Photo: From left are John Brack of Freeport, Elizabeth Oms of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, New Mexico Environment Department Secretary Ryan Flynn, NM Game and Fish Director Alexa Sandoval, and Debbie and Alan Eggleston.

By Mary Alice Murphy

Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 10, 2015, officials from the New Mexico Office of Natural Resources Trustee and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service celebrated the preservation of a 5,900-acre property located in southwest New Mexico that will become one of New Mexico's newest state wildlife management areas.

Western New Mexico University President Joseph Shepard welcomed the officials and the public to the event. "I want to thank Rep. John Zimmerman (who attended the event), Rep. Dianne Hamilton and Sen. Howie Morales for their leadership in the Legislature."

"I think this administration was very intelligent when they picked Ryan Flynn to be Environment Department Secretary," Shepard said. "When the agencies were working together on this project, Ryan and I toured the Double E together. He tends to take a hard look at data instead of deciding on emotion. He knows how to make something out of an environmental issue. He uses a balanced approach.

"We built the new fitness center after we closed down the old swimming pool because it was leaking 9,000 gallons of water a day," Shepard continued. "When we drained the pool, the basement of Castorena Hall dried up. In this state the Environment Department regulates swimming pools. Flynn became partners with us, instead of adversaries."

"We played a role in this agreement, with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Office of Natural Resources Trustee and New Mexico Game and Fish Department," Flynn said. "With two settlement agreements, it was a cooperative assessment process. I thank Freeport-McMoRan for stepping up and partnering with us here. The company realized the issue and value of compensating the state. They participated and took accountability."

The agreements were from past injuries to wildlife and wildlife habitat by hazardous substances released from Chino, Tyrone and Cobre mines. The mines were assessed and the injuries quantified. The trustees identified 21 potential restoration projects, which were screened and came down to a list of potential properties that could be obtained to restore or protect habitat.

The funding from the FMI agreements partially paid for the acquisition of the Double E Ranch habitat protection and improvement project. It protects native riparian habitat along Bear Creek through the purchase and conservation of most of the Double E Ranch.

Elizabeth Oms, USFWS deputy assistant regional director of Region 2 out of Albuquerque said: "What I do pales in comparison to what the Office of Natural Resources Trustee does. I thank Debbie and Alan Eggleston, and I appreciate the opportunity to talk about their ranch as the latest state wildlife area. This was a group effort. The 5,900 acres are habitat for mule deer, fish and birds, including endangered species such as the loach minnow, Chiricahua leopard frog and the southwestern willow flycatcher."

"I am a fifth-generation New Mexican," Oms said. "I am proud of my New Mexico heritage and humbled by it. I think the Double E lends itself to tourism. I commend the Egglestons for parting with their land to meet conservation goals."

Alexa Sandoval, recently named director of New Mexico Game and Fish, has served the department for 23 years.

"It's been a long journey," Sandoval said. "It is a big burden, but a good one to take on into our future. It shows the importance of the collaborative effort to protect species. The purchase happened about a year ago. The area included 5,900 acres of deeded land, Bureau of Land Management property and U.S. Forest Service land. It represents a significant piece of land and is home to bighorn sheep and countless non-game species. It can contribute to the downlisting of threatened and endangered species.

"We are developing a management plan for the property and will welcome input," Sandoval said. "We see it as an outdoor recreation opportunity for the public. We have gladly taken on the burden to protect the habitat."

"Here is a success story," Shepard said. "John Brack (vice president of Freeport New Mexico operations) and his team recognized the issues. They kept the funding here and protected habitat. The resource is now in the public trust. It may offer some research opportunities for the university."

After the event, Debbie and Alan Eggleston talked to the Beat.

"We still have 360 acres around headquarters," Debbie Eggleston said. "We also have full-kitchen cabins for rent. We hosted an average eight people a week, 52 weeks a year for 18 years. They came from all over the world, and many bought property in Grant County and settled here."

Alan Eggleston said a local group had interest in the property, but a year later the Office of Natural Resources Trustee "came out. We also talked about the BLM taking over the property. Then Ryan Flynn was appointed. He brought it together. He wanted to keep it with the state. He was the big convincer for us. He said Game and Fish could bring school kids out, and that we could keep some ranching, and it would keep the money here."