LAS CRUCES, N.M. – On Friday, December 9, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell will visit the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument as part of a nationwide tour highlighting Interior's progress for managing America's public lands, water and wildlife and the gains for conservation under the Obama Administration.
Following a hike in the national monument, Secretary Jewell will co-host a roundtable with the Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce to discuss the economic importance of protecting public lands and national monuments. They will also discuss the need to ensure all communities have access and feel connected to public lands.
President Obama designated the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument in 2014 as part of the Bureau of Land Management’s National Conservation Lands. The monument has a vibrant culture, history, wildlife and opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors – from hunting to hiking to gazing at ancient petroglyphs and fossils. Since the designation, visitation to the national monument has more than doubled.
President Obama has protected more land and water than any other U.S. President. Working closely with local communities, his Administration has preserved spectacular American landscapes, honored a more inclusive story of America and boosted local economies through visitation and other associated tourism to our nation's public lands and waters.
Who:
Sally Jewell, U.S. Secretary of the Interior
Carrie Hamblen, CEO/President, Las Cruces Green Chamber
Business and Community Leaders
What:
Tour and stakeholder roundtable at Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument
When:
Friday, December 9, 2016
7:45 a.m. MST – Media check-in
8:00 a.m. MST – Hike
11:00 a.m. MST – Las Cruces local business meeting
12:30 p.m. MST – Stakeholder roundtable
Where:
Hike:
Soledad Canyon Rd, Las Cruces, NM 88011
Directions: Drive east on University Drive, passing Tortugas 'A' Mountain
on the left, proceeding to University intersection to Soledad Canyon Road, which
also has a sign for Talavera Estates - take a right and drive south for a short
segment. Next you'll take a left when you reach the curb and drive east. The
Talavera Fire Station is past the curb on the right. Take Soledad Canyon
Road and drive east until the end of the road, which goes from pavement to dirt
and then crosses a cattle guard to the BLM parking lot leading to the Bar Canyon
trailhead.
Local Business Meeting:
Beck’s Coffee Shop
130 N Mesquite St, Las Cruces, NM 88001
Stakeholder Roundtable:
Thomas Branigan Library, Roadrunner Room, Second Floor
200 East Picacho Avenue, Las Cruces, NM 88001
Media:
Credentialed members of the media are encouraged to RSVP here.
Source: Department of Interior
