SLVEC expands volunteer group to campaign for BLM protections

PRESS RELEASE

The San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council relies on our volunteers to ensure our alignment with diverse Valley communities and their needs.

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The San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council (SLVEC) continues to galvanize community members to support permanent land protections along the Upper Rio Grande, from the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge to the New Mexico stateline. Guided by volunteer participation, this multi-year effort focuses on nearly 200,000 acres in the Southern Valley, which have significant ecological, historical, and cultural value.

Gathered by SLVEC’s Project Manager, Anna Lee Vargas, this group of active volunteers represents various sectors across the Valley, including biologists, academics, tribal leaders, agriculture, and government entities. It is the most comprehensive group since the project’s inception several years ago, further solidifying the community's commitment to protecting these wild, treasured landscapes.  

“Inclusive stakeholder engagement is integral to this process, ensuring that all voices are heard and represent the multicultural tapestry that makes up the San Luis Valley," Lee said. “Diverse perspectives lead to more equitable outcomes.”

Mostly carved into dark basalt, there are prehistoric petroglyphs along the Rio Grande Corridor in the Southern San Luis Valley. Credit: Kaitlyn Fletcher/SLVEC

With the new participants, SLVEC returned to the region’s roots by highlighting the significant values as detailed in the ‘A View Towards a Healthy Rio Grande.’ Published in 2021, this baseline research lists nine core values on the landscape: wetlands and riparian areas, wildlife corridors, plant communities, cultural resources, historical sites, recreation opportunities, scenic resources, traditional uses, and solar zones.

Participants will engage in an initial feedback form, grounded in these landscape values, to capture diverse perspectives and inform 2026 goals.  

“The group has been willing to grow [in numbers] and make changes based on insight gained from their personal engagement and experiences," Lee said. “This ensures that the San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council continues to be aligned with the community."

Over the last 5 years, SLVEC educated the community about the benefits of a National Conservation Area (NCA) through community outreach, public hearings, and corridor tours. While educational efforts continue in local communities, the campaign aimed at public officials concluded in 2025.

There are various BLM designations across the project area, each with different management practices and priorities. An NCA designation would merge these pockets of protection into a single unit for stewardship. It would establish continuity across the fragmented landscape and balance the region's unique values, including traditional uses such as grazing, hunting, and harvesting. 

The San Luis Valley Field Office is set to begin its new Resource Management Plan in 2026, after operating under a 30-year-old document, published in 1991. This will be an extensive process spanning the next several years and will include public comment periods and community input opportunities.

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