Rio Grande del Norte National Monument

Coordinates: 36°40′0″N 105°42′0″W / 36.66667°N 105.70000°W / 36.66667; -105.70000
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Rio Grande del Norte National Monument
U.S. Bureau of Land Management
WebsiteRio Grande del Norte National Monument
Ute Mountain (10, 093 ft) and the upper Rio Grande gorge

The Rio Grande del Norte National Monument is an approximately 242,555-acre (98,159 ha) area of public lands in

national monument on March 25, 2013, by President Barack Obama under the provisions of the Antiquities Act. It consists of the Rio Grande Gorge and surrounding lands, managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).[2][3][4]
[1]

The monument includes two BLM recreation areas, a portion of the

Rio San Antonio Wilderness in the northwest corner, and the Cerro del Yuta Wilderness
in the northeast corner.

Monument map
Map of Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. Also see resolution adjustable pdf map.

Environment

The monument includes portions of the

ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir in the mountains. The monument provides habitat for a variety of resident and migrant birds. Large mammals include elk, mule deer, pronghorn and bighorn sheep, as well as predators such as cougar, bobcat, river otters, black bears and coyotes. The plateau provides winter range for many of the larger grazing animals.[5]

History

The valley of the Rio Grande has been inhabited at least to the

Picuris Pueblo have inhabited the area. Settlement in the area was not successful, leaving the abandoned remains of early 20th century homesteads, mainly in the area of Cerro Montoso.[5]

Activities

Rafting and boating through the Rio Grande Gorge is a popular activity. Rapids vary between Class II and Class V. Rafting and boating trips are available from commercial outfitters. Mountain biking is permitted on designated trails and roads. Off-highway vehicles are permitted on designated roads. A number of paved highways cross the monument, including the Wild Rivers Backcountry Byway, New Mexico Highway 570, and U.S. Routes 64 and 285. Route 64 crosses the Rio Grande Gorge on the 660-foot (200 m) high Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. Fishing for brown and rainbow trout and northern pike is available on the Red River and the Rio Grande, subject to New Mexico regulations. Hunting is also permitted in the monument, subject to game regulations. There are five campgrounds located within the monument, one in the river gorge.[4]

Administration

The

National Landscape Conservation System. Monument lands are withdrawn from mineral exploration apart from pre-existing claims. Existing utility line rights-of-way will be regulated by the BLM, as will traditional native access and grazing rights. The use of motorized vehicles is permitted only on designated roads.[5]

Two BLM visitor centers serve the monument. The Wild Rivers Visitor Center is located in the Wild Rivers Recreation Area near Questa. The Rio Grande Gorge Visitor Center is near the Orilla Verde Recreation Area near Pilar. The monument is administered from the BLM's Taos field office.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^
    National Archives
    .
  2. ^ Tom Sharpe (March 24, 2013). "Rio Grande del Norte National Monument may boost tourism". The Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  3. ^ John M. Broder (March 22, 2013). "Obama to Name New National Monuments" (blog "The Caucus"). The New York Times. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d "Rio Grande del Norte National Monument". Bureau of Land Management. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  5. ^
    National Archives
    .

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rio Grande del Norte National Monument.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Rio Grande del Norte National Monument.
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