The annual Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) report on the outdoor recreation industry is out, and it is good news.

The report showed record breaking prosperity in outdoor recreation nationally in 2021. New Mexico’s outdoor recreation economy is outpacing U.S. averages in three principal measurements: GDP, employment, and compensation.

Outdoor recreation contributed $2.3 billion to the state’s GDP in 2021 (2.1% of GDP) according to the BEA report. The data also showed the outdoor recreation industry provided 28,475 jobs in the state accounting for 3.4% of total employment in New Mexico.

More highlights from the NM report:

• Since 2020, state employment in outdoor recreation has grown 18.2%, ranking New Mexico 5th in employment growth, compared to 13.1% for the U.S.
• In value-added growth, New Mexico ranked 12th, showing a 27.2% increase in comparison to 24.7% nationally.
• Outdoor recreation income accounted for 2.1% of state compensation, $1.2 million in total for New Mexico, and growing faster than the national average.

Read the recent ORD press release.

The BEA report has resulted in many news stories which mentioned our state both locally and nationally. Here are a few of those:

• Santa Fe Reporter Morning Word "staying outside" section
• Hatch Magazine
• Outside Magazine
• Carlsbad Current Argus
• Fitt Insider
• Wyoming Public Media

AJ Jones

ORD Marketing Coordinator

This spring, WNMU is offering 8-week hybrid courses that begin January 9 and end March 6, 2023.

Outdoor Recreation Management in New Mexico is a 3-credit class [OLST 1993 (CRN 23703)/380 (CRN 23688)]: This course will provide students with in-person, online, and field-based opportunities to learn about the unique history and context of outdoor recreation in NM. The course will take a deep dive into interdisciplinary aspects of this dynamic profession and prepare students for fun and engaging career pathways in this broad field. The class is co-taught with consultant and retired NM State Park Director Christy Tafoya and Deputy Director of Albuquerque Parks and Recreation Department, Dennis Vasquez, and other guest lecturers. It meets Thursday's 4:00-6:45 pm via zoom, plus two field days. Opportunity Scholarship eligible. High school students should enroll in the OLST 1993 section.

Wilderness First Responder is also a 3-credit course [OLST 1993 (CRN 23704)/305 (CRN 23547)]: This course provides the knowledge needed to handle medical emergencies requiring extended care in remote settings. Emphasis is on prevention, decision making, and treatment. National certification requires this course to meet for approximately 80 hours. Students who successfully complete the course and pass the WFR exam receive a Wilderness First Responder certificate good for two years with one-year renewal/grade period. This hybrid course requires completion of an online, self-paced component that provides the foundation for the face-to-face session which occurs over two weekends on the WNMU Campus, Feb 17-19 and Feb 24-26, 2023. Adult & Child CPR/AED, and epinephrine injection certification is included. Once registration and payment are finalized, you will be provided a link to access the appropriate course content no later than January 9, 2023. Opportunity Scholarship eligible. High school students should enroll in the OLST 1993 section. This course is also open to the public as a non-credit bearing section ($680).

If interested and not yet a WNMU student, Kathy Whiteman ([email protected]) can help with the next steps for registration or registering for the course as a WNMU non-student. Additional questions can also be emailed to her.

Tortugas Pueblo members gathered on Tortuga Mountain on November 5 to hold ceremony in observation of NMSU's recent name change of Geothermal Drive to Tortuga Trail. Tortuga Trail follows a section of an ancestral path that is regularly climbed by Pueblo members to the mountain. During the ceremony community members shared that Tortuga Trail begins at the center of the mountain and descends. The path extends downward and NMSU has utilized a section as a roadway for decades, naming it in the 1980s, before the renaming of the section recently. Tortuga Trail is also ascended by recreational users to the mountain top.

The Carson National Forest Service recreation staff are looking for applicants to fill seats for an advisory group. The Taos area working group will consider a multi-use trail system in the Talpa foothills. The area of the trail development project is near US 64 between Taos and the Carson National Forest. The project seeks to solve issues of illegal trail access, user type conflicts due to limited visibility, and to better manage trail-based recreation in the area. The advisory group, deemed the Talpa Foothills Working Group, will create a proposal of recommendations to use for the development of an official government proposal through the National Environment Policy Act.

