Catron County Comprehensive Land Plan Revision

1. Catron County Comprehensive Land PlanRevision Public meetings February 2007

2. Introductions • The Comprehensive Plan Revision committees and staff • Ed Wehrheim, Catron County Commission Chair, Commissioner District 2 • Allen Lambert, Catron County Commissioner District 1 • Hugh B. McKeen, Catron County Commissioner District 3 • Howard Hutchinson, Comprehensive Planning Committee Chair, Water Committee • Alan Tackman, Livestock/Range Committee • Henry Martinez, Tourism/Outdoor Recreation • Tom Klumker, Wildlife • Neil Zoller, Mining • Don Weaver, Emergency Services • Staff: Southwest Center for Resource Analysis at Western New Mexico University • You, the public – an integral part of planning

3. What is a Comprehensive Plan? • A guideline for decision-making by the Catron County Commission A Comprehensive Plan is a plan for the future of Catron County which provides guidelines for decision-making by the Catron County Commission and for the citizens and businesses of the County. This long-range planning for the county identifies the goals, objectives, principles, guidelines, policies, standards, and strategies for the growth and development of our county. It ensures that what is here now will be protected and supported in the upcoming years.

4. A Comprehensive Plan… • Is based on the vision of the people of the County for the growth and development of our county.

5. A Comprehensive Plan… • Ensures that what is here now will be protected and supported in the upcoming years. A comprehensive plan is a guarantee by and for the citizens of Catron County for the future of the County. It guarantees that the decisions made today will be carried through and built upon by the decisions of tomorrow, and that the resources and opportunities of this County will be available for future generations.

6. Purpose • Original Catron County Comprehensive Land Use and Policy Plan adopted in 1992 • Sets forth County policies to protect property rights of its citizens • Affirms the County’s customs and cultures, which are codified into County law (ordinances) • The 1992 plan recognized the basic constitutional principles of protecting property rights

7. From the 1992 Plan: This document has nothing to do with zoning ordinances or public funds promoting economic development. Its concern is with creating an environment of opportunity for all citizens; an environment where individual initiative and entrepreneurship can be encouraged, applied and released for the public benefit. …. the comprehensive plan relies on an informed and responsible county government working with informed and responsible local citizens; each working cooperatively within their communities…

8. The comprehensive plan does not directly address the wide range of issues pertaining to infrastructure vital to social well-being. It does, however, address the most basic public good of all: freedom, the bundle of rights and liberties that bestows on every citizen the title of free man and free woman. It is the firm belief of the citizens of Catron County that the first objective of government is to secure these rights and liberties, and to that purpose, this plan is dedicated.

9. Purpose • Original Catron County Comprehensive Land Use and Policy Plan adopted in 1992 • Sets forth County policies to protect property rights of its citizens • Affirms the County’s customs and cultures, which are codified into County law (ordinances) • The 1992 plan recognized the basic constitutional principles of protecting property rights

10. Why revise the 1992 Plan? • The 1992 Plan says it is an adaptive strategy that tells citizens not where to go, but how they might best arrive at their desired destinations.

11. Why revise the 1992 Plan? • Conditions change over 15 years time and the Plan needs to adjust for new conditions. As economic conditions change and people change, their land issues necessarily change: We have new residents moving it; the use and opportunities and conservation needs of our precious natural resources are changing.

12. Why revise the 1992 Plan? • There is a need to not only update information about the economic and population demographics of the County, but to update the desired conditions and Land Plan policies regardingthefuture in Catron County by revising the Catron County Comprehensive Land Plan.

13. How the process works • Who is involved? • Land owners and business owners - anyone who stands to be affected by the future of this County - may be and are encouraged to be involved with this revision. 

14. How the process works • What is being revised? • There are three major areas to Public Comprehensive Planning: One - what we are doing in the February public meetings - covers land and resource use. The second is infrastructure - the bricks and mortar part, so to speak. The County contracted with an Albuquerque company to create a Capital Improvements Plan, which, when finished, will become part of the overall Comprehensive Plan. A third overreaching part is growth management, which the County is considering addressing after the first two parts are completed. The specific issues of subdivisions, for example, would be addressed in the growth management phase.

