Proposed Sandia Pueblo Land Transfer
Sandia Pueblo is seeking federal legislation concerning approximately 10,000 acres within the T’uf Shur Bien Preservation Trust Area on the western side of the Sandia Mountains. The proposal is of particular interest to Sandia Heights because the area borders the community and includes or adjoins roads, trails, public recreation areas, private properties, utility corridors, and culturally significant lands.
The SHHA Board has not taken a position on the proposal at this time. This page is intended to give residents access to available documents, maps, news coverage, differing perspectives, and an opportunity to provide feedback.
Share Your Feedback with the SHHA Board
The Board would like to hear from Sandia Heights residents before considering whether SHHA should support, oppose, or take no official position on the proposal.
Responses submitted by August 11 will be provided to the Board before its August 12 meeting. Comments submitted by August 20 may also be considered for inclusion or summary in a future issue of the GRIT.
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Source Documents
- Discussion Draft: Pueblo of Sandia Land Transfer Act of 2026
Draft legislative language provided by Sandia Pueblo. The document has not been introduced in Congress. - Pueblo of Sandia Land Holdings and Proposed Preservation Trust Area Map
Map showing land categories, the proposed transfer area, and nearby trails. - T’uf Shur Bien Preservation Trust Area Map
April 2000 map showing the preservation trust area and surrounding land features. - T’uf Shur Bien Preservation Trust Area Map Legend
April 2000 legend identifying roads, trails, private inholdings, utilities, facilities, access arrangements, and excluded lands. - 2003 T’uf Shur Bien Preservation Trust Area Act
The existing federal law establishing the preservation trust area and its governance framework. - Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s Letter of Support
Letter supporting the proposed transfer.
What Is Being Proposed?
The material provided to SHHA includes a document labeled “Discussion Draft” for a possible Pueblo of Sandia Land Transfer Act of 2026. It is not presented as introduced or enacted legislation. At present, SHHA does not know who would prepare the final legislation, when or whether it might be introduced, or what additional provisions a final bill might contain.
- Approximately 10,000 acres The discussion draft identifies approximately 10,000 acres within the T’uf Shur Bien Preservation Trust Area for transfer.
- Federal agency transfer The proposal would transfer the identified land from the Secretary of Agriculture to the Secretary of the Interior.
- Land held in trust The land would be taken into trust for the benefit of the Pueblo of Sandia and considered part of the Pueblo of Sandia Indian Reservation.
- Existing rights The discussion draft states that the transfer would be “subject to valid existing rights,” but it does not identify those rights individually or explain how they would be administered after the transfer.
- Roads and rights-of-way Roads, highways, and public rights-of-way subject to existing easements and depicted within the proposed boundary would be excluded from the transfer.
- Gaming prohibited The discussion draft prohibits Class II and Class III gaming on the transferred land.
- Public access under the 2003 Act The 2003 T’uf Shur Bien Preservation Trust Area Act established a shared framework intended to recognize and protect the Pueblo’s rights and interests, the wilderness and National Forest character of the area, and the public’s longstanding use and enjoyment of it. The land has continued to be administered as National Forest System land by the Secretary of Agriculture through the U.S. Forest Service.
- Public access under the discussion draft The 2026 discussion draft states that the transferred land would be held in trust “for the benefit of the Tribe.” It does not repeat the 2003 Act’s language concerning the public’s longstanding use and enjoyment of the area. It also does not establish a general public-access right or describe the full extent of access that would remain after a transfer.
- Trail closures Sandia Pueblo Governor Stuart Paisano presented the proposed map to members of the SHHA Board and stated that trails created since 2003 within the proposed transfer area would be closed. These trails are shown in red on the map.
The trails shown in blue—including La Luz, Piedra Lisa, Tramway, La Cueva, and Domingo Baca—would remain open. The proposal would therefore preserve access to several principal trails while closing many other currently used routes within the transfer area.
Some trails outside the proposed transfer area also appear in red on the map. Those trails would not be affected by the proposed transfer.
Questions and Possible Implications
Because the discussion draft is brief, it leaves several significant questions unanswered. The following issues may depend on the language of any legislation ultimately introduced, federal law governing trust lands, existing easements and rights, and future management decisions.
