and visitors, so that ecotourism benefits are realized [bat roosts, lakes and ponds, trails & scenic views, etc.] .

Marty Howell reported to City Council on April 20 summarizing progress made on the goals of the City of El Paso Sustainability Plan. He is looking for funding and a Department to take the lead on the biodiversity survey goal. You can download the entire plan at www.elpasotexas.gov/sustainability


PARK NEWS

Greetings from Franklin Mountain State Park (John Nuñez): April was another busy month for our park. Visitation has been high and there has been much work to do. After months of hard work by park staff and volunteers led by PRII Jesse Kapenga and park volunteer Robert Newman, the Lower Sunset Trail will soon be officially open for park visitors to enjoy. Hikers and mountain bikers are already enjoying this fantastic trail with its amazing views. However, the trail is still under construction and should be approached with caution. Additionally the Lower Sunset trail will be connected to the large group picnic site at Tom Mays. This new route will follow an old route that was a trail some thirty years ago.

The new trailhead kiosks are almost done with the last one to be installed at the proposed Stanton St. trailhead. We anticipate the finishing touch for the project to be complete by September when the informative panels arrive.

The park has been busy with guided tours this spring hosting several tours for area school groups. Park Interpreter Kelly Serio hosted a Moonlight Hike on April 24th through the Tom Mays and Nature trails. With help from park volunteer George Murray, roughly 30 people of all ages enjoyed their hike through the moonlit mountains on a pleasant April evening.

Park Rangers Alvaro Garcia, Jesse Kapenga and John Nuñez are about to embark on the first phase of a large, ongoing project. The project will begin with the installation of wooden signs throughout the entire park this month. There are roughly 60 signs that need painting and assembling before installation begins. Most of which will be installed in the area west of the North Hills Subdivision.

Park Rangers Robert Pichardo, Felipe Camacho and Alvaro Garcia have been very busy with fixing the park work trucks. Two vehicles are in need of major engine work and will hopefully be finished by the end of this month. Due to budget constraints, it may be several years before the park receives a new vehicle.

Park police officers Barton and Rincon have been busy with patrolling the park and assisting with rescues. Park ranger Raul Gomez notified PPO Barton of a wildfire at the former Fusselman trailhead. Roughly 1 acre of mountainside was burned. Officers Rincon and Barton have also been on the lookout for poachers and other violations in the backcountry. Portions of the park fence on both the Northeast and West side of the park have been cut by trespassers.

With all the activities happening at the park, park staff has had the opportunity to enjoy the vast display of wildflowers all over the park. This year park ranger Alvaro Garcia and park volunteer Richard Love hosted a wildflower photography class. Despite the blustery weather, 3 participants enjoyed learning the many methods involved for taking great wildflower pictures. Speaking of wildflowers, ranger Garcia submitted 3 photographs for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Inside Tracks magazine contest. This was an opportunity to show the rest of the state the unique beauty of the Franklin Mountains State Park.

Park staff has witnessed an increase in visitation this past year and look forward to more people enjoying the park. The Easter holiday weekend was so far the busiest weekend the park has experienced this year. Park staff was tied up all day Monday cleaning up trash throughout the Tom Mays area. With all the special events that Franklin Mountain State Park has hosted, the people of El Paso are beginning to come out and enjoy their state park.

Volunteer Update from FMSP (Richard Love): My how time flies. Another spring is here and just as predicted the wildflowers and cactus flowers are beautiful this year. We had a great Poppy Festival and the poppies were in attendance this year. In the Park the winter birds have all moved on and the spring birds have arrived. We are having large numbers of hikers and mountain bikers on the weekends. The Wildlife Viewing Area is getting more visitors each week as more people hear about our great bird watching. We have just seen our first hummingbirds at the WVA. Below are Claret Cup, Feather Dalea, and Fendler's Bladderpod.

Claret Cup

Feather Dalea

Fendler's Bladderpod

There are several late evening hikes scheduled in the coming months. If you haven't been on one of these great hikes, call Kelly at 566-6441 x 21 and schedule one of them. If you have never been in the desert after dark you can't believe the difference: the sounds, the smells , the feeling of the vastness of the mountain are wonderful. We attended the Earth Day Party at the Zoo last month. The turnout was great and we have several new prospects for Junior Rangers. This is a great program for children 8 - 12 years old. What a way to spend the summer and go back to school next fall sporting the new Junior Ranger patch, and best of all have all the knowledge that you have gathered over the summer. We had a workshop for budding Wildflower Photographers. The weather decided to not cooperate on this day, but a few brave souls came out in spite of the winds and cold.


