Moon Mountain recreation development plan questioned

• Village parks director pointed out that the lease of the state trust land is for development of recreational opportunities

Residents of Ruidoso have mobilized on several occasions to protect Moon Mountain, a 640-acre chunk of state trust land in the middle of the village, from development and to retain an open green space for wildlife.

Supporters have long advocated for the village to either lease or acquire the land as means of retaining control over its future. Most were pleased last year when the village signed a 25-year, $5,000 annual fee lease with the State Land Commissioner to develop the land for recreation.

But the definition of recreation seems open to debate. Some envisioned hiking paths and bird viewing areas, extremely low impact. But others, pointing to wording in the lease, see an opportunity to create more biking trails, camping spots and interactive types of recreation on the mountain that is bordered by Hull Road, Warrior Drive, Gavilan Canyon, Meander Drive and Paradise Canyon.

After being alerted that a plan was being developed, Pat Swindler and a few other residents attended a recent meeting of the village Parks Commission to hear about the proposal for Moon Mountain put together with input from commissioners, village officials from several departments, Eco-Servants representatives and members of the local bike club, who have been active in developing bike trails throughout the village and Lincoln National Forest.

Swindler said the residents were surprised to see the proposal included two camping areas, parking lots, a disk golf area and multi-use trails to be shared by hikers and mountain bikers.

When they saw the road to the parking lot would go past one of their homes, they suggested a nature trail would be a better option not to disturb the wildlife. While they understood that another entrance was needed to access the water tower, Swindler said, “That’s fine, but all the other going up and down the street is not so fine.”

Fire danger is another concern as the neighborhood marks two years since a blaze threatened homes in the area and required evacuations.

Parks and Recreation Director Rodney Griego said more camping was identified as a need statewide and by the Stronger Economies Together group.

By leasing the property, it will undergo a review by the village Forestry Department with a master plan developed to ensure the conditions comply with village forest management and fuel reduction rules, which are much stricter than state and federal agencies, he said.

“There will never be fire allowed as part of conditions of camping,” Griego said. “No open fires are allowed in village and it’s been that way forever. It will be patrolled by code enforcement, the parks department and police. There will be signage. The same precautions apply to the proposed camping at Grindstone Reservoir.

“You can’t control what people do, but it will be monitored and patrolled. We will create awareness. It will limit the amount of people who want to take advantage of it, the primary users may be the bikers. We’re willing to accept that, because that is the only way we will allow it.”

Ultimately, the plan has to be approve through the state land office, but that likelihood is “very good,” he said. Staff from the land commissioner’s office  studied possible environmental impacts to the acreage by recreational development before the signing of the lease, Griego said. Members of the Parks Commission want to see the plan again before it is submitted to the state and as adjustments are made, he said. At some point, councilors will take a look, as will members of the village’s Development Review Committee of department heads.

“That way, every department has an opportunity to review in their area of expertise, fire, police, streets, water, watershed, everyone has opportunity to weigh in on what is proposed,” Griego said.

Two access points are planned, a small trail head and parking off Gavilan Canyon with no driving access except for maintenance, and a larger one from Madera Road off High Loop Road for the water tank and trails.

Although the trail head and parking area will not be on the property boundary to minimize visual impact to neighbors, cars will travel that road to access the trails and camping areas, Griego said. “We want to be good neighbors and we’ve learned from past experience,” he said about moving parking and the trail head inside the property and not at the boundary.

Some work already is underway to rough in a parking area and a road to the village’s new water tank site, he said.

“The village signed a 25-lease to develop that property with hiking trails and general recreation, possibly a star gazing area, mountain biking and hiking trails, possible camping opportunities and some sort of trail head and public access into the area,” the parks director said.” All of that was predetermined.

“The village has been partnering with the Forest Service, EcoServants, the bike club and has listened to some people who live in the immediate neighborhood to find how to best target those items identified in that lease. “

As for more isolated hiking, people can venture off trail, he said.

“The trails will be multi-use, but with 640 acres, you can get off the trail and be out in the woods,” he said. “Bike traffic will not run wildlife out of the area. They still will see birds, elk, deer and other wildlife.”

Mayor Lynn Crawford said he hasn’t seen the latest plan for the mountain, but recently, walked part of the area with a group to find the best way to minimize impacts to neighbors.

“The intent is not to impact the people living there,” he said. “The goal is to control the property as best we can so there is no building on it. It’s a big green space and we’ll do the best we can to get the rest of the community to enjoy it and not to impact anybody living on that cul-de-sac.”

But Swindler said increased traffic is a concern in the quiet neighborhood and that human activity on the mountain should be avoided as much as possible.

“I think Moon Mountain adds to the character of the area,” she said. “The wild turkey were just about gone and have made a comeback. We have elk up here. It just makes me sick that is what they are going to do. I realize bikers contribute to the economy of the village, but I think they will continue. Perhaps they could find a less sensitive area. The mountain serves as a wildlife habitat and is home to many. Visitors expect to see that wildlife. I’d like to see an alternate plan, a nature trail with minimum impact.”