WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M. (February 5, 2025) - In partnership with the Department of Defense, White Sands Missile Range has successfully taken action to preserve 60,000 acres of the Chupadera Mesa, an ecologically significant area located north of the missile range.
This agreement spans 75 years and allows the White Sands testing community to continue facilitating the equipping of U.S. Soldiers with modern weapons and equipment effectively. Key elements such as frequency and airspace are vital for the testing community's operations. The goal is to minimize any effects on restricted airspace, while ensuring the ongoing protection of grazing lands and agricultural activities.
The initiative was made possible through a collaborative effort with the New Mexico Land Conservancy and the New Mexico State Land Office. By securing the land, the project not only protects the unique New Mexico cultural history, wildlife habitats and native plant species of the region but also ensures that the area remains free from development pressures, maintaining its natural integrity for future generations. As a result of the agreement, the State Land Office will receive $2.8 million, which will be used to improve public education and support various institutions across New Mexico.
"This collaboration allows us to continue to promote the natural space in New Mexico that is around our installation," said Brian Knight, Chief, Environmental Division at White Sands Missile Range. "It is ideal for conservations, people interested in environmental protection and ideal for our mission."
When people consider the environment, they often focus on land. However, at the White Sands Missile Range, it's essential to recognize that the environment also encompasses airspace. White Sands Missile Range spans approximately 2.3 million acres and includes about 8,500 miles of Department of Defense-restricted airspace. This distance is critical in missile testing and military operations and plays a significant part in conservation efforts. Protecting this extensive airspace is essential; it ensures that the area remains a vital zone for research and testing.
"What we are protecting are the rights of certain types of development. We look at it as incompatible development, and with the northern call-up area, we use it as an approach to WSMR with low-level flights coming in,” said Deborah Nethers, Ecologist Branch Chief, White Sands Missile Range Environmental Division. "Anything that is a tall structure could be disruptive to anything flying in, whether it's a missile or an aircraft holding a missile."
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