Re: New Mexico Wildlife published by The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish,Vol.54, No. 4 Supplement to Albuquerque Journal, Tuesday Dec. 29, 2009….Restoring Wetlands

I know folks from all over the nation read this blog and I appreciate that. One person wrote that maybe I need to cover a broader range of writing subjects. And I will try to do that as I learn about areas and things I have recently discovered or learned of. Today, I would like to talk about a more local item, again, and hope you find it interesting….The first place I came to in New Mexico was Walker Air Force Base, Roswell, NM….That name alone places me “way back yonder” in New Mexico history. Not as far back as Fort Cummins or Fort McRae or Fort Craig, but pretty far back…My first plane to work on was the B-36…Long time ago, huh? Well, on to today’s subject, The Bottomless Lakes State Park..It was going strong back then. It got it’s name when cowboys took all the ropes they had, tied them together to try and find the bottom of the lake. The currents from underground streams took their ropes to destinations unknown, they just did not or could not have had enough rope to find a bottom as such. Come to find out they are around 80 feet deep, but who knows where the underground stream end up. I don’t. But back to my story…The overflow of the Lea Lake, the largest of the lakes, has been directed back toward the Pecos River and through a culvert under the highway and once again a wetland has been formed in the Pecos River bottom land. The Salt Cedars that had once invaded the area has been removed and seed bearing plants and flowers, the Pecos Sunflower, an endanged plant, is now florishing, bringing back the birds and waterfowl that  used to call this area home many years ago. I am a bird lover and try to keep bird food and water out in my back yard. So, I was very glad to read of the efforts of those people involved in this project and I salute you all for your efforts. The birds and the bees really thank you too..Pete

There is a related article on Big Horn Sheep in New Mexico Wildlife that is excellent reading as well. In 1980, the Bighorn sheep were put on the endangered species list. Today the herds are back to around 500 at 6 different locations around the state…Good news, huh….you can read more about the Bighorn Sheep and wildlife of New Mexico at www.wildlife.state.nm.us ….Pete