- Extent of public access The available materials indicate that several principal trails would remain open and that many other trails within the proposed transfer area would close. The discussion draft does not state whether members of the public could leave the designated open trails or continue other activities currently permitted on National Forest or wilderness land.
Depending on the rules ultimately adopted, the change could affect hikers, climbers, picnickers, birdwatchers, researchers, students, hunters, photographers, artists, tourists, and others who currently use areas beyond the principal maintained trails. - Wilderness status and protections Much of the proposed transfer area is currently within federally administered wilderness. The discussion draft does not explain whether the existing wilderness designation and its protections would continue unchanged, be replaced by another protective framework, or require additional congressional action.
The answer could affect permitted land uses, construction, motorized access, habitat protection, wildfire mitigation work, recreation, and the standards governing future management decisions. - Land management responsibility The discussion draft states that the land would be taken into trust by the Secretary of the Interior and administered under laws and regulations generally applicable to property held in trust for an Indian tribe. It does not expressly identify the entity responsible for day-to-day land management.
Public statements and news coverage have described the proposal as giving Sandia Pueblo a management or guardianship role, but the division of responsibilities among the Pueblo, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and other agencies is not defined in the discussion draft. - Wildfire prevention and response The discussion draft does not specify who would be responsible for vegetation management, wildfire prevention, fuels reduction, emergency access, or coordination with federal, tribal, state, county, and municipal fire agencies.
Because the proposed transfer area borders Sandia Heights and other developed communities, residents may wish to understand how wildfire responsibilities, funding, access, and interagency coordination would operate under the proposed arrangement. - Utilities and easements The discussion draft states that the transfer would be subject to valid existing rights but provides little detail about utility easements that do not follow public roads. It does not explain how access for inspection, maintenance, repair, replacement, or expansion of utility infrastructure would be handled.
The draft also does not address whether future permits, agreements, or fees could apply to utilities crossing the transferred land. - Water and mineral rights The discussion draft does not specifically describe the effect of the transfer on water rights, mineral rights, subsurface interests, or related access rights. The general protection for valid existing rights may apply, but the practical administration of those rights is not explained.
- Gates, policing, permits, and fees The available discussion draft does not authorize or prohibit entrance gates, visitor limits, recreation permits, access fees, or other controls beyond its treatment of existing rights and roads. Whether any such measures could be adopted would depend on the final legislation, applicable law, and subsequent management decisions.
About the T’uf Shur Bien Preservation Trust Area
The T’uf Shur Bien Preservation Trust Area lies along the western side of the Sandia Mountains. The area includes federal land, Pueblo trust land, private inholdings, roads, trails, utility corridors, recreation facilities, and existing easements.
The preservation trust area was established through federal legislation enacted in 2003. The current arrangement recognizes interests of Sandia Pueblo while retaining the land as part of the National Forest System and preserving protections concerning its National Forest and wilderness character and the public’s longstanding use and enjoyment.
The proposed 2026 transfer would represent more than a change between federal agencies. The land would be placed in trust for Sandia Pueblo and made part of the Pueblo’s reservation. The brief discussion draft does not fully explain how existing public access, wilderness protections, land-management responsibilities, wildfire programs, utilities, and other rights would operate afterward.
Additional Perspectives
The following organizations provide additional information and advocacy concerning the proposal. These sites represent the views of their respective organizations. SHHA provides the links so residents can review differing perspectives and does not endorse every statement or conclusion they contain.
- Sandias for All
An organization opposing the proposed transfer and advocating continued public access while expressing respect for Sandia Pueblo and its cultural interests. - Tierra Monte
Historical information and commentary concerning the Pueblo’s land claim and the T’uf Shur Bien settlement. Select “History” and “Pueblo Claim” for relevant materials.
News Coverage
The following reports provide additional background. They reflect the reporting and editorial choices of their respective news organizations. SHHA provides these links for reference and does not endorse every characterization or conclusion they contain.
Albuquerque Journal | KRQE News 13 | KOB 4 | Rio Rancho Observer
Last updated: 7/29/2026
This page will be updated as additional official documents, introduced legislation, management details, or material changes to the proposal become available.