President Barack Obama will designate the Rio Grande del Norte in northern New Mexico as a national monument today.
Supporters say the designation will help draw in more visitors while also protecting the land.
The Rio Grande del Norte is an impressive expanse of more than 200,000 acres below the Colorado state line. The landscape, originally inhabited by Native Americans and Spanish settlers, is loved for its natural beauty. It includes a massive gorge below the headwaters of the Rio Grande River. There is abundant wildlife and archaeologic sites.
A study generated by the firm BBC Research & Consulting finds visitors to the newly created national monument will generate more than 200 jobs and boost the regional economy by $15 million.
The president will also designate other sites in Delaware, Maryland, Washington and Ohio as national monuments.
