By Deborah Stevens

BLM Public Affairs Specialist

LAS CRUCES — Although the saying “April showers bring May flowers” may not be in the forecast, our spring-time temperatures are enticing the public to get out and enjoy southern New Mexico’s 5.4 million acres of public land.

As the federal agency that manages public lands, the Bureau of Land Management is in the business of providing the public with open spaces for a variety of recreational and other uses. In addition, the BLM is in the business of improving and maintaining the infrastructure that make these lands enticing and accessible for public use.

Through its Operations Program, the BLM Las Cruces District provides for the strategic planning and implementation of resource projects that make recreating on public land more enjoyable. Examples of these projects are throughout the District, including roads, campgrounds, picnic and parking areas, visitor centers, hiking, biking and equestrian trails, information kiosks, portal signs and bathroom facilities.

The BLM civil engineers, equipment operators, facilities managers, safety officers, environmental protection and abandoned mine specialists work with other BLM interdisciplinary specialists to ensure these projects are built and maintained for the benefit and long-term use by all public land users. They also build and maintain projects to ensure they support and protect the resource values of the BLM-managed public land.

Most recently, the BLM operations staff improved the access to the Prehistoric Trackways National Monument by realigning the road and adding a new parking area to facilitate school buses and general purpose vehicles. In addition, they improved the Dripping Springs Natural Area with handicapped accessible sidewalks to the visitor center and trails.

The BLM has also replaced two vault toilets at Aguirre Springs Campground, accommodating the annual visitors to this popular year-round recreational area.

Long-term planning for visitor-use facilities is an on-going effort by the BLM Operations Program. Working within its annual budget, the BLM prioritizes its field projects to meet public demand and address public safety and resource issues.

Oftentimes, the BLM utilizes multi-year project planning to capitalize on funding sources and collaborative partnerships that help improve and maintain the public lands infrastructure.

An example of this approach is the Dripping Springs and Baylor Canyon Road Improvement Project, a multi-year and agency accomplishment.

For years, visitors travelled on these two county roads that were generally passable by 4-wheel drive vehicles, but presented challenges to visitors in 2-wheel drive and low clearance vehicles, especially after rain storms.

In response to this need, the Federal Highway Administration funded a $2.8 million project under its Federal Lands Access Program and improved the 2.3-mile Dripping Spring Road and 2.6-mile Baylor Canyon Road. Along with Doña Ana County’s contribution of 14.6 percent in matching funds and BLM’s completion of the environmental assessment, rights-of-way modification and project consultation the road improvements were completed in June 2016.

The results were just what the public needed to make their travel to the BLM Dripping Springs Natural Area, and other access points along the way, more desirable, convenient and just in time for spring. Not to mention, ready for April showers and May flowers!

Deborah Stevens is a Bureau of Land Management Public Affairs Specialist.