There are so many things I love about living in Albuquerque. Two of those things are proximity to nature and our sense of community. All throughout the city, we have little pockets of wild and people who are trying to protect it. Today, I am going to spotlight one of these amazing places: Candelaria Nature Preserve. In the North Valley, tucked between the Rio Grande River and the Los Griegos Neighborhood, you will find the 167-acre tract that makes up the Candelaria Nature Preserve.
A Brief History
The City of Albuquerque purchased the land in 1977 using money from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to create a nature study area and wildlife preserve. Over time, however, the city did not use the land for that purpose and instead allowed it to be farmed. In 2016, North Valley neighbors grew concerned that these farming practices did not align with the area’s intended purpose. In response, the city council passed two resolutions in 2016 and 2017 to create a Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the preserve. These actions helped return the project to its original goal of habitat restoration, supporting wildlife, and encouraging nature study and viewing. Today, the area serves as a space for animals, plants, learning, and the community as a whole.
Why is the Candelaria Nature Preserve so unique?
This site is located along the Rio Grande Flyway. This is an area that attracts many migratory birds and other types of wildlife. The preserve also includes the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park and is connected to the Rio Grande Valley State Park. This is an area where many different biomes exist. These natural areas are home to many different plant and animal species and are vital to their survival. Not only is it an extremely unique biome, but it also happens to sit right in the heart of Albuquerque. It provides a great location for our kiddos and us to learn more about habitats, ecosystems, conservation, and even community.
What is happening at the preserve now?
After putting the plan in action in 2020, the City began the endeavor to rewild the Candelaria Nature Preserve. The City formed a Technical Advisory Group that then created a Resource Management Plan (RMP). The RMP is a comprehensive guide that tells us what is going to happen to the Nature Preserve over the next 20 years. My background is in Environmental Engineering. Before becoming a stay-at-home mom, I worked in public service, so I find the context fascinating. I know not everyone is like me and enjoys reading technical documents, though. So let me give you the gist of the RMP. The ultimate goal is to change the land from farming to a more natural landscape. The land has become riddled with invasive species. The goal is to create a diverse habitat that can support native species, animals, and plant life.
The hope is that, over time, there will be less need for human involvement and that the area will have a healthy, independently thriving ecosystem.
Who is responsible for the preserve?
The land itself is owned by the City of Albuquerque. The City has a contract with Ciudad Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) to manage and lease the Preserve. Ciudad SWCD has also entered into a sublease agreement with Rio Grande Return. The Rio Grande Return is working to implement restoration efforts at the Candelaria Nature Preserve. Additionally, four members of the Technical Advisory Group felt compelled to create a friend group. In 2021, Friends of Candelaria Nature Preserve was founded. The Friends of Candelaria Nature Preserve serves as a guiding body for non-governmental support of projects. They volunteer to build and maintain the ecological health and educational activities of the preserve. You can learn more about the Friends of Candelaria Nature Preserve at their website here.
How can we get involved?
So you may be thinking that this is all well and good, but what does this mean for me as an ABQ Mom (or dad, or parent, or caregiver)? Well, there are many ways you can get involved with the Candelaria Nature Preserve.
Viewing Area
Maybe you have heard in the news lately about this place? In mid April of this year, there was a big ribbon cutting for the completion of Phase 1 improvements at the Candelaria Nature Preserve/Rio Grande Blvd Access. Up until now, the preserve has been inaccessible to the public. Now Phase 1 of the site plan has been finished. It includes a new parking area, a trail, seating, picnic areas, educational signs, and a pedestrian bridge. The bridge lets people cross the Duranes Lateral to gain access to the CNP east wildlife viewing platform. You and your family can come to this new recreation area off of Rio Grande Blvd from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. This, however, will just give you views of the preserve from the East side.
Public Tours
If you are curious to learn more about what is happening on the preserve itself, I would highly recommend taking a public tour. The public tours happen on the last Friday of the month from 10 a.m. to noon. In April, my family and I were heading down to check out the viewing area and just so happened to take a wrong turn at exactly the right time. We stumbled upon the monthly tour. It felt serendipitous. The public doesn’t get to wander the preserve freely, so this was a great way to get out and see the space in person.
My whole family learned a lot from the tour! Even my 4-year-old had a great time playing in the dirt and seeing how many different animals and bugs he could spot. If you do want to catch the tour, you will meet the group at the East gate to the preserve. You will turn onto Arbor Rd. NW off of Rio Grande Blvd and follow Arbor Rd until it dead ends. This is like you are going to park for Big Jim’s Farm; just keep going west.
Volunteer at the Preserve
If you are ready to take it a step further and actually get your hands dirty, there are options for you, too. A lot of the work that is being done at the preserve is all done by volunteers. Every Monday and Friday morning from 8 a.m. to noon, community members of any age are welcome to come and volunteer. The volunteers are overseen by the City’s contractors, Ciudad Soil and Water Conservation District and Rio Grande Return. The volunteering that is done is a little different every day, but it could be anything from weeding to transplanting to watering saplings.
When I was visiting with my family on a tour, there was a local secondary school visiting to volunteer. It was great to see these local kids getting some hands-on experience in science and conservation. If you are a homeschool mom, this could be a really cool experience to add to your curriculum. Or maybe you are looking for something you and your elementary-aged kids could do this summer. Bring them to spend a few hours volunteering and learning more about nature and conservation. I will note that my son is almost five, and he is probably around the youngest I would recommend for volunteering. If you have littles, I would stick to the viewing area and the monthly tour.
How lucky are we? To live in such a beautiful place as Albuquerque? We can find true gems tucked away in the middle of the city like the Candelaria Nature Preserve. I hope this article has given you the nudge to grab your family and get out there to check out some of these beautiful places!
Want to find out more about getting outdoors with your kids? Check out our comprehensive guide to New Mexico State Parks, Lakes, Hiking, & More here.
