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SANTA FE, N.M. – The New Mexico State Land Office (NMSLO) is hosting a series of four public meetings across Southern New Mexico September 22-25, 2025. The meetings will provide an overview of a proposed land exchange between the NMSLO and the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The NMSLO will also gather feedback at the meetings to help guide the agency’s decisions regarding the exchange. Representatives from the BLM will also be in attendance.
Under the proposed exchange, the NMSLO would transfer roughly 75,000 acres of state trust land to the BLM. In return, the NMSLO would receive federal lands of equal value.
The exchange would allow landlocked portions of state trust land to be incorporated into the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument. Meanwhile, NMSLO would receive lands better suited for the agency’s mission to earn revenue for public schools, universities, and hospitals. Because the NMSLO would receive more valuable lands, the exchange may ultimately be limited to just Doña Ana County but the agency is holding meetings in all potentially included counties.
Interested parties will have an opportunity to provide public comments at the in-person meetings. Public comments may also be emailed to: BLM_NM_LCDO_Mail@blm.gov.
More information is available here.
PUBLIC MEETING DETAILS:
When: Monday, September 22; 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Where: Doña Ana County Government Services Building, Council Chambers; 845 N. Motel Blvd. Las Cruces, NM 88007
When: Tuesday, September 23; 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Where: Hidalgo County Council Chambers; 305 Pyramid St. Lordsburg, NM 88045
When: Wednesday, September 24; 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Where: Mimbres Valley Special Events Center; 2300 E. Pine St. Deming, NM 88030
When: Thursday, September 25; 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Where: Grant County Business and Conference Center; 3031 US-180, Silver City, NM 88061
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