the rio grand flows through some of the oldest continually inhabited land in the united states. in northern new mexico, the river follows a deep gorge formed by the separation of the earth’s curst. because of its wild and pristine state it’s home to a rich population of birds and mammals and is one of the world’s great migratory fly-aways linking the united states and canada for hundreds of migrating bird species.

for the past 30 years concerned citizens and lawmakers have been working to create the rio grand del norte national conservation area along new mexico’s northern boarder. the proposed nca consists of 235,000 acres of rolling sagebrush hills and 70 miles of the rio grand, the first section of wild and scenic river established in the united states. the goal is not only to preserve this rare and wild landscape, but also a way of life that dates back hundreds of years.