Blue Hole Cienega Restoration Project

The Blue Hole Cienega Restoration Project aims to restore the Blue Hole Ciénega, one of the largest remaining ciénegas in the Southwest. Close to 95% of ciénegas have been lost or damaged due to farming, overgrazing, draining, channelization, and drying during development. To protect these unique wetlands, New Mexico State Forestry established the Blue Hole Ciénega Nature Preserve with funding and assistance from USFWS and NM DOT. State botanists are working to preserve the native Pecos Sunflower by applying prescribed burns, removing invasive species (e.g., Russian olive), setting up seasonal grazing, and providing educational tours to local high schools.