Preserving Tres Rios Ranch

Overview

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Tres Ríos Ranch—nearly 300 acres of sacred and storied land in La Cienega, New Mexico—is a place where three rivers, rich ecosystems, and ancestral lifeways converge. This rare landscape sits at a crossroads. Under imminent threat from commercial development, it also holds the extraordinary potential to become a living demonstration site for next-generation learning, land restoration, climate adaptation, cultural celebration, and community resilience.

We are seizing this moment to protect Tres Ríos permanently through the means of a newly authorized Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) agreement with Santa Fe County. This mechanism will remove the land’s commercial development rights, safeguarding it for the public good—and enabling a bold vision for the future.

A Shared Vision

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This is a collaboration between the current landowner, local stewards and preservationists working together to support the transition of this incredible area to a site which conserves the free-flowing waters, natural habitat, riparian ecosystems, endangered species and archaeological sites. Together, we envision a Tres Ríos that serves as:

• A sanctuary for endangered species and riparian ecosystems—including willow flycatchers, leopard frogs, silver minnows, and migrating elk.

• A land-based model where sustainable agricultural practices will be used, taught, and demonstrated—integrating farm-to-table systems, cooking classes, greenhouses, native planting, water harvesting, and responsible livestock management.

• An immersive learning site—offering hands-on global warming education, bird viewing sites, archaeology, and seasonal celebrations rooted in place.

• A water innovation hub—where treated wastewater feeds constructed wetlands, aquaculture, algae farming, and hydroponics.

A Prototype for the Future of Land Stewardship

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Santa Fe County has approved the severance of the ranch’s development rights. These rights can now be sold to fund permanent protection and the next phase of development. We are working to:

• Finalize the TDR transaction

• Launch water infrastructure and ecological pilots

• Prepare the site’s cultural, food, and visitor economy components

• Design a structure for hosting community dialogues that share stories about a flourishing future

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is also considering expansion of the nearby Area of Critical Environmental Concern to link Tres Ríos with adjacent ecological corridors—creating a powerful network of restored lands, reconnected histories, and hiking trails.

Call to Action

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We are at a tipping point. This moment requires start-up funding to lock in legal protections and catalyze the site’s transformation into a regenerative, intergenerational commons.

We invite donors, institutions, and visionary partners to join us. Together, we can protect this sacred land—and activate its full potential as a model for integrated ecological restoration, education, and cultural resurgence.

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Please contact Carl Dickens if you would like to get involved: cedickens2@yahoo.com