Project Details
Area: NORTHWEST
Size: 3 acres
Location: Sandoval County
Eco-Region: Rio Grande Floodplain
Conservation Values: Agriculture, Scenic Open Space, Wildlife Habitat, Public Recreation
Type of Project: Purchased easement
Date Completed: December 2021
Lopez Farm
Located in the Village of Corrales, next door to the sprawling Albuquerque metro area, the Lopez farmland has been owned by the same family for generations and they wanted it to remain as farmland with no residential development. The easement was purchased through the Village of Corrales Farmland Preservation Program whose aim is to conserve the last remaining parcels of productive agricultural land in Corrales, and thereby preserve the rural character of the Village.
With the conservation easement completed, the property has since been sold to Fraction Farms, a nonprofit organization dedicated to producing locally grown organic vegetables for the homeless. The Lopez family is glad that the land will continue to be used for agriculture, and will also support the local community through the nonprofit organization.
The general public will be able to access a bird viewing/rest area platform via the Corrales Bosque Preserve to the east and enjoy the unobstructed views of the farmland, bosque, and Sandia Mountains. The recreational value of this area is directly linked to bird watching and quiet enjoyment of the majestic views that the conserved property offers.