A coalition of environmental organizations and local leaders in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, is calling on the federal government to designate the Caja del Rio region as a national monument. This area, which spans 100,000 acres in parts of the Santa Fe National Forest and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands, is being proposed for a national monument. Proponents argue that the designation would protect Native American sites, unique wildlife, and the region’s natural beauty from threats like mining, energy development, and misuse of public lands. Protections are already in place to protect valuable resource, this is ultimately a call to close recreation, grazing and mining on this land.

A national monument designation would bring restrictive regulations that harm public access, traditional land uses, and local economies. Here are five reasons to oppose the proposed Caja del Rio National Monument:

1. It Would Restrict Public Access and Traditional Uses
Monument designations often come with significant restrictions on how the land can be used. If Caja del Rio becomes a national monument, activities like dispersed camping, hunting, grazing, and off-highway vehicle (OHV) use will face severe limitations or outright bans. These restrictions would harm local residents and visitors who have used this area responsibly for generations. Public lands should remain open to multiple uses, not locked away under one-sided management policies.

2. Local Livelihoods and Economies Would Suffer
The designation could negatively impact ranchers who rely on the Caja del Rio for grazing, a vital part of the region’s economy and culture. Grazing permits may be reduced or phased out entirely, jeopardizing the livelihoods of families who have lived and worked in the area for generations. Additionally, businesses that rely on outdoor recreation, such as outfitters, guides, and tourism operators, would face disruptions and loss of revenue due to access restrictions.

3. Existing Protections Are Already in Place
Caja del Rio is already managed by the Santa Fe National Forest and the BLM, agencies that have the tools and authority to protect this landscape without a monument designation. Existing laws, such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Archaeological Resources Protection Act, already safeguard cultural and natural resources in the region. A monument designation is unnecessary and redundant.

4. It Bypasses Local Input and Congressional Oversight
The push for this designation appears to be an effort to bypass Congress, using the Antiquities Act to create sweeping land use changes without full public debate or legislative approval. Decisions about how public lands are managed should involve all stakeholders, including local residents, recreation groups, ranchers, and elected officials. Using executive action to designate a monument undermines the democratic process and excludes important voices.

5. Monument Designation Could Create Management Challenges
Monument designations often result in complex, overlapping regulations that make land management less effective. Bureaucratic red tape can hinder efforts to maintain trails, manage wildlife, and address public safety concerns like illegal dumping, which is already a documented issue in Caja del Rio. Local and federal agencies already face funding and resource challenges; adding a monument designation would only complicate their work.

We call on local leaders and the federal government to reject this proposal and instead invest in collaborative solutions that allow all stakeholders to benefit from this incredible landscape.

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Take Action

If you value public access, multiple-use land management, and local input, contact your elected representatives and tell them you oppose the Caja del Rio National Monument proposal. Let’s keep the Caja del Rio region open in a way that respects its history, its people, and its future.