In response to a lawsuit by environmental groups, a federal court has overturned a U.S. Forest Service plan to build new roads and allow increased motorized access through three sensitive canyons in southeastern Arizona’s Chiricahua Mountains. The remote canyons, located in the Coronado National Forest, are known to be used by federally protected jaguars. New…
The most pressing threat on our radar right now is an application being filed with New Mexico’s Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) for copper, gold, and silver exploration south of Steins Pass in the Peloncillo Mountains. Link to a map of the project here. As you can see this is a much larger…
Almadex America has confirmed that it is abandoning the Big Sky gold-silver exploration project here at Antelope Pass, New Mexico. In their own words, the project “no longer meets the Company’s criteria for further exploration and investment.” New Mexico Wild and the Chiricahua Regional Council began a dialogue with the Bureau of Land Management early…
CRC has learned that there is a Canadian based mining company that is planning to develop claims on BLM managed land at Antelope Pass New Mexico. The area for proposed development maps directly onto an 8,700 acre Research Natural Area. (map by Curt Bradley) This was designated by the Bureau of Land Management because of…
CRC has formally requested that the Arizona Game and Fish Department fulfill its legal obligation to protect this unique 560-acre enclave just a few miles from Portal. The May family had the foresight to create a wildlife sanctuary in the middle of Round Valley just off of Foothills Rd in 1941! Renowned game rangers Ralph…
The US Air Force’s release of their final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been delayed again until summer 2026, with the Record of Decision expected to follow.
Delay in EIS release date This week, Peaceful Chiricahua Skies was informed by the US Air Force (USAF) that the date for the release of the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be moved out a year to the spring of 2026. When the final EIS is released, the USAF does not plan a comment…
Chiricahua Regional Council Statement The Chiricahua Regional Council expresses profound concern over recent federal staffing reductions threatening our vital trail maintenance partnerships. Nationwide 3,400 workers have been abruptly fired. This represents 10% of US Forest Service personnel and the disturbing part is that the firings are disproportionately affecting Recreation staff. A troubling feature of the current…
Last week, the Portal-Rodeo Hiking Group hiked to John Long Canyon, a very special place. The group saw mature Apache, Chihuahuan and some Ponderosa pine trees, as well as Douglas Fir, several oak species, Madrone and Sycamore trees and a golden eagle, ravens, a mountain lion, turkeys, and many deer. This is a very special…
Phil Hedrick’s guest blog on the Sky Island Alliance website is optimistic: the “[c]onservation of the Mexican wolf, a unique subspecies of gray wolf, has been a qualified success, with real progress made in the United States and a number of threats looming throughout the species’ range but especially in Mexico”. Phil chronicles the history…
