Federal agency finalizes plan to expand Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service this week released a final land protection plan which allows for the protection of up to 700,000 acres of wildlife habitat in the Southern High Plains region along the Texas-New Mexico border as part of Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge. 

Within this new limited acquisition boundary, the Service would work with willing sellers to expand conservation through fee title and easement acquisitions, according to a news release.

Investment in, and expansion of, the National Wildlife Refuge System is part of ongoing federal efforts to support community-driven efforts to conserve and restore the nation’s lands and waters through America the Beautiful initiative. Under Secretary Haaland’s leadership, the Department has also established four new Refuges.  

The Service worked with partners to identify a conservation strategy and the limited acquisition boundary that will support sandhill crane, pronghorn, and lesser prairie-chicken, as well as a full suite of other wildlife that relies on the grassland and wetland habitat types. The plan encompasses a portion of the Southern High Plains region in New Mexico and Texas where habitat for sandhill crane, pronghorn, and lesser prairie-chicken remains. This habitat can be readily enhanced through connectivity corridors and preservation of existing large block grasslands, playa wetlands, and saline lakes.

"This plan is a critical step in protecting the future of the Southern High Plains for iconic species like the sandhill crane and lesser prairie-chicken," said Amy Lueders, the Service's Southwest Regional Director. "These vast grassland landscapes provide essential habitat for wildlife while also providing benefits like clean water filtration and carbon sequestration, which are essential for both the environment and human well-being."

This area is part of the Central Grasslands that span more than 700 million acres across Indigenous nations, Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Unfortunately, much of these grasslands have been lost. The Service is working alongside partners to conserve and restore this vital landscape.

The expansion will help addresses impacts from changing landscape drivers including energy development, habitat fragmentation, aquifer decline, and shrinking wetland habitat. Protected lands could be more resilient to the impacts of a changing climate.

A limited acquisition boundary better positions the conservation community to address the current and future needs of wildlife and wildlife habitat in the Southern High Plains region as opportunities for future conservation arise. The approved expansion boundary, which will guide future refuge acquisitions, includes priority areas where conservation efforts will have the highest anticipated benefit to wildlife and habitat. It does not add acreage to existing refuge ownership. The Service develops Land Protection Plans to fully evaluate the establishment of new refuges and major expansions to existing refuges.