Public Lands Solutions is working with the New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division on a project called the NM Uplift Initiative, conducting stakeholder outreach to collect knowledge on how and where people are recreating in New Mexico. This input will inform recommendations for improving existing recreation assets and creating new ones to meet community goals regarding the local quality of life, outdoor access, and economic development in the state. Please visit the Outdoor Recreation Stakeholder Portal  to stay informed and get involved. Sign up to get notices here.

Conservation Legacy is a nationwide nonprofit. The Corps programs within the organization engage participants in diverse conservation and community projects that serve public and private lands. Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps (ALCC) is a program of Conservation Legacy (CL). ALCC provides opportunities for Indigenous youth, young adults, and recent-era military veterans in New Mexico and Arizona and works with other Native American communities and conservation corps across the country to provide similar opportunities. This position will provide general administrative assistance for the daily operations and maintenance of databases and systems for Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps (ALCC), a program of Conservation Legacy (CL). This position interfaces significantly with ALCC and CL staff on financial processes, onboarding and exiting of seasonal participant employees and AmeriCorps participants; AmeriCorps compliance, and general support/other areas of administrative support. The Administrative Assistant position can be located within one of five Ancestral Lands offices: Albuquerque, Gallup, Acoma, Zuni, or Kykotsmovi (Hopi). Some travel and overnight stay will be required. The position is partially remote eligible full-time, non-exempt with benefits and a salary of $18.27-$18.82 per hour. More info here. To apply, follow this guide to send a resume and cover letter.

The Ground Water Quality Bureau is seeking applications for the position of Water Resources Professional III. This job exists to protect and restore New Mexico's groundwater resources for the benefit of all citizens. This position oversees groundwater discharge permitting of agricultural facilities as well as compliance and enforcement actions to ensure that citizens are provided with a sustainable supply of clean, uncontaminated water for drinking and other beneficial uses. This position is responsible for administering New Mexico's Ground Water Rules by reviewing and approving technical reports such as discharge permit applications and corrective action plans, drafting permits, inspecting facilities, overseeing corrective actions and abatement, preparing testimony, and serving as an expert witness for the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) regarding water quality issues related to discharge permits of agricultural facilities. The position will also assist the Bureau, Program Manager and Team Leaders with special projects, rulemaking, and outreach.

This job is located in Las Cruces, NM. It is a full-time position with a salary of $60,836 - $97,337 annually. Apply on the State Personnel Office website. Search for job #128793.

The Gila National Forest is currently hiring for several positions in many of their districts. There are 40 vacancies currently. Visit the employment page for the Gila or their Facebook page for individual district postings.

Here are some of the available openings:

Truth or Consequences (3 jobs) – Contact Michael Hutchins, Black Range District Ranger (575) 894-6677

• District Ranger
• Forestry Tech
• Range Technician

Glenwood (4 positions) – Contact Erick Stemmerman, Glenwood District Ranger (575) 539-2481

• Forestry Technician (Recreation)
• Recreation Management Specialist
• Forestry Technician (Trails)
• Forestry Technician (Wilderness/Trails)

Quemado (6 jobs) – Contact Randall Chavez, Quemado District Ranger (575) 773-4678

• Forestry Technician (Recreation)
• Archaeologist
• Rangeland Management Specialists
• Wildlife Biologist

Reserve (6 openings) – Contact Amanda Gehrt, Reserve District Ranger (575) 533-6232

• Forestry Technician (Recreation)
• Forestry Technician (Timber Sale Preparation)
• Supervisory Forester
• Wildlife Biologist

Mimbres (3 jobs) – Contact Henry Provencio, Wilderness District Ranger (575) 536-2250

• Forestry Technician (Recreation)
• Program Management Specialist

Silver City (13 positions) – Contact Elizabeth Toney, Silver City District Ranger (575) 388-8201

