Conservation Issues
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ACTION ALERT!
There is a proposed plan to locate a sewage treatment plant in the North Valley at Hope Road and the Rio Grande. Yes, next to the river! Many violations have already occurred and have resulted in land clearing operations that have destroyed bird habitat along the river. The site of this proposed sewage treatment plant is too close to the river and there are much better alternatives. Letters from MVAS members are urgently needed before January 19, 2010. See below for more detail.
To All Mesilla Valley Audubon Society Members:
PLEASE submit comments on environmental aspects of the proposed wastewater treatment plant at Hope Road and the Rio Grande no later than 5:00 PM MST on January 19, 2010, either via email to DAMDWCA.EID@soudermiller.com, or via mail or in person to: Souder, Miller & Associates ATTN: DAMDWCA EID 401 Seventeenth Street, Suite 4 Las Cruces, NM 88005
In order to service their own customers in Dona Ana Village and Fairacres, Dona Ana Mutual Domestic Water Consumers Association (DAMDWCA) is proposing to build a sewage plant not in their service area (where at least one feasible site has already been rejected because of public opposition) but rather six miles away in the Leasburg Mutual Domestic Water Consumers Association (LMDWCA) district. Dona Ana did not honor agreements with LMDWCA to keep potential partners apprised of possible future sites, instead only notifying LMDWCA after land in their service area had quietly been purchased and engineering studies were already completed. No adjacent homeowner was ever contacted -- one found out when his hedgerow was mistakenly bulldozed.
Right now the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) and their overseers at EPA urgently need to hear about the important environmental considerations on which we as Auduboners can speak with particular authority. It would be great if folks could write short individual letters (either typed or handwritten is fine) that mention a couple of key points; below are some that would be especially good to cover.
1. Why did Dona Ana Mutual Domestic Water Consumers Association (DAMDWCA) completely ignore the USF&WS recommendations in their own report and bulldoze most of the screwbean mesquite-cottonwood bosque that comprised 10 acres (or ~40%) of the site in the middle of JULY, during the nesting season for a number of birds that were likely breeding there. The public was not given adequate information and notification. A public meeting was held in March 2009 but information was scare and not even a location for the sewage plant was given thus attendance at meeting was low.
2. Why is there no mention of screwbean mesquite trees in the site description, when the whole north end was a veritable thicket of screwbean mesquite? Even now after the land clearing anyone can see that close to 300 of these trees still remain! This screwbean mesquite bosque had been undisturbed for more than 20 years. Clearly the habitat assessment is seriously flawed.
3. Why were surveys for birds done only in the winter and not year round or at a minimum during the breeding season? It would seem impossible to determine habitat value without taking into account bird use during the nesting season.
4. Why are there only two bird species listed- Mourning Dove and House Finch- when supposedly two separate surveys were done? Just driving by the property many more species than that can be seen. Since the surveys were done in January one would expect to see White-winged Doves as well as other winter birds such as Vermilion Flycatchers, Western Scrub-Jays, Western and Eastern Bluebirds, Green-tailed and Spotted Towhees, Dark-eyed Juncos, huge flocks of native sparrows, and even an occasional Bald Eagle. It appears that the surveys conducted are seriously flawed.
5. Among the many birds known or suspected to breed there or in the immediate vicinity are Gambels Quail, Inca Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Burrowing Owl, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Vermilion Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Bells Vireo, Northern Mockingbird, Curve-billed Thrasher, Lucys Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Summer Tanager, Pyrrhuloxia, Blue Grosbeak, Painted Bunting, Hooded Oriole, Bullocks Oriole, and Lesser Goldfinch. Virtually any of these could have had young in the nest at the time the habitat was destroyed.
6. The facility would also create a property value issue for adjacent landowners many who have lived there for many years. In addition, the Rio Grande Nature Trail in the planning by New Mexico State Parks is slated to go right by this property! There are other site locations further from the river that would create far less habitat damage than in this riparian area.
7. Strongly urge that a more appropriate site for this project be chosen, away from existing residences and without tearing out already scarce native habitats along the Rio Grande corridor.
