The Call for Wilderness-Published image
The Otero Mesa is the largest tract of open range grasslands left in the lower 48 and is an ideal candidate for protection. The are several Wilderness Study Areas (WSA) on the million plus acre mesa, however Congress has yet to approve any of them to be added to the Wilderness System.
Since the area is public land managed (mostly) by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) it is subject to mining claims. There have already been attempts to gain drilling permits and now the area is under threat of hard rock mining.
The Wilderness Society is working to help provide that protection this amazing location deserves.
See more on the Wilderness Society website Wilderness Society
See more on the Otero Mesa on my Blog and images in my Gallery