MARK YOUR CALENDARS

MAY 16: El Paso Museum of Archaeology, 3:00 pm, Free Admission: 5,000 years of Local Native American Life Illustrated at Hueco Tanks by archaeologist Tim Roberts - Tim Roberts, the west Texas Cultural Resources Coordinator for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, will present an overview of the rock imagery at Hueco Tanks on Sunday, May 16th at 3:00 pm at the El Paso Museum of Archaeology. Hueco Tanks State Park and Historic Site is known to have abundant Native American imagery on rock outcrops. Over 3,000 figures have been identified. Current evidence indicates that the first of these images were painted or carved by Desert Archaic people perhaps as early as 5,000 years ago. Desert agriculturalists added to the gallery of prehistoric imagery between A.D. 200 and 1450, followed by historic tribes that continued to place images on the rocks of Hueco Tanks well into the nineteenth century.

NOVEMBER Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition Conference: We have posted information on http://www.chihuahuandesert.org/ on how interested people can propose presentations for our Chihuahuan Desert Conference in November. The deadline is July 1 so please help spread the news. PDF invitations with one page flyers suitable for posting on bulletin boards are available for download. Just contact Kathy for the link.

Board members Kelly Serio and Alex Mares are also looking for people to lead Optional Tours for conference attendees on Sunday, November 14. To lead a tour you must be a CDEC member or a member organization.

For more information contact Kelly at Kelly.Serio@tpwd.state.tx.us or Alex at alex.mares@state.nm.us.

On May 21-22, 2010 the El Paso Zoo will observe Endangered Species Day in order to recognize the national conservation effort to protect our nation’s endangered species and their habitats. Learn more at chihuahuandesert.org


Conservation Action Plan: A small group is forming in El Paso and beyond dedicated to encouraging people to take conservation actions. Please pass the word on to others about this new group and to sign up to get on our email list. Check out the corresponding Facebook group to learn what some members from outside El Paso are also up to. More information at www.iloveparks.com/can.html


FMWC BOARD
President: Scott Cutler

Vice President: Jane Fowler

Secretary: Judy Ackerman

Treasurer: Pat White

At Large Members: Matt Carroll Jim Tolbert


LONE STAR LEGACY

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

One line of Park Ranger Nuñez’s article really caught my attention. Park staff were busy the Monday after Easter weekend cleaning up trash at Tom Mays. Let’s all do our best not to mess up our mountain park and pick up our own trash. Thank you, Kathy Mc.

FMWC In Cyberspace

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

The Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition

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

March 2010

{FMWC} E-Newsletter March 2010

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


NEXT MEETING: March 17, 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 Maud Sullivan room. 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

The fourth annual Poppies Celebration will take place Saturday, March 20th. This should be the biggest celebration yet with a wide array of educational booths (including a wolf and an eagle) and vendors. It looks like there will even be a nice display of poppies! A great number of organizations have put a tremendous amount of effort into planning this event and we are expecting thousands of people to show up. With all of these visitors, we will need volunteers to help set things up and keep the event going. If you have some time to volunteer, please contact me at 581-6071.

FMWC has renewed its commitment to clean up a stretch of Transmountain Road as part of the Adopt-A-Highway program. We have a beautiful length of highway to care for and it’s a great opportunity to publicize the Coalition with the signs and the cleanup. The site starts at the entrance of the Tom Mays Unit of Franklin Mountains State Park and goes west for two miles. We have agreed to do three cleanups in 2010 and four in 2011 and 2012.

We are looking for someone to act as the Coordinator for Cleanups. Our Coordinator would contact the Adopt-A-Highway office with cleanup dates; arrange for bags and vests; and draft an email for distribution to our members announcing each event and asking for participation. One phone call and email every three months with help available to pick up the materials for each clean up. If you’re interested, please contact me at 581-6071 for details.


NEWS

FMWC Organizational Members (Judy Ackerman): FMWC is a COALITION. Each member organization designates a representative to the FMWC Board. Any non-profit organization that supports preservation of the Franklin Mountains can join. We have 30 very diverse local organizational members that give FMWC its strength and demonstrate West Texas and Southern New Mexico commitment to protecting our mountains.

