Four counties and one Soil and Water Conservation District have officially adopted resolutions opposing the expansion of the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge in West Texas and Eastern New Mexico.
The Texas Counties of Lamb and Parmer, New Mexico Counties of Roosevelt and Chaves, and the New Mexico Border Soil and Water Conservation District have all taken the strong position opposing the expansion.
On April 16, 2024, the Biden administration released its Land Protection Plan announcing the expansion of the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge to 700,000 acres within an acquisition area of seven million acres.
This announcement was news to the local communities, including all the locally elected officials from the 15 affected Texas counties and five New Mexico counties, as well as the municipalities, landowners, and businesses. Elected leaders were not notified and there was no coordination with any of the counties or municipalities as required by Texas statute.
Local Real Estate Broker and landowner in Bailey County, Monty Edwards, commented on the sentiment of the local people. “Basically, all local economic activities in our region will be impacted in some form or fashion because people live here and are connected directly or indirectly to agriculture or energy economies,” he said. (Lone Star Standard, August 7, 2024)
As the Texas Counties officially opposed the expansion, they also resolved to form a Subregional Planning Commission provided by Texas Local Government Code 391. (See Lamb County Resolution)
By utilizing this statute, the planning commission will have the authority to require state, and by extension, federal agencies to “coordinate to the greatest extent feasible.” This will give the counties the ability to bring the government entities that created this expansion plan to the table and require them to coordinate with local policies and plans.
“When local governments come together, they become a powerful force for the rights of their citizens, landowners, and businesses in their region,” stated Margaret Byfield, Executive Director of American Stewards of Liberty.
American Stewards will be assisting the counties as they utilize the 391 provision to protect the rights of the local citizens, businesses, farmers and ranchers, and, in turn, the tax base of all the affected counties and communities.
Other counties in the acquisition area are also considering resolutions to oppose the Wildlife Refuge. This locally-led opposition is a great example of elected officials and their citizens taking a stand to keep the land in private hands and push back the federal overreach.
