BLM announces proposed land donation to Sabinoso Wilderness
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Taos, N.M. – The Bureau of Land Management Taos Field Office is proposing the agency accept a land donation of 9,855 acres, known as Cañon Ciruela in northeastern New Mexico, from the Trust for Public Lands. If approved, the donation would increase the size of the Sabinoso Wilderness to 29,855 acres–an increase of nearly 50 percent. The BLM welcomes public input on the proposed action through May 21, 2021.
The proposed addition of the Cañon Ciruela lands to the Sabinoso Wilderness would add a second public access point for present and future generations to enjoy the area through hunting, hiking, horseback riding and other recreational opportunities.
"This proposed donation includes land just outside of the Wilderness specifically for parking and staging access. The public would have the ability to get to their wilderness and enjoy it, and that's what is exciting," noted Taos Field Manager Pamela Mathis. "The Cañon Ciruela is home to mule deer, elk, mountain lion, black bear and Rio Grande turkey. The adjacent property would significantly add to, enhance and further secure the resource conservation values of the existing designated wilderness if accepted by the BLM."
Additionally, the donation would permanently protect a critical tributary watershed that feeds into the existing wilderness. Acceptance of the donation is provided under the provisions of Section 6(a) of the Wilderness Act of 1964 (Act). If approved, this would be the second land donation to the Sabinoso Wilderness. In 2017, the BLM accepted a donation of approximately 3,600 acres from The Wilderness Land Trust, which opened public access to the Wilderness for the first time since its 2009 designation.
The Cañon Ciruela donation stipulates a restriction to preclude livestock grazing. However, the BLM does not have an allotment or grazing at this site, so this restriction will have no impact to grazing permittees or grazing operations.
A description of the Cañon Ciruela acquisition proposal and map of the proposal are available on the BLM's ePlanning webpage at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2013372/510.
Please use the comment feature in ePlanning to provide comments on issues related to this proposal. Comments will be accepted through May 21, 2021.
For additional information, please contact BLM Realty Specialist Sarah Naranjo at 505-954-2200.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.