In a recent op-ed published in the Santa Fe New Mexican, Cattle grazers care about motorized access in the Caja, rancher Julian Gonzales, who has lived near the Caja del Rio for generations and whose family has grazed cattle here for generations, writes:

"Over the past two decades, irresponsible use of motorized vehicles has plagued the Caja del Rio. Careless, callous users have carved miles of unauthorized, unmaintained roads, which now have become home to other illegal uses, such as dumping, poaching and unregulated target practice, not only on old refrigerators and TVs that have been dumped, but on our cattle, too."

The Caja del Rio Protection Act's "thoughtful travel management plan will allow special permitted use of OHV's for cattle growers and their operations, as well as reponsible off-roading in designated areas, Gonzales writes. 

Gonzales is a member of the Caja del Rio Coalition, is a board officer of the Caja del Rio Majada Cooperative for the Santa Fe region, board director of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation, board president of the La Cienega Valley Association and Northern New Mexico Organizer for New Mexico Wild.

Read the full op-ed here: Cattle grazers care about motorized access in the caja