New plan to protect wilderness around Taos Gorge could impact balloon flights
TAOS, N.M. (KRQE) – The feds are considering a new plan to protect wilderness around the Taos Gorge but that proposal is also raising red flags in the ballooning community as some think the plan might get cut out of crucial access.
“The hot air balloon flight in this area is one of the most unique flights in the world,” said owner and pilot of Rio Grande Balloons Sol Lothe.
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For the past few years, Sol Lothe has been exploring Northern New Mexico by hot air balloon. “We have the Rio Grande gorge as our playground a lot of times during the year. We are able to fly into the gorge providing a very unique perspective on the geology, the wildlife,” said Lothe.
Inside the areas around the Taos Gorge, wildlife including bighorn sheep hawks, and other raptors all use the habitat to nest and protect their young. “For the last several years there have been some seasonal restrictions on hot air balloons flying into the gorge,” said Lothe.
Now, the Bureau of Land Management is looking to revise the rules around the Rio Grande Del Norte National Monument, which could restrict flights below the rim altogether. “In my personal observation of flying here over the last six years and looking at the other activities that take place in this area in the gorge, I don’t see any benefit to restricting balloons from flying in the gorge,” said Lothe.
Lothe argued the flights below the rim have never been an issue. “For the most part those animals don’t pay us any mind they may look up but they just continue grazing you know there’s been balloons flying in the gorge since the early to mid 90’s,” said Lothe.
He’s worried about the impact to the greater ballooning community. “The overwhelming response is that the balloon flight into the gorge is what really gave them an appreciation of the national monument,” said Lothe.
In a statement, BLM officials said:
The preferred alternative in the draft Río Grande del Norte National Monument Plan RMPA/EA proposes restricting hot air balloons below the rim of the Rio Grande Gorge. This provision is proposed to protect year-round wildlife habitat within the Gorge and along the river, including the migratory bird flyway, nesting and foraging habitat for raptors, bighorn sheep calving, and other important habitat. The proposal would not restrict hot air balloons above the rim. The comment period is open until May 23, and we encourage interested members of the public to submit comments.
Allison Sandoval, Public Affairs Specialist, Bureau of Land Management
BLM is taking public comment through May 23. To look at the full proposal, click here.
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