We list our member organizations and their contact information on our website and on our stationary. Significantly, we identify our member organizations when we request funding from Congress. It is to your advantage to participate in FMWC decision making by attending our meetings.

We encourage representatives from our member organizations to share FMWC newsletters and alerts with the membership of their individual organizations and to submit articles and event calendars for this newsletter.

If you belong to a local non-profit, invite them to join FMWC. If your member organization’s contact info has changed, please send the updated information to our secretary at j.p.ackerman@sbcglobal.net.


Reyes Acts to Preserve Castner (Judy Ackerman): Congressman Reyes and his staff have succeeded in securing $300,000 to study a Conservation Conveyance on Castner Range in the fiscal year 2010 federal budget! The Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) administers the funds. The OEA’s mission is to assist communities that are affected by closure or expansion of military bases. FMWC representatives are working with El Paso’s land trust, The Frontera Land Alliance, to preserve Castner Range as natural open space. The end goal is that Castner Range become part of the Franklin Mountains State Park once it is cleared of dangerous unexploded ordnance.* We are several steps closer to our goal thanks to Congressman Reyes.

*Interested in more details of this process: contact Kathy at kmcconaghie@gmail.com for email copies of the January 14th Technical Project Planning meeting minutes and presentation.


Preserving El Paso’s Open Spaces: Palisades Canyon was purchased by the Public Service Board. Excerpt from “On the Water Front”, a message from Ed Archuleta: ...Palisades Canyon – 200 beautiful acres at the tip of the Franklin Mountains...located near Robinson Avenue in the Kern Place area...a gateway to the Franklin Mountains State Park for El Pasoans who use its trails for mountain biking and hiking...” (Entire message can be seen at http://www.epwu.org/OnTheWaterFront/water_front0210.html )
Our City Council is also working towards preservation of several hundred acres of privately owned mountain land and FMWC will continue to monitor and assist in these endeavors.



1 Arroyo 41A from Upper Sunset Trail, by judy Ackerman

Mountain to River Trail: Our team continues to monitor progress on preservation of Arroyo 41A and the proposed Mountain to River Trail from the impacts of quarry operations and residential developments. Stanley Jobe, the holder of the quarry lease on GLO land, provided workers who assisted rangers on building a new trail. Park Superintendent, Cesar Mendez, really likes the new trail that they are creating which ends at Picnic Area 39 or connects further down with the Avispa Canyon portion of the Lower Sunset which goes past Schaeffer Shuffle and back to the same picnic area. Mr. Jobe reported that surveying of the buffer around 41A has been done and the GLO is currently studying the situation.



2 Photo by Richard Love

PARK NEWS

Park Volunteer Richard Love writes: “Here we are three months into the new year and the moisture/snow keep gracing our mountain. March 20th the Poppy Festival happens and this should be a banner year. As early as the end of February we were seeing and getting reports of poppies blooming along the roadside at lower elevations. All of you Photographers dust off the cameras and macro lenses this is going to be the year to fill your portfolios with the poppies and other wildflowers that have been missing for the past several springs. The late spring Cactus blooms should be really special this year. In March and April in the park Kelly and I are going to do two classes on wildflower photography. These are going to be geared for the beginner and non professional photographers. The dates are not set as of this article, but you can call Kelly at 566-6441 or email her at kelly.serio@tpwd.state.tx.us to be included in the fun. Kelly has filled her calender with hikes, classes, moonlite hikes and all kinds of fun events, and can schedule your group for tours and hikes. Volunteers!! If you are available for any of these classes and would like to help or even learn some new skills please consider contacting Kelly. We were not real happy during the month of February. Four of our mountain's residents were killed by cars on Transmountain Road. Please tell all of your friends to drive carefully when on any of the roads around the mountains. Not only would it help keep our deer population alive, but prevent literally hundreds of dollars damage on your cars. The Wildlife Viewing Area has a newly remodeled water feature. The old design was very hard to keep clean and very hard to work on.

The spring birds haven't begin to come in yet but around the park we have seen some special visitors. Mid February one of the golden eagles visited the area. It is a very beautiful Raptor and presented itself close enough to identify without binos. A pair of Loggerhead Shrikes visited and hung around for a couple of weeks. They may still be there but choosing to stay out of sight. The weather conditions have been just right all though February for some gloriously beautiful sunrises. For all of us early risers on the west side there have been some light shows unbelievable.”

