Franklin Mountains State Park has been busy this year. In the past few months the park has been affected by heavy rain falls that reshaped the landscapes; staff members have obtained and continue to earn certifications and training and our rangers have been involved with both locally and nationally recognized search and rescue efforts.
High rainfall amounts in September brought flash flooding to a variety of areas within the park resulting in trail and signage damage. However, the outdoors community ultimately answered the call and assisted the park rangers by doing both individual volunteer trail repairs as well as joined us on our “National Make A Difference” day for which we hosted a specific trail rebuilding project for the Mundy’s Gap trail. The focus was on the section which saw an annihilation of the bridge and narrow pathway.
Avid hikers who frequent the park weekly shared their accolades with staff members and remarked on the caliber of work and repair of that section of trail. We are very grateful to all of the volunteers who were a part of the concerted efforts of providing some much needed TLC to our park.
The 2nd Annual Happy Tails n’ Happy Trails event on November 2nd was a tail waggin' success. This adoption fair/doggie play day in the park saw almost 50 dogs including 6 dogs that are up for adoption from the Animal Rescue League. One of the highlights of the day was that Bender, one of the adoption
dogs, may have gotten a new forever home!
Over 35 people came out with their pooches big and small to enjoy a beautiful day out in the Franklin Mountains State Park. With ranger led presentations on hiking safety, free dog obedience courses and training tips, free treats, ranger led "Bark in the Park" hike, raffles and much more, everyone gained some valuable information and prizes and left with wonderful memories. Thanks to all of the organizations who joined us for the event and offered prizes for the raffle.
The park events schedule is available on: The TPWD calendar of events under Franklin Mountains State Park; the Franklin Mountains SP Facebook page; the El Paso Hikers Group on Meetup.com; and in the El Paso Scene.
Upcoming events to look forward to in December include: Christmas Hikes to the Mines, Womens Only hikes, Peak Fitness challenge hikes, and more. Remember New Years is just around the corner, too, and we’ll be hosting our popular New Years Day hike again on January 1st.
We look forward to seeing you out on the trails!
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Volunteer Coordinator Positions Now Open for the 2014 Poppies Fest
The Poppies Fest is a celebration of not only the beautiful poppies that bloom in Northeast El Paso in the spring, but also the wonderful open landscape and views of the Franklin Mountains in the Northeast. Currently this land is being kept in its natural state because it is part of the Fort Bliss Castner Range – but that might not last forever.
The Poppies Fest is a reminder to our community to work together to keep the beautiful open views and natural habitat of Castner Range - now and forever.
The Poppies Fest date will be sometime in either March or April 2014. It takes place on the grounds of the El Paso Museum of Archaeology. Volunteer and be part of the decision on the date and the plans for this great community event. The following positions are available:
- Transportation Coordinator
- Parking Coordinator
- Exhibitor/Vendor Coordinator
- Social Media Coordinator
- Volunteer Coordinator
- Recycling & Trash Coordinator
If you can make a commitment to take on one of these volunteer coordinator positions, or if you want to volunteer for the event in some other way, please contact Marilyn Guida at GuidaMR@elpasotexas.gov or by calling 915-755-4332.
The Poppies Fest is a reminder to our community to work together to keep the beautiful open views and natural habitat of Castner Range - now and forever.
The Poppies Fest date will be sometime in either March or April 2014. It takes place on the grounds of the El Paso Museum of Archaeology. Volunteer and be part of the decision on the date and the plans for this great community event. The following positions are available:
- Transportation Coordinator
- Parking Coordinator
- Exhibitor/Vendor Coordinator
- Social Media Coordinator
- Volunteer Coordinator
- Recycling & Trash Coordinator
If you can make a commitment to take on one of these volunteer coordinator positions, or if you want to volunteer for the event in some other way, please contact Marilyn Guida at GuidaMR@elpasotexas.gov or by calling 915-755-4332.
Public Meetings for Projects that have Important Implications for Rio Bosque Wetlands Park
In May, the Texas Department of Transportation began its Border Highway East Study, intended to look at transportation improvements along the border in southeast El Paso County. The most significant facility being looked at in this study is a proposed new highway extending from the Zaragoza International Port of Entry to the Tornillo-Guadalupe International Port of Entry.
Initially, four alternative alignments have been presented for this highway. They are displayed on the attached “BHE Constraints north” map. Immediately east of Rio Bosque Wetlands Park, all four alignments are identical: They parallel the Riverside Canal on the opposite side of the canal from the park.
From the inception of the wetlands project at Rio Bosque, one of our main goals has been to establish a new entrance to the park from Socorro Road. It would be at the park’s southeast corner, where the visitor center is located. The planned new entrance would provide direct, convenient access off Socorro Road and directly link Rio Bosque with the Mission Trail. Over the past several years, working in coordination with El Paso County Water Improvement District #1, we have been finalizing plans for the new entrance. It would include:
- A short entrance road from Socorro Road
- Parking area
- New footbridge crossing the Riverside Canal, and
- Walkways leading from the parking area to the footbridge and from the footbridge to the park’s existing Bosque Trail and visitor center.
