IEC Meeting
Tucson January 22, 2004

The IEC (Intergovernmental Executive Committee) is composed of governtment representatives from the various agencies that have an interest in the southern Arizona border, basically from Nogales to the California border.  Meetings are held three times a year for the purpose of informing all concerned about issues that affect all involved.  Members of various conservation and environmental organizations are invited to attend and lend their expertise concerning their points of interest..

A report concerning the status of the pronghorn herd was given by a  US Fish and Wildlife representative.  Numbers are in the 20 to 30 range. A transplant of 7 pronghorn from the Mexican population was attempted in order to populate a 640 acre enclosure. However 5 of those animals died due to the stress of capture and transport.  Two females have survived and seem to be doing well.  It is believed one is pregnant.  The other seems to be a yearling.  No plans are presently in the works for more transplants, although some ideas are being considered.            

Reports were made on the UDA and drug traffic on the BMGR , both of which were up over the past year. 

Colonel Uken explained various operations that have or will take place on the Range.  Also, a small percentage of operations were cancelled due to pronghorn activity in the target area..  These cancellationa have remained fairly steady in the past few years.

Reports were also given by the various agencies who have an interest in the Cabeza Prieta, BMGR, Organ Pipe National Monument, and the Tohono Odham reservation.  One of the constants in these reports is the increasing numbers of undocumented alien traffic.