The Rio Grande del Norte offers exceptional outdoor recreation opportunities, and designating it as a national monument would be an economic boon to Northern New Mexicans - this according to Adriana Blake in her recent Op-Ed published in the Taos News. Blake is the administrative manager at Taos Ski Valley, and treasurer of the Taos County Chamber of Commerce.
From the Taos News:
Northern New Mexicans are asking for a Río Grande del Norte National Monument because it makes economic sense. According to a recent study by an economic research firm, a national monument could add $15 million annually to our local economy and create 279 jobs. This growth is on top of the $3.8 billion that outdoor recreation already contributes to New Mexico’s economy annually and the 47,000 New Mexico jobs it supports.
Senators. Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall and Reps. Ben Ray Luján and Martin Heinrich have been working on legislation to protect Río Grande del Norte. However, the bills are stalled in Congress, so our elected officials have asked President Obama to protect the area by using the Antiquities Act.