15. How the process works • Steps for revising the Plan • First stage of public involvement to end March 31 • A rough draft of analysis of public input is created, draft Plan written • Second stage of public involvement • Public presentation of Comprehensive Plan • Final adjustments • Completion of  Comprehensive Plan July 2007

16. PUBLIC INPUT

17. Population (a reference for the rest) • Higher population and number of households, but lower number of persons per household. • Median population older • Shift from spread-out farming households to concentrated subdivision households Source: US Census Bureau

18. Catron County Existing Conditions & Trends Six topic areas: • Timber and forest health • Livestock and rangeland health • Tourism and outdoor recreation • Wildlife: use and protection • Mining: hard rock, energy, sand & gravel, others • Water: resources, water rights, and watersheds

19. Timber and forest health Source: Catron County Comprehensive Land Use Plan, 1992 and USFS data

20. Timber and forest health trends • Forests are growing faster than forest restoration can be accomplished - even at the rate of the cutting in the 80's • Woodland growth has encroached grasslands over the past 60 years and competes with humans for water resources • With increasing population and inability to keep up with growth, there is greater risk from wildfire to residents

21. Livestock and rangeland health Source: New Mexico 2002 Census of Agriculture (issued 2004) Source: New Mexico 2002 Census of Agriculture (issued 2004)

22. Livestock and rangeland health Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NAAS)

23. Livestock and rangeland health trends • Cattle ranching provides roughly one half county real and personal tax revenues • No/few financial obligations associated with cattle tax revenues • High financial obligations associated with revenues from property tax (e.g. roads, EMS) • Cattle population and sales revenues dropped roughly in half • Number of farms dropped roughly by one third • Existing farms are each making less money • If cattle revenues disappear, property taxes may be the only replacement source

24. Tourism and outdoor recreation An informal, one-day telephone survey was done of Catron County businesses associated with Tourism. Questions asked were: • Town or area business is located • Nature of business (accommodations, gas/service, café/restaurant, grocery, hunting related, other • Percentage of business tourist related • Highest months for tourism related business • How does this past year’s business compare to five years ago

25. Tourism and outdoor recreation Source: January 2007 Survey by Comprehensive Planning Committee Staff

26. Tourism and outdoor recreation

27. Tourism and outdoor recreation trends • Highest tourism income is directly related to hunting seasons • The Highway 60 corridor appears to provide a greater source of revenues, even for those businesses which are hunting-dependent

28. Wildlife Catron County hunting records Source: NM Game & Fish, Dec. 2006 B&C Score, trophy animal and year 1. 402 2/8 American Elk (typical) 1997 2. 430 2/8 American elk (nontypical) 1998 9. 259 7/8 Mule deer (nontypical) 1981 4. 90 6/8 Pronghorn 2003 2. 21 9/16 Black Bear 1983

29. Wildlife trends • Wildfires, disease and predators may have a detrimental effect on health of herds • Closure of forest due to wildfires may reduce enjoyment of wildlife by humans

30. Mining • Acanthite • Albitear: var: Andesine   var: Oligoclase • Anorthite var: Labradorite • Augite • Azurite • Bornite • Bromargyrite • Calcite • 'Chalcedony‘ • Chalcocite • Chalcopyrite • Chlorargyrite • Group‘ • Chrysocolla • Clinoclase Mogollon Mining District

31. Mining • Covellite • Cuprite • Epidote • Fluorite • Galena • Gold • Greenockite • Halloysite • Hematite • Jalpaite • Kaolinite • Limonite • Malachite • Mckinstryite • 'Olivine' • Orthoclase var: Adularia Mogollon Mining District

32. Mining • 'Psilomelane' • Pyrargyrite • Pyrite • Pyrolusite • Quartzvar: • Amethystvar: Jasper • Rhodochrosite • 'Sericite‘ • Silver • Sphalerite • Sternbergite • Stromeyerite • Tellurium • Tetrahedrite • 'Wad' (Manganese Oxides/Hydroxides) Mogollon Mining District

33. Mining • Cassiterite (Tin) - southeastern • Carbon dioxide - western • Helium - northeastern • Coal – northern • Gravel/cinders Elsewhere in Catron County

34. Mining considerations • Availability of ore and gasses is actually high • Economic viability of mining may be dependant on cost of meeting state and federal restoration requirements • Water availability is a factor for some mining

35. Water trends • Increase in households means increase in number of wells • Limited number of water rights for part of the county • Lowering of water tables for some in past 10-15 years • Low percentage of parcels built on at this time means not many wells yet – or septic systems

36. CONCERNS & ISSUES ABOUT EXISTING CONDITIONS DESIRED FUTURE CONDITIONS PLAN (how to get from existing conditions to desired future conditions) IDENTIFICATION OF INTERESTS Where do you want the county to go?

37. Where from here? • Comment period 45 days • Comments will be compiled and analyzed • Results will be available online www.catroncounty.net/cccp and at Catron County Commission office (505) 533-6423 • Email Lif Strand lif.strand@gmail.com. or Linda Cooke ccommiss3@gilanet.com