Friends of Big Bend National Park

E-Alerts are here!
Click in the box on the left to be added to our e-alert list. You’ll be contacted when FBBNP is working on important issues and legislation for the betterment of the park.  This spring there is legislation passing through Congress that will impact the park, so stay tuned!  You’ll also be informed of upcoming events and how you can help the park too!

Auditorium request resubmitted
Friends of Big Bend is resubmitting its request to Congressman Ciro Rodriguez for an appropriation for the proposed auditorium.  Our request will be submitted in February 2010, we will be asking for your support at that time to ensure it passes out of the sub-committee this year.

Auditorium Request Not Funded
On June 10, 2009 the House Interior Appropriations Sub-Committee elected to not include our appropriation request of $500,000 for the auditorium, submitted on our behalf by Congressman Ciro Rodriguez.  At present, there is no explanation for this decision and we are weighing options on how best to move forward with our efforts at funding for this critical visitor services need.

H.R. 167 – Expanding the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River
Friends of Big Bend National Park is supporting Congressman Ciro Rodriguez in his efforts to expand the boundaries of the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River.  Administered by Big Bend National Park staff, this area of the Rio Grande is in need of federal protection to ensure that upriver conservation efforts are not wasted. See the full text of the bill here.

Note:  The measure has been forwarded to the House Natural Resources Committee.

Wilderness Designations
FBBNP, National Parks Conservation Association and The Wilderness Society are actively working with park staff and Congressman Rodriguez’s office to make permanent the designated wilderness areas in Big Bend National Park.  Our goal is to secure wilderness designation by 2010 for the 533,900 acres of Big Bend National Park that the National Park Service has recommended for wilderness.  We have formally requested Congressman Rodriguez to file this bill as of October 2009.

If you are supportive of this issue, please contact Congressman Rodriguez’s office and let him know you would like to see Congress move forward with this issue.   You can get specific information on the Wilderness designations here.

Christmas Mountains: Superintendent Wellman informed the FBBNP Board of Directors at the June 2008 meeting that there has been no recent action from the General Land Office regarding the Christmas Mountains.  In February 2008 the FBBNP Board of Directors voted to support the park’s desire to add the Christmas Mountains to Big Bend National Park.  Keep checking our website for further developments.