AmeriCorps members will perform projects in environmental stewardship and outdoor recreation in Lincoln and Otero County. Crews will complete projects in partnership with National Forest, Bureau of Land Management, Village of Ruidoso, Mescalero Apache Tribe, and others. Projects include trail design, construction and restoration, forest monitoring, disaster relief, watershed restoration and community improvement projects. As a members New Mexico’s premier trail builders, you will become certified members of White Mountain Search and Rescue, build/reroute trails, gather GPS information on trail data, create trail maps, recover recreation areas, remove fire damaged debris, assist in any natural disasters that affect our local area, build new hiking shelters and kiosks, replace signage, build erosion control devices, plant and remove vegetation, and monitor forest health. Members will complete forest monitoring, stand examinations, recruit Veterans, and engage them in our recovering projects and in our program. Participate in wilderness camping projects. Restore and help maintain historical sites throughout Fort Stanton and Lincoln. Become PACK Certified, HAM Radio Certified, Saw 212 Certified, ICS 100, 200 and 700 Certified, participant in the Emergency Services Council Annual Preparedness event and Leave No Trace certified. Benefits include health coverage, childcare assistance if eligible, training, living allowance, and an education award upon successful completion of service.

Full time position. High school diploma or GED required. Program started September 1, 2022, and runs through August 31, 2023. Lincoln County is in Eastern New Mexico. Apply online.

AmeriCorps is committed to working on a Nation-to-Nation basis with Native Nations and upholding the federal government’s Tribal trust responsibility. AmeriCorps improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. AmeriCorps planning grants provide support to a grant recipient to develop an AmeriCorps program that will engage AmeriCorps members in implementing evidence-based interventions to solve community problems.

Grant recipients are awarded up to $240,000 for a 12-month planning period and are encouraged to compete for an AmeriCorps program grant in the following grant cycle if they deem the fit with AmeriCorps to be of use to their community. A planning grant may not be used to support AmeriCorps members. Applicants will apply for a Cost Reimbursement grant. The project period is no more than a year, with a start date proposed by the applicant. The project start date may not occur prior to the date AmeriCorps awards the grant. The application deadline is April 5, 2023. Eligible Applicants: Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized Tribal governments) and Native American Tribal governments (federally recognized).

More details and the application can be found on their website.

The Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative is dedicated to those who work and play outdoors including, but not limited to, those who rely on off-highway vehicles (OHVs) to ride, camp, hunt, or fish. Supporting the outdoor enthusiast, the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative’s mission is to provide practical support for efforts that promote safe, responsible use of OHVs, educate the public on proper recreational land use and wildlife conservation practices, and protect appropriate and sustainable access to public lands.

Each quarter, Yamaha accepts applications from non-profit or tax-exempt groups (clubs & associations), public riding areas (local, state, and federal), outdoor enthusiast associations and land conservation organizations, and communities with an interest in protecting, improving, expanding and/or maintaining access for safe, responsible, and sustainable use by motorized off-road vehicles. Their committee will review each application and award funds to deserving projects. View application and info.

A partnership between IFundWomen and Johnnie Walker, this grant program seeks to fund, mentor, and champion trailblazing women business owners by awarding 10 businesses each with a $10,000 grant. To meet the program criteria the applicant must be in business for at least 2 years, be located in the United States, and generate a minimum of $25k in annual revenue; be a majority women-owned business; not be an alcohol-beverage brand or a business that sells or distributes alcohol; and must be 21 or older. The application is open through December 31. Find out more and apply here.

American Trails is pleased to partner with the U.S. Forest Service in announcing the National Forest System Legacy Roads and Trails Fund, called the Legacy Trails Grant Program.

The goal of the program is to support projects that restore, protect, and maintain crucial watersheds on our national forests and grasslands. American Trails is administering this grant program, and they will soon solicit applications for funding, with awards up to $100K per project.