3 Photo by Richard Love


MARK YOUR CALENDARS

MARCH 16: Poppy Proclamation designating March 20, 2010 as Franklin Mountains Poppies Preservation Day to be presented to Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition at City Council meeting.

MARCH 20: 2010 Franklin Mountains Poppies Preservation Celebration, 10 am – 6 pm at the El Paso Museum of Archaeology, 4301 Transmountain Rd. Fourth annual festival, FREE Family Fun Event. Full day of programming with nature talks and walks, wildlife displays, visit with a real wolf and meet Takota, the El Paso Zoo’s new Golden Eagle Ambassador for Conservation of the Chihuahuan Desert, educational exhibits, demonstrations, art vendors, live music and food. FREE parking at Cohen Stadium and overflow parking at EPCC. NO parking at museum or on Transmountain Rd. FREE shuttle to and from the museum from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm. Full schedule of events available at http://www.elpasotexas.gov/arch_museum/_documents/Schedule%20of%20events%20Poppy%20Festival.pdf

MARCH 21: El Paso Museum of Archaeology, 3:00 pm, Free Admission: Clovis Caches: Windows into Ice Age Technology by David Kilby, Ph.D

MARCH 27: El Paso/Trans-Pecos Audubon Society Field Trip to Swan Pond, Leasburg Dam & Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park
Time: 7:30 a.m. (Bring Lunch)
Meet at: The Shell Station and Dairy Queen at the intersection of Transmountain Road & I-10.
Reservations and Information: Ursula Sherrill
526-7725; usherrill@miners.utep.edu

MARCH 30: Natural Open Space Zoning Ordinance at City Council meeting

MARCH 31: El Paso Museum of Archaeology, 6:30 pm, Free Admission: An Australian Rock Art Saga: Finding Yidumduma by David M. Lee

MARCH 31: Walkin’ Jim Stoltz – Forever Wild
Benefit concert for the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance
7:00 pm, UNM Continuing Education Center
1634 University Blvd NE, Albuquerque
Tickets: $15 ($12.50 Advance)
Children 14 and Under: $10 ($7.50 Advance)
Call 505-843-8696 for more information

APRIL 10: El Paso/Trans-Pecos Audubon Society Field Trip to Percha Dam
Time: 7:30 a.m. (Bring Lunch)
Meet at: The Shell Station and Dairy Queen at the intersection of Transmountain Road and I-10.
Reservations and Information: Ursula Sherrill
526-7725; usherrill@miners.utep.edu

APRIL 14: New Mexico Wilderness Alliance 2nd Annual Patagonia Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival at the Rio Grande Theatre in Downtown Las Cruces from 6:00 – 8:30 pm. Part of a 100 town and city national tour hosted by various environmental organizations, this event is used as a way to raise awareness of local and regional campaigns; to encourage local citizens to get involved (and) features films on a range of issues: Fresh celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people who are re-inventing our food system, and offering a sustainable vision for our food and planet in the future. Flathead Wild explores the “threatened” beauty of the Flathead River Valley in British Columbia, based on the photography of the International League of Conservation Photographers. A Year in the Desert: Anza Borrego showcases the seasons in California’s largest State Park, and the struggle to keep it open against all odds. The Fun Theory: Piano Staircase posits change for the better through increasing the “fun factor”—like putting giant piano keys on stairs to get people singing up the stairway, instead of plodding up the escalator.

The NM Wilderness Alliance works with coalitions to protect important natural treasures, including the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Wilderness Legislation for mountain ranges near Las Cruces and El Paso.

General Admission is $8 for Adults & $5 for Students. Children are FREE.
For further information please contact Nathan Small in Las Cruces at: nathansmall@nmwild.org or [575] 527-9962/ [575] 496-9540.

APRIL 17: El Paso/Trans-Pecos Audubon Society Field Trip to Big Bend – still in planning stages, contact Ursula Sherrill for more information.

