El Paso City Parks
-City of El Paso

Desert threatened by Urban  Sprawl
by Rick LoBello

Housing development in West El Paso.  Photo by Rick LoBello.

Almost every day animals and plants living in what remains of the desert here in El Paso, Texas die either directly or indirectly as the result of efforts to develop more homes and businesses for people.  Ten of thousands of more people are expected to soon move here with the expansion of Ft. Bliss and as a result many areas of the city are being leveled for new developments. These construction projects are certainly no secret.

Unfortunately an overall out of sight out of mind way of thinking is seriously contributing to the demise of countless species of plants and animals living in the Chihuahuan Desert. Over the years we have developed a philosophy that growth is good because it results in economic development, but is this always going to be the way we think? Will there ever be a time when we say to ourselves that our city has grown large enough because of limited resources?

El Paso is not the only community systematically destroying unique Chihuahuan Desert habitat. Major developments are also underway in Las Cruces, New Mexico and south of the border in places like Juarez and Chihuahua City in Mexico.

No one can say how many living things, both animal and plant, die here every day because of human impacts on the land. Most of these living things are unknown to the masses, but they still exist. They include all kinds of little animals like kangaroo rats, kingsnakes, horned lizards, whiptail lizards, vinegaroons, tarantulas, and a host of desert plant species. Larger animals suffer too when they loose the wild places that they need for cover to raise their babies and search for food. They include mule deer, gray foxes, desert cottontails, rock squirrels, and birds like blue and Gambel's quail, desert sparrows, roadrunners and more.

Our overall lack of knowledge and denial of life's most important reality, how all of us are connected to what happens in the natural world, is destroying the Chihuahuan Desert. The World Wildlife Fund and many other conservation organizations recognize our desert as one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world, but how many people who live here know and understand?

Like most cities in America and around the world we rarely limit growth and seem to care little about what happens to others we share the planet with, even though we know that we depend on other life forms for our own survival. Modern technology advances like the new cars that we drive, high tech entertainment devices, computers, cell phones etc. help us in many ways, but more often than not they encourage a very dangerous "out of touch with nature"- mentality.

There are glimmers of hope for the endangered Chihuahuan Desert surrounding our community. There is hope when we see people associated with the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition continue efforts to save the Castner Range. There is hope when we see volunteers work on protecting habitat for animals at our local parks like Franklin Mountains, Rio Bosque, and Keystone. There is hope when we see people bring their children to the El Paso Zoo to help them understand their connections with the rest of the natural world.

What can you do to live a greener life? What can we all do? The lists of possibilities are endless. We just need to take the time to make things happen. One way you can help is by supporting some of our local conservation organizations. The Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition has a new website at www.chihuahuandesert.org with news and information about our desert and how you can connect with parks and conservation groups like the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition. To get on the email list for the coalition's monthly newsletter visit the Contact page on the website.

If all of us will just take a few minutes or more each day and take simple steps to help make our world a better place, hope will continue.

We need an intact Chihuahuan Desert like we need the roofs over our heads, water to drink and food to nourish our bodies. The time to stop taking for granted the natural world we live in long past. Now is the time to act and to act effectively.

El Paso City & County officials urge protection for Otero Mesa

Exclusive: Podcast interview with Adam Guss of the Southwest Environmental Center in Las Cruces

June 15, 2008

Over the past two weeks the El Paso City Council and the El Paso County Commissioners approved resolutions calling on Congress to pass legislation to permanently protect Otero Mesa from oil and natural gas exploration. The resolutions cite the importance of Otero Mesa’s grasslands, wildlife and water to the City and the region.

On June 9 at the El Paso County Commissioners Court meeting a resolution was passed 4-1 citing the importance of Otero Mesa as a future source of water for El Paso County.  Speaking on behalf of the resolution were local environmentalists and a representative of Most Rev. Armando X. Ochoa, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of El Paso.

“Otero Mesa is a natural treasure,” said Councilor Beto O’Rourke, who introduced the resolution at the City Council meeting on June 3. “It is one of the Southwest’s largest remaining grasslands, home to many species of wildlife, and provides El Pasoans with outstanding opportunities for outdoor recreation.”

O’Rourke also noted the importance of the large freshwater aquifer beneath Otero Mesa as a potential future water supply for El Paso, and the risk of it being contaminating by oil and gas activities.

The City’s resolution follows passage of a similar resolution by the Isleta del Sur pueblo last month. These resolutions by Texas-based entities demonstrate the growing realization of the importance of Otero Mesa to the region, and underscore the need for Congressional action to protect this special area. Thanks to everyone in El Paso who attended the council meeting and spoke in favor of the resolution. We encourage El Paso residents to contact the mayor and your representative and thank them for their vote on this issue.

Source: Southwest Environmental Center 
 

Podcast interview with Adam Guss of the Southwest Environmental Center in Las Cruces

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Guadalupe Mountains National Park working on draft management plan
Podcast report    

Guadalupe Mountains National Park by Rick LoBello

Meet Guadalupe Mountains National Park superintendent John Lujan.

During the years that I served as Executive Director of the Carlsbad Caverns Guadalupe Mountains Association I was always impressed by the commitment of the rangers working at the park to preserving the mountain and desert wilderness.  It has been nearly 8 years since I moved to El Paso from this beautiful part of West Texas and I am glad to learn that some of my friends in the park are still working hard at continuing the National Park Service commitment to protecting our natural heritage.

Earlier this year I spoke with park superintendent John Lujan asking him about the park and how things were going with the park’s new master plan.  You can listen to the interview now or download it as an mp3 file. 

Thanks for listening.
Rick LoBello

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Official site: Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Sign up for the 2008 Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta

The Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition invites you and your organization to participate as a exhibitor, vendor and or speaker at this year’s Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta on September 20 at Tom May’s Park.  This will be our fourth annual fiesta organized to increase awareness of the Chihuahuan Desert. The event kicks off the Celebration of the Mountains annual event in El Paso.  For more information visit www.chihuahuandesert.org or contact:

Exhibitor or Vendor booth:  Contact Diane Perez at willie@epwu.org  or Virginia vgalarza@epwu.org

Program Schedule of 15 minute Talks and Entertainment:  Contact Rick LoBello at lobellorl@elpasotexas.gov

State Park Permits to sell food:  Contact Kelly Serio at Kelly.Serio@tpwd.state.tx.us

Media Inquiries and other event Questions: Contact Rink Somerday at rink@asombro.org