BLM Celebrating the National Landscape Conservation System's 10th Anniversary

Public invited to events to be held at Wild Rivers Recreation Area,
Rio Grande Gorge Visitor Center and Orilla Verde Recreation Area

Taos, NM--The Bureau of Land Management invites the public to a special celebration of the National Landscape Conservation System’s 10th Anniversary.  Events will be held on July 9-11, 2010, beginning with an artist reception on July 9 from 4-7 p.m. at the Rio Grande Gorge Visitor Center in Pilar.

A tenth anniversary celebration will be held on July 10 at the Wild Rivers Recreation Area, west of Cerro, NM, from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.  This is a free admission event.

On July 11, BLM will host hiking and biking trips from the Orilla Verde Recreation Area (north of Pilar) beginning at 9 a.m.  For more information, please visit http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/blm_special_areas/nlcs_10th_anniversary.html.

The BLM's National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS), which includes the Wild Rivers and Orilla Verde Recreation Areas as part of the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River, contains some of the West's most spectacular landscapes.  NLCS units in New Mexico include 2 national conservation areas, 2 national monuments, 2 wild and scenic rivers, 2 national historic trails, 1 national scenic trail, 5 wilderness areas and 58 wilderness study areas.  The mission of the NLCS is to conserve, protect and restore nationally significant landscapes recognized for their outstanding cultural, ecological, and scientific values. These are places that have drawn people to the West for generations.

For the events on July 10-11, please be sure to bring a hat, your favorite chair, and sunscreen.
Directions to the Wild Rivers Recreation Area are:  from Taos, follow NM 68 north 7 miles and take NM 522 approximately 20 miles to Questa. Go north from Questa on NM 522 to Cerro, and turn left on State Road 378; the Visitor Center is about 17 miles from the turn off.  For events on Sunday, the Orilla Verde Recreation Area is north of Pilar on State Road 570.

“Bring your whole family to the events we have planned,” said Linda Rundell, New Mexico State Director for the BLM.  “We’ll have a variety of fun activities for kids at our Saturday celebration, including fly tying demonstrations plus talks on bighorn sheep and otters, which have recently been reintroduced into the area.”

The events on Saturday also include presentations from the Natural Leaders Network, Rivers and Birds, and Wild Earth Llama Adventures.  There will also be vendors selling food, Rundell added.

Schedule of Events:

Friday, July 9, Rio Grande Gorge Visitor Center, Pilar

 4-7 p.m.   Artist Reception {A Landscape Perspective—Interpretation of the Rio Grande Gorge}

Saturday, July 10, Wild Rivers Recreation Area
 
  10-10:30 a.m.         Event Kickoff                    
  11 a.m.-12 noon      Red Turtle Dance Group {Buffalo/Butterfly/Rain Dance}
  12:30-1:30 p.m.       Jimmy Stadler
  1:30-2:30 p.m.       Michael Rael    
  2:30-3:30 p.m.         Zay Santos {Indie Rock Blues}
  3:30-4:30 p.m.         La Rabia

 Sunday, July 11, Orilla Verde Recreation Area
 
  9 a.m.                        La Vista Verde Petroglyph Hike
  9 a.m.                        Mountain Bike Tour {Taos Valley Overlook}
  9 a.m.                        Rocky Mountain Youth Corps La Senda del Medio Hike
  11 a.m.-12 noon        Rolling River Educational Trailer {Lower Gorge Visitor Center}

The New Mexico BLM is pleased to be celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the National Landscape Conservation System by hosting a series of events across the state of New Mexico. Please join us in celebrating these special places; for more information, visit http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/blm_special_areas/nlcs_10th_anniversary.html.