APRIL 24: FeatherFest at Keystone Heritage Park -10 am – 4 pm - An "Open House" event with tours of the archaeological site, information about Chihuahuan Desert plants, birds of the Keystone wetland, refreshments and more - $3.00 admission fee
MAY 1 – 2: El Paso/Trans-Pecos Audubon Society Birdathon 2010 - This event is the primary fundraiser for El Paso Audubon Society. Historically, portions of the proceeds from the Birdathon have also been donated to organizations that benefit wildlife of the Northern Chihuahuan Desert, such as Franklin Mountains State Park, Rio Bosque Wetlands Park, & Chihuahuan Desert Wildlife Rescue. If you would like to participate in the annual bird count, now is a good time to begin sharpening your bird identification skills and talking with friends and
relatives you think may like to sponsor you. Contact Ursula Sherrill for more info.


Texas State Parks “Adventure Camping Program”

The increasingly popular Texas Outdoor Family program is branching out to deliver adventurous programs for families who are looking for something more than an introductory how-to camping experience.Four Texas state parks, including Big Bend Ranch, this spring will host Texas Outdoor Family Adventure workshops designed to familiarize families with the outdoors and teach them how to tent camp, cook outdoors and get the most out of their outdoor experience. These events will occur in some of the Texas State Park System’s larger, more remote sites.Texas Outdoor Family adventure campouts dates are March 25-28 at Big Bend Ranch, April 17-18 at Palo Duro Canyon, April 24-25 at Lost Maples State Natural Area and May 15-16 at Colorado Bend State Park.The Big Bend Ranch adventure camp will include a guided canoe trip down the Rio Grande and a two-day desert camping program in the interior of Texas’ largest state park that encompasses more than 300,000 acres near Presidio. The cost for the Big Bend Ranch camp is $86, plus $53 for canoe rental.Highlighting the Palo Duro Canyon campout will be a three-hour guided hike through the “Grand Canyon of Texas” to its famous geologic wonder known as The Lighthouse. The theme of the Lost Maples adventure camp will be an introduction to backpacking in which state park rangers will teach families the basics of successful backpacking. Participants in the Colorado Bend adventure campout will experience cave exploration, guided hikes to scenic Gorman Falls and river canoeing. “These new programs are aimed at families who are looking for more adventurous camping experiences,” explains Chris Holmes, Texas State Parks outdoor education coordinator. “We recognize that many families want to expand their outdoor recreation knowledge, but are uncomfortable going alone to a remote site with limited facilities. This series of adventure camping allows the families to be in a safe environment with knowledgeable rangers to guide and assist at any time.”TPWD’s Texas Outdoor Family program launched in the summer of 2008 has taught hundreds of families throughout the state, most of them from urban environments, how to safely enjoy the great outdoors.

The outdoor family workshops are designed to combat "Nature Deficit Disorder," a phrase coined by Richard Louv in his 2005 book, "Last Child in the Woods." Louv cites studies that show that playing outdoors strengthens a young person’s mind and body, leading to better performance in school and interactions with others. The first-of-its-kind Texas program has gained national attention from such national organizations as Leave No Trace and the National Association of Interpretation, spurring spinoff programs in other states.The program was begun to try to eliminate barriers to families wishing to share the outdoor experience together. The campouts are designed for persons who have never camped before or may not have camped for many years, as well as for those who don’t have the necessary equipment or see the outdoors as being boring or dangerous. By providing quality gear to be used for the overnight stay and park-specific programs and activities, TOF’s outdoor specialists show how anyone can enjoy camping with no hassles. Texas state parks, with ample campsites and a law enforcement presence, prove the ideal setting for the structured campouts.During a typical outdoor family workshop, participants are welcomed on Saturday morning to the host state park, where they have reserved a campsite and receive assistance with pitching camp and operating propane lanterns and other camping equipment. After an afternoon filled with fun outdoor activities, such as geocaching and cooking an outdoor meal, participants enjoy an evening presentation on night sounds to prepare them for what they might hear while snuggled in their tent.The adventure campouts cost $55 per family. Program sponsor Toyota helps keep the program affordable by providing funding for equipment.Visit the Texas Outdoor Family Web page for more information, including the complete schedule of this spring’s weekend workshops. Texas Outdoor Family is now on Facebook, where participating families post their pictures and share stories of their outdoor adventures.Families can register by calling (512) 389-8903 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. and speaking to a Texas Outdoor Family representative or by sending an e-mail to tofsp@tpwd.state.tx.us. After registration, a confirmation packet with details, including a suggested shopping list, will be sent.


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
(Return to Top)

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