• The plan aims to protect unique landscapes and cultural sites.
• Traditional uses like hunting and fishing will continue.
• Plan addresses recreation, visitor services, and facilities.

December 24, 2024 — The Bureau of Land Management yesterday issued a management plan for the Río Grande del Norte National Monument to guard the Monument’s exceptional landscapes and important cultural sites. The Monument spans 242,668 acres and was designated by Presidential proclamation on March 25, 2013, to recognize its natural, cultural, and scientific significance.

This plan amends the 2012 Taos Resource Management Plan with specific measures to protect resources within the Monument. It also preserves time-honored uses such as hunting, fishing, collecting fuel wood and piñon nuts, and other subsistence traditions.

Balancing Recreation and Conservation.

According to the Bureau, the plan addresses recreational opportunities while also providing for visitor services and facilities. The goal is to ensure that people can continue to enjoy the Monument’s offerings without harming the habitats and cultural sites that make it special.

“We are so grateful to the members of the public who participated in the preparation and completion of this project,” said BLM Taos Field Manager Eric Valencia. “This plan is vital to the care and protection of the Río Grande del Norte National Monument and we look forward to collaborating with our partners and the public to accomplish the goals outlined in the plan.”

Collaboration and Preservation.

The BLM worked with cooperating agencies, Tribal Nations, and an array of public stakeholders to craft a plan that prevents potential damage to the Monument’s values. In doing so, it aims to support species diversity, including threatened and endangered species, while minimizing habitat fragmentation and displacement of wildlife.

The approved plan and related documents are on the BLM National NEPA Register.

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Image of Rio Grande del Norte via BLM press release.

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