RMP Overview

On May 21, 2014, Presidential Proclamation 9131 established the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument. The Monument includes BLM-managed public lands encompassing five mountain ranges surrounding Las Cruces, New Mexico. The Monument was established to “protect and preserve objects of scientific and historic interest” for the use of future generations.

On March 12, 2019, the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act designated 10 wilderness areas within the Monument. These 10 wilderness areas account for nearly half of all Monument lands. The Wilderness Act requires the BLM to preserve the wilderness character of these areas.

What is a Resource Management Plan (RMP)?

A BLM RMP makes long-term land use allocations and sets resource management goals, objectives, and direction for the administration of public resources. The OMDPNM RMP will:

• Identify and allocate public lands as open and available for certain uses, including use restrictions, and closed for certain uses

• Establish goals, objectives, and management actions for the administration of public resources and resources values

• Establish appropriate protection and preservation actions for objects of scientific and historic interest

Alternatives

The Draft RMP/EIS evaluates a “No Action’ alternative (current management) and three action alternatives developed in response to issues and concerns identified through scoping. These alternatives address and resolve current conditions and management issues, explore resource management opportunities, and establish appropriate preservation and conservation management direction on the Monument.

Alternative A represents current management direction and prevailing conditions from existing
planning decisions. Goals, objectives, and management direction from the 1993 Mimbres RMP, as
amended, would apply except where superseded by Presidential Proclamation 9131 or the 2019 Dingell Act. 

Alternative B emphasizes preservation of important objects and conservation of natural resources, with additional goals of achieving reference plant communities and supporting species’ augmentation and reintroduction efforts. Would allow for
appropriate recreation, off-highway vehicle (OHV) and mechanized use, and livestock grazing.

Alternative C would provide additional flexibility in the management of
natural resources, cultural resources, and uses, such as recreation, OHV and mechanized use, and
livestock grazing. This alternative would provide a balance between resource uses and resource
protection.

Alternative D emphasizes opportunities for resource uses, such as recreation, OHV and mechanized use, and livestock grazing, while preserving objects of scientific and historic interest and conservation of ecological functions that effectively protect important Monument objects and values.

For more information on the OMDPNM RMP/EIS please see the BLM’s website.