The Forest Service identifies and prioritizes watershed acres or areas where Forest Service roads and trails may impact water quality in streams and water bodies. They will fund projects that restore fish and aquatic organism passage, improve trail resiliency, preserve trail access, decommission unauthorized trails, and convert unneeded Forest Service roads to trails. Protecting threatened, endangered, and sensitive species, and community water sources are among the top priorities for projects that improve and maintain trail access. Emergency operations, such as evacuation routes during wildfires, floods, or other natural disasters also benefit from this program.

The application portal opens in early October 2022.

The Save America’s Treasures grant program was established in 1998. This grant program has awarded more than 1,300 grants totaling over $300 million to projects. The National Park Service administers Save America's Treasures grants in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The program is divided into two parts. One for preservation projects (for properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places for national significance or designated a National Historic Landmark. The other for projects involving collections (including artifacts, museum collections, documents, sculptures, and other works of art).

Nonprofit, tax-exempt 501c US organizations, units of state or local government, federally recognized Tribes, and educational institutions may apply. Federal agencies grant amounts fall into two categories: collections projects are a minimum of $25,000 and maximum of $500,000 federal share and preservation projects are a minimum of $125,000 and maximum of $500,000 federal share. Dollar for dollar match is required. Applications must be submitted online via grants.gov by December 20, 2022. An overview of the program and application may be found online.

505 Cycles is the only "New Mexico True Certified" bike shop in the state. They offer custom bicycle builds and other quality bikes, a full range of bike parts, bike rentals, and a high-end demo program. Their top-notch service and repair are complemented by exceptional customer service and a team of avid bicycle riders with first-hand trail knowledge and experience.

Join Backcountry Hunters & Anglers and the Lincoln National Forest for a weekend to improve riparian stream channels by installing beaver dam analogs (BDAs), post assisted log structures (PALS), and one-rock dams (ORDs) on Big Bear Creek. This work is low-tech and USFS staff will provide a briefing on how to execute the work and will oversee work teams. The group will also be conducting a stream clean up on Cedar Creek on Sunday morning. All are welcome to join us regardless of whether you hunt, fish or are a BHA member! Kids and well-mannered dogs may attend.

Please RSVP no later than Tuesday, November 29. RSVPs are required to plan for additional food/beverages, campsites and to contact you in case of inclement weather or other factors that may require last minute changes or cancellation. Volunteers may arrive Friday evening or Saturday evening. The group will gather at the Upper Rio Bonito dispersed camping area. There is no camping fee. Camping is first-come first-served and suitable for tents or trailers. For more details and schedule, visit this website.

The 2nd Annual endeavOR Adventures Auction has officially launched online. The outdoor recreation auction is a fundraiser for endeavOR, with items donated by members of the alliance to ensure the organization continues to expand the outdoor recreation economy and engage the OR community for years to come. The auction funds support efforts to ensure OR businesses and organizations are more successful, get more underserved New Mexico youth outdoors and introduce them to potential OR careers, and develop more OR infrastructure and offerings for New Mexico residents and visitors alike.

The auction runs through November with new auction items being added all the time. 

The 41st Annual Red Rock Balloon Rally will take place on December 2-4, 2022. Red Rock Park, with its massive, smooth sandstone bluffs and deep canyons is the perfect backdrop for the colorful nylon spectacle viewed by thousands of visitors each year since 1981. An invitation to this widely publicized event is highly prized by balloon pilots from around the world. Red Rock Park gets its name from the red cliffs which frame the park on three sides. What began as a small but earnest effort by four individuals to share the unique flying challenge offered in the incredible red rock formations east of Gallup, New Mexico has grown into the second largest balloon rally in North America, with 200 balloons. Admission is free, parking is $5.

The New Mexico Acequia Association is hosting their annual Acequia Art Contest. Show what acequia culture means to you with a submission of visual arts, photography, or written works. Art participants may submit one entry per person. Photo participants may submit one entry per photo category. Written works participants may submit one entry per person. Prizes for adults and youth winners. All entries must be submitted by Friday November 25, 2022. Submissions must be sent in a high-quality format by email or mail. All winning entries will be celebrated and shown at our annual Congreso de las Acequias, on the New Mexico Acequia Association website, and on social media.