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Story from Valencia County News-Bulletin archives, September 22, 2001
The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District board met Thursday night to listen to the public voice their opinions on how to improve entry to the bosque and how it can benefit the residents of Valencia County. "We're hearing controlled management," said Richard Jaramillo, the MRGCD district manager. "We want to allow access to hunting, but we also want to make a conscious effort to regulate certain areas to still have recreation." The bosque is a unique place where a wide variety of residents, such as hunters, fisherman, motorcyclists and hikers, find relaxation. Time and time again, gates are opened, pulled back and locks are cut, said resident John Allen. "Police the gates or take them away." Resident John Dowling told the board he had been shot at and had a dog killed by hunters who didn't care. "I've been sworn at and kicked at last year when the gates were shut down," he said. "We are on a private road. There's a sign. People ignore it and go in. I hear automatic weapons on the other side of the ditch. This is a crime-ridden county. We're a poor county. This is a huge state. The hunters can go somewhere else. Don't shoot in my backyard or at my dog." J.J. Archuleta, a big game hunter, said a few people are ruining it for every one. "Shutting down won't do it. As hunters, we get tired of being told to go somewhere else. We want to show we can be respectful." Resident Joan Kaufmann said she supports controlled and managed access to the bosque. "The problem isn't one group of people or another. There are some in each category that make it bad for all of us." Kaufmann said she has seen the unthinkable such dead ducks, drug paraphernalia, fast food wrappers dumped in ditches. "I have seen bullets whiz by and children who are abandoned. It's very discouraging," she said. Some present at the meeting say changing locks and replacing gates along the bosque was a step in the right direction. In July, the MRGCD board approved a plan to change locks and increase payment to $10 fee for a key and another $10 for a permit. Although many say they are against gate closure, they believe something must be done so legitimate users aren't locked out of the bosque. Felix Jaramillo, a lifelong resident of the area, told the board, "It is a sad day in my life when the bosque ditch banks are shut down. Not all of our kids like soccer or sports. I find great joy in taking my grandchildren to ride horses along the ditch. The time has come for us to get involved and make people be responsible." Concerned citizens voiced their views on what they call the "rapid destruction of vegetation" in the bosque by four-wheelers. These motorcycles form new trails that are not nature trails, one citizen said. Karen Kuehn, a resident of Bosque Farms and a member of the America Motorcycle Association, enjoys the area for its multiple uses. "I have a motorcycle and I love to trail ride with my son. We go about 10 to12 miles per hour. I'm also an avid horseman and hiker. I want my son to have somewhere he can recreate," she said. "Maybe we can start a community watch. Let's be friends of the bosque and not have so much animosity. I want to be friends with my neighbors. Lets start by cleaning up the bosque ... not accusing specific groups. We can work together. Don't take this place away from the kids." Alicia Aguilar, as a concerned citizen and county commissioner, suggested a strong planning effort within the county. "Coming together, we need dialogue between municipalities. Specific use needs to be represented, as well as urban areas. Everyone must be a part of the process. With all of us coming together, it can be a win-win situation." Jaramillo said the county commission will look into feasible joint powers agreements with law enforcement to provide resources like funding, vehicles and manpower to the MRGCD. Georgia Daves, a resident of Bosque Farms for 22 years, called for specific attention to urbanized areas. She described how the pilot project is meant to increase management within residential areas. Daves urged the board to be aware of community planning. "More regulation is needed. The MRGCD has no resources to provide enforcement. We're eager to partner with parks and recreation in the expansion of the river park. Let's make it a joint effort." According to Jaramillo, the pilot project was called together by the citizens of Bosque Farms, Los Lunas and the Peralta area. "The Bosque Farms pilot project was created to restore the bosque as well as seek ideas to protect it," he said. "Hunters assumed we were trying to close down the bosque. Our intent was to find a better way to manage that stretch of the area." The area reaching from Isleta to three miles south of NM 6 is currently closed off. "We want to join efforts with the Village of Los Lunas, Bosque Farms and Peralta to reduce fuel vegetation and designate recreational areas," he said. "We are not here for the closing of the bosque," said Conservancy CEO Subhas Shah. "The board is working to find a solution." Shah mentioned he had received three crucial calls earlier in the day regarding the bosque. "One person said there should be no access. One said to have it tightly secured, and one said to just leave it open. There were three people asking for different things," he said. "Your input helps us find the best solution for this problem. We don't want to see bosque destroyed, and we don't want houses shot at." Shah said citizens may provide the views they voiced Thursday night for the board in writing by Oct. 22. The next meeting of the MRGCD will be on Oct. 22 at the Albuquerque general office. Everyone is welcome to attend. In closing, Chairman JosT Otero said, "We don't want to close the bosque. It will take cooperation of everybody, not just conservancy to stop unauthorized entry and trashing the bosque. That is the only solution. We need your help."
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