[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 25 (Thursday, February 25, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E238-E239]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE ORGAN PIPE CACTUS NATIONAL MONUMENT FOR BEING RECOGNIZED 
  BY THE INTERMOUNTAIN REGION'S WILDERNESS STEWARDSHIP AWARDS PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. RAUL M. GRIJALVA

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 25, 2010

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I rise today honor the employees of 
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. The staff of Organ Pipe Cactus 
National Monument has been recognized by the Intermountain Region's 
Wilderness Stewardship Awards Program with the top award for 2009 as 
true Wilderness Champions.
  Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument covers 330,689 acres and, of that 
acreage, 95 percent is designated wilderness. Founded in 1937, the 
employees of this National Monument have continuously monitored and 
evaluated the land use and local environment. President Franklin D. 
Roosevelt preserved this land for its scenic views but also for its 
ecological wonders. Having been occupied by American Indians, Mexicans 
and Europeans the diverse history of this land makes it valuable around 
the globe. In addition, in 1976 the United Nations bestowed the title 
of International Biosphere Reserve on Organ Pipe Cactus National 
Monument further confirming not only its local importance, but its 
value internationally. Twenty-six species of cactus flourish in the 
harsh conditions, as well as many species of birds, lizards, bats and 
rodents. They all delicately coexist in this wonderful ecosystem.
  Until the 1970s, this land was used for ranching and mining, making 
the jobs of the current staff challenging. Catching up with the damage 
done during these times has proven to be the stimulus for all the 
wonderful projects taken on by the employees at Organ Pipe. Most 
notable is the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument Ecological 
Monitoring Program. This program has been diligently working since 1997 
to monitor and evaluate critical aspects of the region. From reporting 
changes in the ecosystem, to documenting damage to the land by 
neighboring developers, this program has proven vital to the stability 
of the National Monument, as well as to the ecosystem of Southern 
Arizona.
  Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is also a vital part of the 
community and offers guided tours, hiking, camping, excellent birding 
and plenty of beautiful picnic areas. Organ Pipe also offers wonderful 
educational opportunities through student field trips and its

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participation in the VIEWs program through the National Park Service.
  The men and women employed at Organ Pipe monitor this delicate 
ecosystem while still preserving this beautiful area. The staff take 
bi-annual photos in eight different areas to monitor land use and 
development along the Mexico border, annually monitor spring and summer 
lizards and their habits in the Sonoran Desert, and have set up an 
annual climate monitoring system for which the data are all reported 
into their ORPI Ecological Monitoring Report. Through the staff's 
efforts, the stability of this wonderful, natural resource is 
protected.
  The employees of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument who have been 
honored with this award truly deserve it. They are vital players in the 
protection of America's wild lands. As a member of the House Committee 
on Natural Resources and, having seen our community grow to over a 
million people during my lifetime, I know the importance of protecting 
these delicate areas. It gives me great joy to see such wonderful 
people giving of themselves to preserve and protect this spectacular 
region of Southern Arizona.

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