Protect green belt in fishing area
The Harold Brock Fishing Area in northern Mora County along N.M. Hwy. 434 is a piece of property donated by Harold Brock for fishing and recreation. There was to be no development along the green belt. The property was leased to the [New Mexico Department of Game and Fish] on a perpetual lease to be observed by the future owners of the land.
The state of New Mexico is doing a beautiful job in rebuilding a large portion of N.M. 434 that includes two whole lanes, cattle guards, bridges and curves. They have been using all the natural resources they are removing so no material goes to waste. That is the great part of this project. The amount for a three mile stretch runs over $8 million. It is a difficult area to work in because of the environmental impact to the Coyote Creek. The particular contractor is doing a remarkable job of protecting the river. That is not the issue.
The issue is the green belt area in the fishing area that somehow got packaged in the deal. An eight foot fence is being put up along the green belt to protect the endangered jumping mouse. What guarantee does this fence bring to keep the mouse safe? The mouse’s main predator is a bird. An eight foot fence will not protect the mouse from a bird. Mice and other rodents are known to spread plague, hantavirus and other diseases. If you contain the mice in an enclosed area, are you opening up the area to a disease that took out half of Europe?
The property owners of the area were guaranteed a green belt that protects the beauty of the area. The pristine view is now being hindered by a fence that is akin to a concentration camp minus the barbs at the top. As a former business owner, my clients enjoyed the pristine view and fly fishing opportunities. With a fence, that hinders fly fishing and access.
Two public meetings were held on the subject. I am expressing my most sincere thanks for the repairs to the highway, but I am voicing my opposition to the eight-foot fence for a two-inch mouse.
