Project Details
Area: NORTHEAST
Size: 6,400 acres
Location: Torrance County
Eco-Region: Arizona-New Mexico Mountains
Conservation Values: Agriculture, Scenic Open Space, Wildlife Habitat
Type of Project: Donated Conservation Easement
Date Completed: December, 2007
Cain Ranch
Cain Ranch is located south of Mountainair in Torrance County, New Mexico. The property is composed of large areas of native grasslands and some more rugged terrain in its western areas. The property includes vegetative communities consisting of Pinyon-Juniper woodlands and Pinyon-Juniper savannas, which are occasionally interspersed with Ponderosa pine and Gambel oak. The property also provides habitat for mule deer, elk, pronghorn antelope, mountain lions, black bears, turkeys, raptors, Gambel’s quail and mourning dove. The property provides scenic open space along Highway 55 – “The Salt Mission Trail” – and Highway 60. Highways 60 and 55 are well traveled by visitors to Mountainair, and the ruins at Abo, Quarai, and Gran Quivira. These roads provide visual access to the property, particularly the open, sweeping vistas of Chupadera Mesa.