This letter is provided as opinion/commentary from the authors.
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We created the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge hand-in-hand with Albuquerque’s
South Valley community. In just one decade, lands that were once home to a dairy
operation next to a heavy industrial zone have blossomed into one of New Mexico’s most
treasured outdoor spaces. Together, we’ve created a place where families can watch as
flocks of Sandhill cranes migrate through the Middle Rio Grande Valley in the winter, go
on nearby nature hikes year-round, and enjoy quality educational and recreational
programs.
Each year, Valle de Oro welcomes over 6,000 students for field trips, organizes dozens
of community events, employs more than 100 local youth, and hosts over 200 species of
birds as they migrate along the Middle Rio Grande Valley. The refuge also opened a
brand-new visitor center in 2022 that’s home to educational exhibits, community
meeting spaces, and classrooms.
Valle de Oro National was the first Urban Wildlife Refuge in the entire American
Southwest. It is the product of a shared community vision and grassroots leadership
from the Mountain View neighborhood. And it remains one of the most ambitious urban
conservation projects in the nation.
Now we have the opportunity to grow this cherished Refuge. Thanks to State Land
Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard, the New Mexico State Land Office is seeking
input on a proposal to transfer 212 acres to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
to help expand the refuge.
Valle de Oro does not currently include Bosque habitat, and it lacks direct access the Rio
Grande. Adding this parcel would change that and provide lasting protections for
important wildlife habitat. It can also increase recreation access for river rafters,
paddleboards, hikers, and horseback riders. Importantly, adding these 212 acres to the
National Wildlife Refuge System will provide the highest standard of protection from
development.
A recent citywide poll found that nearly 80% of voters in the Albuquerque Metro
support expanding the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge, improving protection of
and access to the Bosque and the Rio Grande. One in four voters in Albuquerque have
either personally visited Valle de Oro or have a family member who has. And over 60
percent of these visitors report they are very likely to recommend visiting the refuge to
someone they know. As we continue to build and improve the refuge, I’m confident that
community support will only grow stronger.
Change does not happen over night, and we are just at the start of this journey. You can
visit www.nmstatelands.org/albuquerque-south-valley-meetings/ to encourage the State Land Office and Commissioner Garcia Richard to grow the opportunities at Valle de Oro
National Wildlife Refuge.
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) is New Mexico’s senior senator. He is a former Albuquerque city councilor and Congressman.