Otero Mesa Article (Audubon Magazine Web Exclusive - featuring MVAS members)
Home
ACTION ALERT!
There is a proposed plan to locate a sewage treatment plant in the North Valley at Hope Road and the Rio Grande. Yes, next to the river! Many violations have already occurred and have resulted in land clearing operations that have destroyed bird habitat along the river. The site of this proposed sewage treatment plant is too close to the river and there are much better alternatives. Letters from MVAS members are urgently needed before January 19, 2010. See below for more detail.
To All Mesilla Valley Audubon Society Members:
PLEASE submit comments on environmental aspects of the proposed wastewater treatment plant at Hope Road and the Rio Grande no later than 5:00 PM MST on January 19, 2010, either via email to DAMDWCA.EID@soudermiller.com, or via mail or in person to: Souder, Miller & Associates ATTN: DAMDWCA EID 401 Seventeenth Street, Suite 4 Las Cruces, NM 88005
In order to service their own customers in Dona Ana Village and Fairacres, Dona Ana Mutual Domestic Water Consumers Association (DAMDWCA) is proposing to build a sewage plant not in their service area (where at least one feasible site has already been rejected because of public opposition) but rather six miles away in the Leasburg Mutual Domestic Water Consumers Association (LMDWCA) district. Dona Ana did not honor agreements with LMDWCA to keep potential partners apprised of possible future sites, instead only notifying LMDWCA after land in their service area had quietly been purchased and engineering studies were already completed. No adjacent homeowner was ever contacted -- one found out when his hedgerow was mistakenly bulldozed.
Right now the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) and their overseers at EPA urgently need to hear about the important environmental considerations on which we as Auduboners can speak with particular authority. It would be great if folks could write short individual letters (either typed or handwritten is fine) that mention a couple of key points; below are some that would be especially good to cover.
1. Why did Dona Ana Mutual Domestic Water Consumers Association (DAMDWCA) completely ignore the USF&WS recommendations in their own report and bulldoze most of the screwbean mesquite-cottonwood bosque that comprised 10 acres (or ~40%) of the site in the middle of JULY, during the nesting season for a number of birds that were likely breeding there. The public was not given adequate information and notification. A public meeting was held in March 2009 but information was scare and not even a location for the sewage plant was given thus attendance at meeting was low.
2. Why is there no mention of screwbean mesquite trees in the site description, when the whole north end was a veritable thicket of screwbean mesquite? Even now after the land clearing anyone can see that close to 300 of these trees still remain! This screwbean mesquite bosque had been undisturbed for more than 20 years. Clearly the habitat assessment is seriously flawed.
3. Why were surveys for birds done only in the winter and not year round or at a minimum during the breeding season? It would seem impossible to determine habitat value without taking into account bird use during the nesting season.
4. Why are there only two bird species listed- Mourning Dove and House Finch- when supposedly two separate surveys were done? Just driving by the property many more species than that can be seen. Since the surveys were done in January one would expect to see White-winged Doves as well as other winter birds such as Vermilion Flycatchers, Western Scrub-Jays, Western and Eastern Bluebirds, Green-tailed and Spotted Towhees, Dark-eyed Juncos, huge flocks of native sparrows, and even an occasional Bald Eagle. It appears that the surveys conducted are seriously flawed.
5. Among the many birds known or suspected to breed there or in the immediate vicinity are Gambels Quail, Inca Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Burrowing Owl, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Vermilion Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Bells Vireo, Northern Mockingbird, Curve-billed Thrasher, Lucys Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Summer Tanager, Pyrrhuloxia, Blue Grosbeak, Painted Bunting, Hooded Oriole, Bullocks Oriole, and Lesser Goldfinch. Virtually any of these could have had young in the nest at the time the habitat was destroyed.
6. The facility would also create a property value issue for adjacent landowners many who have lived there for many years. In addition, the Rio Grande Nature Trail in the planning by New Mexico State Parks is slated to go right by this property! There are other site locations further from the river that would create far less habitat damage than in this riparian area.
7. Strongly urge that a more appropriate site for this project be chosen, away from existing residences and without tearing out already scarce native habitats along the Rio Grande corridor.