Help protect Otero Mesa

Here are some things you can do to protect Otero Mesa. To help you, we've listed some talking points you can use below.

1. Call Interior Secretary Ken Salazar (202-208-7351) and tell him you want to see Otero Mesa protected, now and for the future.

2. Send an email to your Congressional representatives. If you live in southern New Mexico, you can use this form. If you live elsewhere, find your Congressional representatives here.

3. Write a letter to the editor voicing your support for protecting Otero Mesa. Writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper is an excellent way to raise awareness about Otero Mesa and the threat posed by oil and gas development. It shows public officials that you support Otero Mesa protection and expect that they will, too. Here are some tips for writing a letter to the editor.

4. Stay informed by signing up for our email alerts.

5. Support our work by making a donation today.

Talking Points

Feel free to adapt these talking points for the above actions.

• With 600,000 acres of grassland, Otero Mesa is one of the largest and wildest desert grasslands in North America.
• It is home to many species of wildlife, including many grassland birds that are declining elsewhere in their range.
• The Salt Basin Aquifer beneath Otero Mesa is one of the region’s largest untapped sources of freshwater.
• Oil and gas development would threaten Otero Mesa's wildlife and water.
• Drilling on Otero Mesa will do little to solve our nation’s energy needs. The most optimistic estimate of the amount of natural gas beneath Otero Mesa is 1 trillion cubic feet--the equivalent of only 16 days of U.S. demand.
• Clean, renewable energy sources, like wind and solar, offer far more potential, with fewer impacts to wildlife, and without contributing to climate change.
• At the moment, Otero Mesa is unprotected. Only Congress (through legislation) or the President (by declaring a national monument) can permanently protect this extraordinary landscape.