Most El Pasoans have no idea of what
is about to happen to the last and only scenic corridor in El Paso. Unless
action is taken NOW, the beautiful views we all enjoy along Trans Mountain Road
from I-10 to the Franklin Mountains State Park will soon resemble the two
gateways near Cielo Vista Mall. The changes that are planned will be dramatic
and shocking. If ever there was a time for action by all El Pasoans, that time
is right now.
The Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition is sponsoring a petition calling for preserving, in its natural state and in perpetuity, the land known as the Scenic Transmountain Corridor.
Here's how you can help save the Scenic Transmountain
Corridor: Download and print the petition and carefully read the instructions.
Only registered voters residing in the City of El Paso can
sign the petitions. We need at least 1547 signatures so please get started.
Thank you for your help.
Instructions for Petition Gatherers
To all those who live outside
of El Paso:
You can help with our efforts to save the Franklin Mountains by signing our
online petition, contacting your elected representatives and El Paso City
Officials directly.
Contact Your Elected Officials. Let them know how
you feel about saving the Franklin Mountains and other conservation issues in El
Paso.
Visit the City of El Paso website for links to all your elected officials from local to national.
http://www.ci.el-paso.tx.us/government.asp
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Updated: April 12, 2011
5th Annual Franklin Mountains Poppies Preservation Celebration draws hundreds to the El Paso Museum of Archaelogy
Thanks to one and all for coming out to our event this year. We did not have any poppies in bloom because of the lack of winter rains, but that only makes the days when they do bloom even more special in the years ahead.
It was obvious by the attendance and all the partner organizations and businesses that participated that people in El Paso and the surrounding region care about protecting the Castner Range.
Please keep up the hard work everyone. Together we can make a difference and as Margaret Meade once said: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
The Franklin
Mountains Wilderness Coalition was formed in 1978 and played a central role in
the events that led to the establishment of Franklin Mountains State Park in
1979. The Coalition consists of organizations and individuals united in
their concern for the Franklins in Texas and New Mexico and dedicated to:
(1) preserving the scenic beauty and wilderness character of the Mountains;
(2)
protecting the plant and animal resources of the Mountains and preserving the
whole range as an intact ecosystem;
(3)
stimulating appreciation of the natural values of the Mountains and promoting
understanding of their biological, cultural and geological features; and
(4) encouraging recreational, scientific and educational uses of the Mountains
consistent with preserving their scenic beauty and wilderness character.
Join us on
10 reasons
why protecting El Paso's Trans Mountain Scenic Corridor is so
important to protecting Franklin Mountains State Park
1. The lowland desert areas surrounding Franklin Mountains State
Park provide habitat for many species of animals and plants.
To survive in this part of the Chihuahuan Desert ecoregion many
species require these lower elevations for food and protection.
Other species require habitat at both low and high elevations.
2. As urban sprawl creeps closer to the boundaries of the park the
area's nesting birds will be threatened by domestic cats that many
people in El Paso allow to roam freely in their neighborhoods.
3. The new TX-Dot road project combined with planned developments
along the three mile corridor on the the west side of Trans
Mountain Road will destroy the last wild scenic view in this part of
the city important to the quality of life for thousands of El
Pasoans currently enjoying the area.
4. The loss of the last wild scenic view in West El Paso will hurt
the city's ability to expand ecotourism important to the entire
region.
5. Campers visiting the Tom Mays section of Franklin Mountains State
Park plus those who will someday be able to camp out on backcountry
trails will be affected by both light and noise pollution
associated with developments included in the Northwest Master Plan.
6. Threatened Texas horned lizards living in the lowland areas of
the Franklin Mountains will loose critical habitat which could
eventually lead to extinction of the species in this part of Texas.
7. Golden eagles and other raptors in the Franklin Mountains will
lose important lowland hunting and nesting areas.
8. Mule deer will not have as many lowland areas to use as
part of their overall range important to seasonal food production
and protection from extreme temperatures during winter snow storms.
9. Javelina or collared peccaries appear to be expanding their range
in this area and developments associated with the Northwest Master
Plan will hurt their chances of finding the habitat they need to
successfully establish themselves in this part of El Paso.
10. The potential for any future efforts to restore extirpated
species like desert bighorn and Mexican wolves to this part of the
Franklin Mountains will be impaired by urban sprawl developments.
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