ABQjournal: Wilderness: Economic, Environmental Sense By Dolores Connor, Las Cruces city councilor, mayor pro-tem

The Las Cruces City Council voted unanimously for wilderness designation of eight existing wilderness study areas in our county, as well as Broad Canyon and the East Potrillo Mountains. The Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners and the municipalities of Sunland Park, Hatch and Mesilla all passed similar resolutions. Clearly, there is broad and growing support for protection of these spectacular areas, as well as a significant National Conservation Area (NCA) in and around the Organ Mountains. A recent poll of Doña Ana County voters found that fully 55 percent of respondents favored this conservation and wilderness plan for our community.