A proposed public land swap between state and federal governments took a procedural step Monday when the Las Cruces City Council passed a resolution in support of the exchange.

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/las-cruces-supports-fed-state-land-swap/3063692

#newmexico #lascruces #blm #omdp

For years, hikers had to cross private land to reach the Achenbach Canyon Trail. That ended when the BLM purchased the land several weeks ago under program the White House is cutting back severely, at the same time the Interior Department is putting new restrictions on using the Land and Water Conservation Fund in this way.

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_883421e4-c86c-44f2-8713-390235d6f2ed.html

#NewMexico #publiclands #OMDP #BLM #LWCF

This is one I’ve been working on for a while. It’s a longer read about a local artist, the city and mountains where she grew up, the process of making art and how paintings can document their maker’s transformation. And if you’re in town, you can visit the painting yourself!

https://www.abqjournal.com/lifestyle/article_4f7295b9-e0b7-4d40-9d43-7d5d73bd7d48.html

#art #newmexico #publiclands #omdp #lascruces

Concern for monuments like the Rio Grande del Norte and Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks have been heightened since reports emerged in April that the U.S. Department of the Interior was considering reducing the area and protected status of six national monuments — including the OMDP, which comprises nearly 500,000 acres.

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_9a4280d0-80cd-460d-a814-417ef8290258.html

#NewMexico #publiclands #omdp #nationalmonuments

Reports that the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument is on a short list of designations under target by the Trump administration have riled New Mexico’s congressional delegation as well as Las Cruces leaders involved in the monument’s designation by President Barack Obama nearly 11 years ago.

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_65db7c89-dc66-491c-b02f-2e6f1036ea5a.html

#omdp #NewMexico #nationalmonuments #LasCruces