Updates

MARCH 2026 UPDATE

WE ARE SADDENED TO SHARE THAT OUR FORMER PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER, ED MACKERROW, PASSED AWAY IN DECEMBER

With deep regret, we announce the sudden loss of the founding member of the Friends of the Nambé Badlands, Dr. Ed MacKerrow.

“Edward MacKerrow graduated from San Jose State University in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in physics, from the University of New Mexico in 1989 with a Master’s degree in physics, followed in 1995 by a Ph.D. in physics. In 1989, Ed came to the Laboratory as a research graduate assistant. He continued working at Los Alamos while doing his Ph.D., then became a postdoctoral fellow, and later a staff member. In 2000, Ed took a leave of absence to work for BiosGroup, Inc., where he specialized in building agent-based models of both U.S. and international corporations in the banking, finance, and energy sectors, with an emphasis on operational risk issues. He returned to Los Alamos in 2002 to continue his research in agent-based socioeconomic and organizational modeling and simulation, as a technical staff member in the Theoretical Division’s Complex Systems Group.” From Understanding Why, Los Alamos Science Number 28, 2003.

Ed collaborated with the Santa Fe Institute in computational methods to simulate social dynamics in various broad contexts. His agent-based work contributed to a better understanding of the behaviors of populations subjected to diverse influences, including culture, education, religion, economics, disease, crime, and environmental conditions. Ed retired from LANL In 2014 to pursue professionally his interest in nature photography. His award-winning photography can be viewed at https://inlightofnature.com.

As a founding member of Friends of the Nambe Badlands, Ed’s unwavering advocacy for wildland conservation, coupled with his exceptional skills as a web designer and nature photographer, will be deeply missed. Serving as the FONB President for five years, he established a crucial interface with the BLM Taos Field Office and other conservation organizations, such as NM Wild, the Wilderness Society, the Audubon Society, the NM Wildlife Federation, and the Sierra Club. As an animal protection campaigner, Ed provided important testimony before the state legislature, calling for the cessation of irresponsible trapping near suburban areas, which poses a significant risk of injuries and fatalities to domestic animals.

An avid amateur ornithologist, Ed documented the local raptor populations and constructed and installed numerous owl nesting boxes in the Loma Blanca area to facilitate the reestablishment of barn owls and effectively control rodent populations.

Ed’s photography has garnered numerous accolades, including recognition from the National Audubon Society, the Peregrine Fund, the Bosque del Apache NWR, and the Windland Smith Rice Nature’s Best photography competitions. His images are currently exhibited in private and public venues such as the Jack Leustig Gallery in Taos, the Stone Age Gallery in Albuquerque, the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Northwestern University, and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory.

If you wish to support Ed’s legacy by purchasing his exceptional artwork, kindly visit the aforementioned links.

Concluding, we leave you with Ed’s inspiring words:

“I believe the more that humans are aware of nature, the more they will respect it, and this in turn will benefit all beings— especially future generations. Everything is connected! The reason I pursue nature photography is to propagate this awareness. Nature can teach us a lot if we are brave enough to experience and learn from it. I believe that getting outside and experiencing nature educates us in important ways that we are not exposed to in conventional education. When I observe wildlife out in nature, I am continually amazed at their intelligence and the emotions they display. I try to capture these emotions in my images so that others can experience just how amazing nature is. Love of nature and beautiful places transcends the divisions that human society has established for itself. Experiencing nature, where fear is replaced by respect and courage, makes us all stronger and wiser. If my images reinforce our respect for nature, then my goal has been met.”

DECEMBER 2025 UPDATE

What’s New within the Sombrillo Travel Management Area in the Nambé Badlands

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Taos Field Office Contacts

General Office – blm_nm_tafo_admin@blm.gov, (575) 758-8851
Eric Valencia – Field Manager
Bradley Higdon – Assistant Field Manager
Carl Weinmeister – Outdoor Recreational Planner for Sombrillo Travel Management Area
Ryan Ashcroft – Park Ranger for Recreational Services – (505) 929-5784

The BLM intends to expand the Travel Management Area to roughly 20,000 acres, significantly enlarging the originally proposed approximate 2,000-acre area of the badlands on the east and west of NM503.

The plan envisions using best management and adaptive management practices within the Sombrillo Travel Management Area to guide decision making, allowing for later use of categorical exclusions to more quickly and efficiently address problems as they emerge. The project will be subject to the Federal Environmental Assessment process.

Key Developments (as of an April 30, 2025 meeting and an August 13, 2025 follow-up email )

The expanded Sombrillo Travel Management Area (approximately 20,000-acres) will be developed and managed for recreational uses including mountain biking, hiking, equestrian and off-highway vehicle access.
There will be no additional protections for the Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) within the west side of NM503. According to the BLM, the ACEC was established to protect paleontological fossils and not fragile terrain.
Existing trails west of NM503, most of which were developed without BLM approval, are expected to remain open. The BLM stated that the trails cannot be taken away as they are very popular and considered premier riding for mountain biking.
Trails will likely be open to electric bikes (Type 1, 250W-500W).
The BLM indicated they cannot prohibit Strava events, although there may be some ‘soft solutions’ to discourage such racing on the west side.
Upon completion of the Sombrillo Travel Management Plan, the BLM intends to implement an off-highway vehicle corridor that would extend approximately north from Pojoaque up into Arroyo Seco and potentially connect to existing off-highway vehicle areas north of the Santa Cruz River.

Public Process

The Sombrillo Travel Management Plan was initially scheduled for completion by year-end; however, progress has been delayed due to government layoffs and the recent shutdown. Once finalized, the plan will undergo a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review and a public comment period. Stakeholder input will be considered and possibly incorporated into the final decision.

Continued Engagement

Friends of the Nambé Badlands remains focused on conserving the Nambé Badlands while supporting sustainable recreational use.
We will continue communications with the BLM, pursue public outreach and education, monitor developments, and maintain informational updates on our website.
Stakeholders are encouraged to stay engaged and to submit comments during the NEPA public review process.

Thank you for your interest in helping to preserve the Nambé Badlands for current and future generations!