The Turquoise Trail was featured in a "King of the Road" article title "Blue Highway, discover the riches on the Turquoise Trail" in the March 2011 issue of New Mexico Magazine.

There is a three minute Video of Leslie's horseback ride with Harrold from Broken Saddle through the Cerrillos Hills State Park and a quick interview with Patricia & Todd Brown.

 
Story and Photography by Lesley S. King

SANTA FE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ADOPTS SUSTAINABLE GROWTH MANAGEMENT PLAN
 
By a unanimous vote (5-0), the Santa Fe County Board of Commissioners passed  a resolution adopting the Sustainable Growth Management Plan (SGMP).  The vote was taken following a public hearing at which individuals commented and shared their perspectives on the Plan.
 
“This Plan is about preserving and balancing.  It is a community-based plan, and that is why I supported it" said Virginia Vigil, Commissioner, District 2, Santa Fe Board of County Commissioners.  Harry Montoya, Chair of the Board of Commissioners added, “I am proud of what we’ve done.  This is one of the most significant projects we have done in years.”
 
It is a comprehensive plan for Santa Fe County, providing a framework for policy and decision making.  It is based on input from more than 100 meetings including workshops, charrettes, public hearings and study sessions involving citizens, nonprofit organizations, community groups and others.  These meetings were conducted in all regions of the county during evenings as well as weekends and daytime offering opportunities for maximum community participation.
 
The SGMP is aimed at meeting the needs of current residents while at the same time preserving the County’s land, history, culture and natural resources for future generations.  The Plan is designed to direct future growth to areas with adequate public facilities such as roads, water and sewer systems, and public safety.
 
A key feature of the Plan will be the creation of more opportunities for community participation, including a number of different kinds of community-centered organizations through which citizens can work together more effectively.
 
The Board emphasized that the Plan will not violate individual property rights, increase the size of government or raise property taxes.   Work will now begin on development of a Sustainable Land Use Code, a strategic plan and an action plan.
 
Mike D. Anaya, Commissioner, District 3, said, “We still have a lot of work to do.  We need to continue to work together with the various entities and I hope that the amount of people that showed up will continue their participation in working towards the Code.”  Liz Stefanics, Commissioner, District 5, echoed his sentiment, adding “We still have a lot of work to do.  We are here not only to represent our districts, but also to represent the future of our County.”
 
Kathy Holian, Commissioner, District 4, concluded, “This is a Plan for the People, of the People, by the People.  I’m pleased that we are planning now and feel it’s time to move forward.”

Contact: Jennifer Jaramillo, Santa Fe County
505.986.6293
jjaramillo@santafecounty.org
 

Mike Smith a member of the East Mountain Historical Society (EMHS) and a contributor to our website, may have made a historic find.  See the EMHS website for more details. http://eastmountainhistory.org/

Turquoise Trail is on Goodyear’s Top 50 Scenic, Comfortable Drives in the America.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has published a "draft" of the Taos Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement and is available for public review and comment.
 
The Public comment period will end September 8, 2010.
 
The "Entire Plan" is available online and can be downloaded at BLM's Website.  We have also provided a copy of the plan's Executive Summary.

The BLM has worked tirelessly to include issues and concerns from all invested parties and the wishes of the TTPT for the protection of the Trail have been addressed.

Four Alternative approaches for this district are proposed.  The one that is in greatest alignment with the mission of the TTPT is Alternative B. However, the BLM will move forward with Preferred Alternative A as the final plan for this area. 

We support Preferred Alternative A however would like to see the more protective and conservation aspects of Alternative B incorporated into the Preferred Alternative A.

The public comment period is not a voting process, but, rather an opportunity to address the adequacy and accuracy of the proposed alternatives, the analysis of potential impacts or any NEW information that is relevant to the planning effort that the process might have overlooked.

The TTPT will respond with a comment that will support the BLM preferred Alternative A.
 
You are encouraged to review the Draft Plan for yourself and if motivated by your findings, provide your comments to the BLM.

Taos Field Office
Attention: Brad Higdon
226 Cruz Alta Rd.
Taos, NM  87571

Santa Fe County has published a "Revised" Sustainable Land Development Plan (SLDP)
Links: Plan (PDF Format), SLDP Site.

The next two CDRC Public Hearings on the (SLDP) are scheduled for February 18, 2010 and February 25th at 6:00 PM. All meetings will take place in the Santa Fe County Commission Chambers, located at 102 Grant Ave.

SLDP Workshop on Chapter 5: Resource Conservation (aka: Turquoise Trail) is scheduled for February 25, 20010. Workshop Schedule.

The Campbell Ranch developer has scheduled a public meeting to review and discuss their Water Drilling Operations.  The meeting is at the Paa-ko Event Center on Thursday 2/18 at 5:00PM.

Most of you know that we have been engaged since 2004 in protesting BLM’s contract and permit to allow an industrial size aggregate quarry in the San Pedro Mountains (North 14 and H-344).  The decision is due out this spring and the stakeholders will be allowed 90 to 120 days to respond to their decision.  The TTPT will ask again for you to email your comments on the preferred alternatives for this site.  We hope the news is good, send your comments to  sam_desgeorges@nm.blm.gov  (underscore after first name).

Bernalillo County is currently working on developing an overall plan for the section of the Trail that is in the county.  Starting roughly at N-14 and Frost road the county is asking residents and business owners to participate in workshops which should take most of 2010. Call Mari Simbana, Planner, Bernalillo County Planning (505) 314-0386 or mbsimbana@bernco.gov.