© mike connealy
Alamo Mountain (Otero Mesa)
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Mountain Guardian
The grasslands around Alamo Mountain were contested for thousands of years by fierce hunters of many cultures. They left behind a vast gallery of images portraying their prowess and imploring the gods of the mountains to support them in their quests.



pronghorn band

death of a warrior

snake bite

water spirit

on the hunt

In 2001 a plan was developed by the Bureau of Land Management to open Otero Mesa to oil and gas development. Protests and suits by environmental groups have prevented implementation of the plan, but it could still go ahead once an assessment is completed on the impact of development on the Salt Basin Aquifer which underlies the Mesa. The Coalition for the Otero Mesa is working to secure permanent protection for Otero Mesa � America�s wildest grassland.

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