Committee advances bill to designate Slot Canyon Riverlands as state park; $9 million capital outlay tied to parks funding

House Bill 219 would designate the Slot Canyon Riverlands on state-owned land in Doña Ana County as a state park and advance capital development funded in the capital outlay package. Representative Small described the parcel as a riparian area with recreation and conservation value; proponents said the designation would formalize safe access, enable trail connections to the Rio Grande Trail and expand outdoor recreation opportunities.

State Parks staff and supporters emphasized safety planning for flash floods common to slot canyons. Director Toby Velasquez described park operational tools used at other parks, including visitor check-in, reservations, signage, text-based emergency push alerts and law enforcement rangers. Committee members pressed on staffing and ongoing maintenance costs; State Parks said initial staffing would likely be in the 4–6 full-time range with additional responsibilities for law enforcement and maintenance as the park is built out.

Questions also covered impacts on nearby agriculture, water availability and salt-cedar (tamarisk) removal. Sponsors stressed that the designation would not change private water rights and that vegetation removal and resource protection were part of the master-plan work. Funding: sponsors said the capital outlay appropriation for development (reported in committee discussion) is $9 million as part of a larger parks allocation in the capital package.

Outcome: The committee recorded a due-pass recommendation for House Bill 219.