The Northern Sacramento and Capitan Mountains COA spans approximately 67,034 ha (165,643 ac) and is located just north of Ruidoso and west of Lincoln. The COA encompasses the northernmost portion of the Sacramento Mountains and the Capitan Mountains.

Approximately 53% of the land in this COA is managed by the USFS, and 27% is privately owned. The remaining 20% is managed by the US Department of Energy (DOE) (11%), the BLM (7%), and the SLO (2%). The Hondo Valley Important Bird Area lies within this COA. Approximately 34% of the COA is currently protected.

The COA consists of 21 native vegetation habitats, four ruderal or introduced vegetation types, and agricultural vegetation, barren areas, developed and urban spaces, and open water. The dominant habitats include Rocky Mountain Lower Montane Forest (28%), Madrean Lowland Evergreen Woodland (26%), and Chihuahuan Semi-Desert Grassland (10%). Perennial aquatic habitats include 4 km (2.5 mi) of warm-water streams, 149 km (93 mi) of cold-water streams, 14 ha (35 ac) of warm-water reservoirs, and 19 ha (46 ac) of cold-water reservoirs.

A total of 51 SGCN are found (either observed or with potential habitat) within the COA, including 16 classified as Conservation Impact Species (I) and nine as Current Focal Species (F). Much of this COA may represent a climate refugia for the Grace’s warbler (Setophaga graciae) through 2075, excluding the southern and east-central edges (NHNM 2024). This COA has very high potential to contain microclimate refugia for birds in general and mammals and macroclimate refugia for terrestrial species in general. This COA also has some potential to contain microclimate refugia for amphibians and macroclimate refugia for aquatic species.

Related Resources

• Conservation Opportunity Areas section in SWAP document