The four alternative alignments for the highway all go right through the area proposed for this new entrance.
The upcoming meetings will be in an open-house, come-and-go format. You’ll have a chance to view the maps, discuss the study with project planners, and offer you views, ideas and concerns.
Tues. 19 November (
4 p.m. – 7 p.m.)
Socorro High School Cafeteria
10150 Alameda Ave., Socorro, TX
or
Wed. 20 November (4 p.m. – 7 p.m.)
Rio Valle Women’s Club
521 Mike Maros, Fabens, TX
Monday, September 16, 2013
El Paso Water Utility and Sound Land Management
John E. Balliew, President & CEO of EPWU / PSB for EPWU provided us with the following quote regarding the water utility’s view on water conservation and long term sustainability.
“Sound land management is a huge part of the El Paso Water Utilities/Public Service Board’s water resources strategy that ensures a sustainable water supply for El Paso. EPWU master plans all PSB managed land prior to sale to ensure open space is protected, while still allowing for responsible development to take place.
While some PSB land should be preserved to aid in the efforts to conserve water, the community needs to strike a balance between many competing needs and interests. Rather than just setting aside more land as open space we advocate for a deliberate effort to determine how much land should be set aside and where. That deliberation needs to include a planning process involving the City of El Paso and stakeholders.”
“Sound land management is a huge part of the El Paso Water Utilities/Public Service Board’s water resources strategy that ensures a sustainable water supply for El Paso. EPWU master plans all PSB managed land prior to sale to ensure open space is protected, while still allowing for responsible development to take place.
While some PSB land should be preserved to aid in the efforts to conserve water, the community needs to strike a balance between many competing needs and interests. Rather than just setting aside more land as open space we advocate for a deliberate effort to determine how much land should be set aside and where. That deliberation needs to include a planning process involving the City of El Paso and stakeholders.”
Annual Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta Celebrates the Natural Wonders of the Franklin Mountains
Houdini the Harris Hawk, Agostini-Justiniani the Hermit tours, and a full slate of local entertainment promises to make the 9th Annual Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta a fun day for all. The free event at the Tom Mays section of Franklin Mountains State Park on Saturday, September 21, from 9am to 3pm is sponsored by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department with the help of volunteers from the Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition. Every year the event attracts hundreds of people to the desert mountain park in northwest El Paso.
The outdoor venue celebrates the natural wonders of the Chihuahuan desert and Franklin Mountains State Park. Local environmental education groups will be on hand to offer free demonstrations, guided tours, guest speakers and informational booths designed to introduce the curious to the wonders of our fascinating desert.
Houdini is a 12 year old Harris Hawk that came to the El Paso Zoo in August 2012. Harris Hawks hunt in packs earning them the nickname “Wolves of the Sky”. This year from 10am to 3pm Kent Fisher from Fisher Brothers Climbing and Gear will be teaching his class all day at Sneed’s Cory along the roadway up to the West Cottonwood Springs trailhead.
The Serna Ranch Serna Ranch Youth Leadership will offer free horse rides, hay rides including a shuttle to various sites in the park plus a food booth selling Navajo Fry Tacos, Chili Beans, Nachos, Chips, Water, and sodas.
A number of other activities including a presentation of desert snakes, Folklorico dancing, and Tezcatloc Aztec Drums will make this a fun filled afternoon for the whole family.
For more information, contact the Franklin Mountains State Park at (915) 566-6441, or read more online at www.chihuahuandesert.org.
The outdoor venue celebrates the natural wonders of the Chihuahuan desert and Franklin Mountains State Park. Local environmental education groups will be on hand to offer free demonstrations, guided tours, guest speakers and informational booths designed to introduce the curious to the wonders of our fascinating desert.
Houdini is a 12 year old Harris Hawk that came to the El Paso Zoo in August 2012. Harris Hawks hunt in packs earning them the nickname “Wolves of the Sky”. This year from 10am to 3pm Kent Fisher from Fisher Brothers Climbing and Gear will be teaching his class all day at Sneed’s Cory along the roadway up to the West Cottonwood Springs trailhead.
The Serna Ranch Serna Ranch Youth Leadership will offer free horse rides, hay rides including a shuttle to various sites in the park plus a food booth selling Navajo Fry Tacos, Chili Beans, Nachos, Chips, Water, and sodas.
A number of other activities including a presentation of desert snakes, Folklorico dancing, and Tezcatloc Aztec Drums will make this a fun filled afternoon for the whole family.
For more information, contact the Franklin Mountains State Park at (915) 566-6441, or read more online at www.chihuahuandesert.org.
