Columbine-Hondo Wilderness Act Summary
The purpose of this bill is to establish the approximately 45,000-acre Columbine-Hondo Wilderness, modify the boundary of the Wheeler Peak Wilderness, and toconvey certain National Forest System land to the Town of Red River and Villageof Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico.
Background
The bill would designate approximately 45,000 acres (45,001.7 acres) of federalland managed by the Forest Service in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains innorthern New Mexico as the Columbine-Hondo Wilderness. The Columbine-Hondoarea was designated as a Wilderness Study Area by the New Mexico WildernessAct of 1980 (P.L. 96-550). The Columbine-Hondo region of the Sangre de CristoMountains contains ponderosa pine and mixed conifer forests, alpine meadows,and some of the highest peaks in the State, including Gold Hill, which rises to anelevation of 12,711 feet. The lush forests and alpine meadows of the Columbine-Hondo are home toabundant Rocky Mountain wildlife, such as mule deer, elk, black bear, andmountain lion. Above tree line, New Mexico’s prized herd of bighorn sheep, alongwith marmots and pica, can be seen in a fragile alpine tundra habitat. TheColumbine-Hondo contains the headwaters of the Rio Hondo and Red River, bothmajor tributaries of the upper Río Grande in northern Mexico. The pristine creeksand streams of the Columbine-Hondo provide surface water for the downstreamagricultural communities of Valdez, Arroyo Hondo, Arroyo Seco, San Cristobal andQuesta. The permanent protection of this area will ensure quality habitat for hunters andanglers, the protection of the primary watershed for numerous nearbycommunities and downstream water users, and the preservation of historic waysof life for northern New Mexicans. Nearby communities are also interested inattracting additional tourism to recreate in this wilderness area. The designation is supported by the Taos County Commission, Taos Pueblo, thetowns of Taos and Red River, villages of Questa and Taos Ski Valley, Taos CountyChamber of Commerce, sportsmen, ranchers, conservation organizations,farmers and irrigation districts (acequias), the Taos Cycling Coalition,