[Coalition_for_valle_vidal] Valle Vidal Event in Santa Fe - August 24th

[Jim O'Donnell]

Valle Vidal:  Valley of Life, or Valley of Pumpjacks?
Free Public Event | Wednesday, August 24th, 7pm

The Valle Vidal is:
  a) home to one of New Mexico's largest elk herds, and the State's only 
once-in-a-lifetime elk hunt
  b) summer home to 3,000 Boy Scouts participating in an environmental 
stewardship program
  c) a contributor of $2-$5 million dollars annually to the northern New 
Mexico economy
d) threatened with gas development that will impact the beauty, ecology 
and water resources for decades, if not centuries
e) all of the above

  The Valle Vidal, located near Cimarron in the Carson National Forest, 
is all of the above.  Ecologically, economically, and culturally, the 
Valle Vidal is important to northern New Mexico.  Yet, the majestic 
Valle Vidal -- nicknamed New Mexico's Yellowstone -- is under threat 
from large energy development corporations.  Although the gas resource 
is not significant, companies are still jockeying to open the land to 
industrialization, despite the fact that drilling will scar the 
landscape, contaminate the water, and ruin the recreational activities 
which draw so many to the Valle every year.

  Join a panel of experts as they discuss what the Valle Vidal is, its 
importance to New Mexico, and what we have to lose if it is sacrificed 
for a few hours of natural gas.

  When:   Wednesday, August 24
  Time:     7 pm
  Where:  Randall Davey Audubon Center, 1800 Upper Canyon Road, Santa    
         		 Fe
  Cost:     Free (donations accepted)

Speakers:
  William Brown, Physical Scientist, retired from U.S. Geological Survey
  Alan Lackey, Raton businessman and hunting guide
  Ned Farquhar, Senior Advisor, Energy/Environment, Officer of Governor 
Bill Richardson
  Bill deBuys, author and historian

Now is a critical time to participate in the effort to protect the 
Valle Vidal.  The Forest Service is seeking public comment until 
September 14th.  Letter-writing materials will be available at the 
event.  Can't make it to the event?  Please go to www.vallevidal.org to 
see how you can comment on the future of the Valle Vidal.

This event is sponsored by the Coalition for the Valle Vidal, the 
Sangre de Cristo Chapter of the Audubon Society, Audubon New Mexico, 
the Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club, the Randall Davey Audubon 
Center, and the New Mexico Environmental Law Center.

For more information on the event, call 989-9022.  For more information 
about the work to protect the Valle Vidal, see www.vallevidal.org. 

  Viva Valle Vidal!  Please distribute this message to anyone who may be 
interested in this important issue.  Thanks!


Are you a member of the Coalition for the Valle Vidal?  Would you like 
to support our efforts?  Join or contribute today at: 
http://www.vallevidal.org/involved.html