You can help preserve the City of El Paso’s Public Land surrounding our Franklin Mountains
Conservation organizations and groups announce that they have begun collecting signatures on a new initiative petition. The petition calls for the preservation in its natural state and in perpetuity of all City owned land (even if managed by the PSB) north of Transmountain and east of Interstate 10 and west of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Organizers say that there are several good reasons for all El Pasoans to sign the petition whether they live near or faraway from the mountains. Preserving all of this land on both sides of the mountain will benefit El Paso in several ways: preservation will help us sustain the scarce resource of water - an effort which includes all El Pasoans not just those living closer to the mountains; continued enjoyment of hiking and biking trails already in existence and utilized by the public; improvement of our quality of life especially as El Paso seeks to reach its goal of decreasing obesity and diabetes; protecting wildlife and making sure that they have adequate habitat and range in order to survive; and, ensuring that millions of dollars annually will come into El Paso through ecotourism as more and more people enjoy mountain biking, rock climbing, hiking and other recreational activities in our mountains and the surrounding region.
Members of the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition, El Paso CAN (Conservation Action Network), El Paso Conservation Leadership Institute, iloveparks.com, elpasonaturally seek a minimum of 2,310 signatures of persons residing in El Paso and registered to vote. Even if someone did not vote in the previous city elections, as long as they are registered and living in the city, they may sign the petition. (Persons not living in the city limits but in the County of El Paso are not eligible.) The El Paso City Charter requires that 5 percent of the total number of voters in the previous general city election (in this case, May 2013) must sign a petition before it can be validated and presented to City Council. Should City Council fail to pass the ordinance, then petitioners may gather the same number of signatures again in order to require the matter to be voted on at the next city election.
But we need your help.
FMWC has added a new page for the 2013 Initiative Petition on the website. The page has the petition, instructions for signing and/or gathering signatures, reasons to sign and maps of the affected areas.
To access all of the materials visit www.franklinmountains.org, or visit the Franklin Mountain Wilderness Coalition on Facebook and Twitter.
Organizers say that there are several good reasons for all El Pasoans to sign the petition whether they live near or faraway from the mountains. Preserving all of this land on both sides of the mountain will benefit El Paso in several ways: preservation will help us sustain the scarce resource of water - an effort which includes all El Pasoans not just those living closer to the mountains; continued enjoyment of hiking and biking trails already in existence and utilized by the public; improvement of our quality of life especially as El Paso seeks to reach its goal of decreasing obesity and diabetes; protecting wildlife and making sure that they have adequate habitat and range in order to survive; and, ensuring that millions of dollars annually will come into El Paso through ecotourism as more and more people enjoy mountain biking, rock climbing, hiking and other recreational activities in our mountains and the surrounding region.
Members of the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition, El Paso CAN (Conservation Action Network), El Paso Conservation Leadership Institute, iloveparks.com, elpasonaturally seek a minimum of 2,310 signatures of persons residing in El Paso and registered to vote. Even if someone did not vote in the previous city elections, as long as they are registered and living in the city, they may sign the petition. (Persons not living in the city limits but in the County of El Paso are not eligible.) The El Paso City Charter requires that 5 percent of the total number of voters in the previous general city election (in this case, May 2013) must sign a petition before it can be validated and presented to City Council. Should City Council fail to pass the ordinance, then petitioners may gather the same number of signatures again in order to require the matter to be voted on at the next city election.
But we need your help.
FMWC has added a new page for the 2013 Initiative Petition on the website. The page has the petition, instructions for signing and/or gathering signatures, reasons to sign and maps of the affected areas.
To access all of the materials visit www.franklinmountains.org, or visit the Franklin Mountain Wilderness Coalition on Facebook and Twitter.
You can help determine the future of the Castner Range.
The Castner Range is made up of 7,081 acres of Fort Bliss land between the US 54 freeway and the Franklin Mountains State Park. This beautiful range in our Franklin Mountains is currently off limits to the public .
You can research and find more information with the following resources:
1. Fort Bliss has their own reports. Both the Wide Area Assessment and the Incremental Sampling reports are available here:
https://www.bliss.army.mil/dpw/Environmental/EISDocuments2.html
2. Thr Fontera Land Alliance has established a land use plan and is seeking your feedback. It can be accessed here:
http://fronteralandalliance.org/castner/
Additional resources are available by contacting Janae Reneaud Field, Executive Director of The Frontera Land Alliance, at 915-351-8352 or Janae@FronteraLandAlliance.org, or mail to 3800 N. Mesa St., A2-258. El Paso, Texas 79902.
You can research and find more information with the following resources:
1. Fort Bliss has their own reports. Both the Wide Area Assessment and the Incremental Sampling reports are available here:
https://www.bliss.army.mil/dpw/Environmental/EISDocuments2.html
2. Thr Fontera Land Alliance has established a land use plan and is seeking your feedback. It can be accessed here:
http://fronteralandalliance.org/castner/
Additional resources are available by contacting Janae Reneaud Field, Executive Director of The Frontera Land Alliance, at 915-351-8352 or Janae@FronteraLandAlliance.org, or mail to 3800 N. Mesa St., A2-258. El Paso, Texas 79902.
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