Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge
| Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge | |
|---|---|
|
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
  | |
| Location | Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States |
| Nearest city | Albuquerque, New Mexico |
| Coordinates | 34°58′N 106°40′W / 34.97°N 106.67°WCoordinates: 34°58′N 106°40′W / 34.97°N 106.67°W |
| Area | 488 acres (197 ha) |
| Established | 2012 |
| Governing body | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service |
| Website |
www |
The Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge is a protected area of New Mexico managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. It is located 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Numerous tributary creeks to the Rio Grande flow through this unit, which abuts Rio Grande Valley State Park.
History
The land that is presently Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge was operated for decades as a dairy farm. After the closure of this facility, this area was dominated by alfalfa fields, it became seen as a potential development site for suburban homes until its purchase by the Trust for Public Land was negotiated. In 2011, the site was earmarked for federal improvements, and in 2012 it was transferred to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.[1]
A working farm remains at Valle de Oro, with the on-premises irrigation system transitioning into a bird habitat. Federal administrators plan to restore the native bosque forests.[2] In 2014, an additional 57 acres (23 ha) were purchased for inclusion in the refuge, bringing the size of the park to 488 acres (197 ha); proposed future expansions will increase the size of the unit to 570 acres (230 ha).[2]