New Mexico Wildlife Refuge Receives National Recognition for Solar and Wind Energy Project

Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior Lynn Scarlett has presented Department of the Interior Environmental Achievement Awards to ten departmental individuals and employees at the department’s Washington headquarters.

“These awards are the equivalent of our Environmental Emmy awards,” said Scarlett. “The ingenuity and dedication of the winners are always inspiring. This year’s winning projects include, just for example, a sustainably designed laboratory, an invention to remove paint from spray cans, a partnership with loggers to remove scrub brush for use in bio-energy production, and a project that puts mustangs to work hauling illegal debris from marijuana gardens on public land."

Interior’s Environmental Achievement Awards recognize employees and partners who have made outstanding contributions through departmental projects in preventing pollution and waste, recycling, green purchasing, environmental management, sustainable designing and the greening of facilities, and using alternative fuel and fuel conservation in transportation.

The San Andres National Wildlife Refuge in southwestern New Mexico was recognized for using a tiered approach to install on-site renewable energy generation, the San Andres National Wildlife Refuge is able to supply 100 percent of its own power for several months out of the year and has decreased energy use by 80 percent from the Fiscal Year 2003 baseline.

Learn More about San Andres National Wildlife Refuge

Learn More about the Southwest Region's Efforts to Address Climate Change

Refuge's thoughout the nation

The National Wildlife Refuge System is a unique system of lands dedicated to preserving a rich quality of life for Americans by protecting their wildlife heritage. In the Southwest, national wildlife refuges protect some of the most varied wildlife and spectacular landscapes found anywhere in the world. From subtropical shrub ecosystems to saguaro-studded deserts--all are filled with an unparalleled richness and abundance of life. Some of the wonders of southwestern refuges include the complex and beautiful Sonoran Desert in Arizona, Texas coastal marshes that host massive flocks of waterfowl every winter, strange creatures found only in the sinkholes of New Mexico, and Oklahoma caves filled with endangered bats.

Wildlife Refuges Severely Impacted by Hurricane Ike: Some Facilities Completely Lost, Remain Closed to Public

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is reporting that due to impacts caused by Hurricane Ike, four National Wildlife Refuges (Refuge) on the Texas Gulf Coast remain closed to the public. The Texas Chenier Plains Complex, which includes Anahuac, Texas Point, Moody, and McFaddin Refuges, sustained a direct hit from the hurricane and almost total destruction of all facilities.

Until further notice, all public activities on these four refuges are being suspended. This includes public visitation, and all previously scheduled events and hunts.

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