ES-CA has sent out an email survey to members regarding possible restrictions on uses for the 3200 acre “Buffalo Parcel”, presently held by the BLM. Various other entities have indicated a desire to acquire all or part of the Buffalo parcel from the BLM, which would happen through an act of federal government.
The present survey contains 7 possible conditions (see below) on uses of the Buffalo Parcel, if it should be acquired from the BLM. Those taking the survey are asked to give each suggestion a ranking of 5 to 1, 5 for “most strongly support” to 1 for “least strongly support”. The tabulated results of the survey will provide a ranking for what restrictive uses the ES-CA members most and least support.
ES-CA will report the survey results to our community, our federal and state senators and representatives, all involved government agencies, and all other interested parties. This will form a Statement of Support, which will hopefully serve as firm guidelines for government discussions of restrictive covenants placed on the Buffalo Parcel in the event of acquisition. Also, if the BLM does retain that property, then the survey results will indicate to them what our members do and do not consider acceptable uses.
The 7 survey items are as follows. The order is based on a “straw poll” taken at the ES-CA August General Meeting, but the full ranking will be determined by the results of this survey:
1. Never allow any type of mining or extraction (except water) on the property.
2. Allow only uses of the land that are commonly considered low water uses.
3. Allow public access on established trails.
4. Restrict motorized vehicular use to emergencies, property maintenance, and accommodation of physically challenged visitors.
5. Establish and maintain wildlife corridors.
6. Provide an easement for a north vehicular emergency route between Placitas and I-25.
7. Never allow commercial or recreational firearm discharge on the property.
Please comment on this article to offer your suggestions for other possible restrictions on Buffalo Parcel uses.
UPDATE: Here are the results of the survey, with the items listed in the order of highest to lowest priority, based on the survey results. There were 118 participants.
Weighted average = 4.70 — Never allow any type of mining or extraction (except water) on the property. — Votes: #5=85%, #4=6%, #3=5%, #2=1% #1=3%
Weighted average = 4.64 — Allow only uses of the land that are commonly considered low water uses. — Votes: #5=80%, #4=10%, #3=6%, #2=1%, #1=3%
Weighted average = 4.55 — Allow public access on established trails. — Votes: #5=73%, #4=15%, #3=8%, #2=1%, #1=%3
Weighted average = 4.49 — Establish and maintain wildlife corridor. — Votes: #5=72%, #4=14%, #3=8%, #2=3%, #1=3%
Weighted average = 4.48 – Restrict motorized vehicular use to emergencies, property maintenance, and accommodation of physically challenged visitors. — Votes: #5=72%, #4=14%, #3=8%, #2=3%, #1=3%
Weighted average = 4.27 – Never allow commercial or recreational firearm discharge on the property. — Votes: #5=72.7%, #4=5.1%, #3=7.7%, #2=6.0%, #1=8.5%
Weighted average = 3.34 – Provide an easement for a north vehicular emergency route between Placitas and I-25. — Votes: #5=32%, #4=20%, #3=20%, #2=8%, #1=20%
Based on these survey results ES-CA is submitting a Statement of Support (see here) to the public, government agencies, legislators and other interested parties.
Re Survey Item #4: the means of public access to the “Buffalo Parcel” must take into consideration the parcel’s depth and breadth. I know from current frequent first-hand continuing experience that negotiating the expanse of the parcel necessitates a 4WD vehicle with high clearance. Due to its size and the nature of its terrain, limiting access to the parcel to pedestrian traffic only will tend to concentrate recreational access to the nearer portions of the Southern half of the parcel. This will, de facto, represent a form of “recreational abandonment” of the Northern half of the parcel. This, in turn, raises, rather than diminishes, the potential risk of mining, drilling, and other land exploitation in that area due to that lack of recreational usage. I urge ES-CA to carefully consider any Statement of Agreeable Purpose that limits vehicular access to the Buffalo Parcel for recreational purposes. Rather, I would recommend that any Statement of Agreeable Purpose in this regard be worded to:
“maintain vehicular traffic to existing roads within the parcel.”
Michael,
A vote of 5 for item #1 and a vote of 1 for item #4 would provide the direction you suggest to the formation of the ES-CA Statement of Support for Restrictions and Use of the Buffalo Parcel. If others feel the same, they should vote likewise.