News and Articles

Santa Fe County Commissioners Mike Anaya and Kathy Holian co-sponsored a resolution, passed by the Board of County Commissioners, focusing on protecting public and private property and improving off-highway vehicle (OHV) safety in Santa Fe County.  The County supports the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish in urging the U.S. Forest Service to seek additional funding to maintain signage, add law enforcement personnel, increase funding for educational outreach to the public; and seek additional funding to implement physical road and trail closures which will facilitate natural restoration of ecologically damaged roads and trails caused by excessive motorized use.  “There are a growing number of reckless riders who are damaging private property, wildlife habitat, and cultural resources,” said Commissioner Anaya “By providing sufficient resources to local communities for cooperative management and enforcement, we can protect responsible riders.”
 
The County urges the NM Off-Road Vehicle Safety Board to dedicate a percentage of the budget from OHV registration fees to repair, maintain, and close existing trails, and to provide education; and to exert the energy required to create positive change by funding Enforcement Rangers greatly needed throughout New Mexico for public lands safety and protection.  “We must protect our natural heritage,” said Commissioner Holian “Future generations depend on us to be good stewards of the resources we’ve been entrusted with.”
 
The Board encourages federal land management agencies to advance collaborative OHV management with local government, law enforcement, and community groups through a federal grants program to fund OHV-related habitat restoration, trail signage, education, and enforcement.  The range and ability of OHV’s to access remote public lands have resulted in serious physical injuries, helped to spread noxious and invasive weeds, and some OHV use has resulted in conflicts with other recreational users, ranchers, hunters, wildlife and have caused damage to public and private land.  Promoting better management of OHV use, reducing conflicts with other users and minimizing the soil, watershed, wildlife and habitat impacts from OHV’s will protect the health of public and private lands while continuing to protect access and provide for recreational opportunities.
              
Recreation in New Mexico, including hiking, bicycling, camping, fishing, hunting, paddling, snow sports and wildlife viewing contributes $3.8 billion dollars annually to New Mexico’s economy; supports 47,000 jobs across New Mexico, generates $184 million in annual state tax revenue and produces $2.75 billion annually in retail sales and services across New Mexico accounting for 4.6% of gross state product.