CD 



CO 



O NEW MEXICO 



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LU General description: New Mexico has few remaining wetlands, the most impor- 



2 tant of which are located in the headwaters of the Canadian River and along the 



^ Rio Grande and Pecos rivers. These have been subjected to serious destruction 



LU and modification by intensive exploitation of water resources. A few special 



situations exist in sink holes east of Roswell and in collapse depressions in lava 



flows, such as McCarty's Flow west of Laguna. 



Status of the wetlands: There is very little undisturbed wetland to be found in 

 this state. Diversion of water and grazing and watering of livestock are the prin- 

 cipal threats to this habitat. 



Sources of data: The wetlands of New Mexico have been inventoried (USFWS 

 1954). Data have been submitted on two areas by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries 

 and Wildlife and by academic biologists. 



Recommendations: As potential Natural Landmarks some of the Sink Hole 

 group east of Roswell would seem to be the most promising. The San Simon 

 Cienega may well prove to be already too disturbed and its protection too dubi- 

 ous to qualify for recognition. The depressions in McCarty's Flow are unique. 



Literature cited 



U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1954. Wetlands inventory — New Mexico. 

 Albuquerque, New Mexico. 



