A Scenic Corridor Worth Preserving

A Scenic Corridor worth preserving

Save El Paso's Franklin Mountains. Sign the Petition.

Yesterday I showed maps of the PSB land east of the gas line road and north and south of Trans Mountain - land which abuts the Franklin Mountains State Park. Today I'll post pictures of the scenic natural corridor which some want to bulldoze and scrape, killing all wildlife and destroying all ecosystems, in order to put up big box stores, strip malls, apartments, large homes just to pay for water and sewage for perhaps one or two more generations.

When I say PSB land, I mean public land - land that belongs to all El Pasoans together but managed by the Public Service Board for us. The final authority for public land is the public through its elected representatives on City Council. Always keep this in mind.

Here are the pics:

Arroyos and rolling hills just east of gas line road

TxDOT right of way marker east of gas line road. Note the scenic view in the background. That scenery along with the remarkable plant and animal life is what you will lose if these plans go through.

Winter snow emphasizes the beauty of the scenic corridor

The policy to sell land for development in this scenic corridor is short sighted and promotes a policy of unsustainability.

Here's another thought: recreation and eco-tourism would bring in millions of dollars to our community. Does PSB have a land management policy for open space that includes recreation and eco-tourism. It does not. In fact, the only land policy it has was one it recently passed as a CYA for using open space dollars for plants at Saipan - a policy in total contradiction of ordinance and a policy passed after bids were taken and the Saipan project was begun. (More on this tomorrow.)

Texas Agri-Life Extension Recreation, Parks and Tourism Science quotes research from the Outdoor Industry Association:

According to a study from the Outdoor Industry Association, nature-based tourism has a large national economic footprint (please note that the numbers below reflect national totals): For more statistics and studies, click here.

• Contributes $730 billion annually to the U.S. economy
• Supports nearly 6.5 million jobs across the U.S.
• Generates $88 billion in annual state and national tax revenue
• Provides sustainable growth in rural communities
• Generates $289 billion annually in retail sales and services across the U.S.
• Touches over 8 percent of America’s personal consumption expenditures—
more than 1 in every 12 dollars circulating in the economy

Supporting this is a report from Headwaters Economics - The Economic Benefits of Southern New Mexico's Natural Assets: Tourism is New Mexico's second largest industry bringing to New Mexico more than $5.7 billion annually.

Want some money for water and water infrastructure? Isn't it about time that we conserve our scenic natural resources, make ecotourism and recreation a priority, and insist that the PSB develop (with the assistance of the City of El Paso Open Space Board) a solid land use policy for open space that includes recreation, conservation and eco-tourism?

The question, of course, is rhetorical. It is time. In fact, it is past time . . . it is high time.

Save El Paso's Franklin Mountains. Sign the Petition.