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Committee advances bill to designate Slot Canyon Riverlands as state park, with safety and infrastructure questions
Summary
Senators recommended a due pass for House Bill 219, which would designate Slot Canyon Riverlands State Park in Doña Ana County and include capital funding on the projects list; committee members pressed state parks on flood risk, staffing, and infrastructure needs before advancing the bill.
The Senate Conservation Committee voted to advance House Bill 219, a measure designating Slot Canyon Riverlands as a state park and authorizing capital development under the state parks program.
Representative Small told the committee the designation builds on prior acquisitions and feasibility work and would improve public, safe access to a popular slot‑canyon area near Highway 185. The proposal pairs an upland parcel and a riverland parcel that would connect to existing trails and the Rio Grande corridor; the sponsor said the project is in a state capital package and capital outlay funding is allocated for park improvements.
Supporters — including conservation organizations and local outdoor groups — said the park would expand public access, create recreation and tourism benefits, and protect riparian habitat. State Parks Director Toby Velasquez told senators the division manages 35 parks across New Mexico and has experience handling flood and fire safety in diverse landscapes.
Senators pressed the division and the sponsor about public‑safety measures for flash flooding in slot canyons, staffing levels for park operations and law enforcement, infrastructure needs (water, restrooms, RV/tent sites), the schedule for building trails and parking, and coordination with local agriculture and irrigation districts. Director Velasquez said the park would open incrementally — with safe trail access in roughly two years and more development in three to five years, depending on capital funding — and that state parks will use monitoring technology, rangers, signage and reservation/check‑in processes to reduce risks.
The committee passed the bill on a roll call (committee announced a due pass: 5 yes, 3 no, some excused). Members asked for continued coordination on flood monitoring, invasive species management (tamarisk control), and tribal and local engagement as plans advance.
