A popular stretch of picnic spots and campgrounds along the Pecos River could become New Mexico's newest state park.

Gov. Bill Richardson announced his support Monday morning in Pecos Canyon. Under consideration is a stretch of state Game Commission land along the river known as the Pecos Complex to be managed by New Mexico State Parks.

The stretch — including the Jamie Koch, Bert Clancy, Mora and Terrero sites — would become the Pecos Canyon State Park, the 36th state park. The areas are managed by the state Department of Game and Fish as part of a fee program called Gaining Access Into Nature. If the state Legislature approves the move, state parks would manage the campgrounds through an agreement with state Game and Fish. Similar agreements exist between the two departments now for the Cimarron Canyon, Eagle Nest and Clayton Lake state parks.

In the Pecos Canyon, camping has been allowed year-round at all but the Jamie Koch Day Use Area. Primitive camping is allowed there on the west side of the Pecos River. The sites are popular spring through fall with campers, picnickers, hikers and anglers. But watershed advocates and some locals have worried about the impact of so many people camping in the area. Trash, compacted riverbank soil, lack of restroom facilities and degraded water quality from people camping too close to the river have been some of the concerns over the years.

"I'm glad to see all this finally come together," said Hugh Ley, owner of the Terrero General Store and Riding Stables in Pecos Canyon, who has advocated with other community leaders for years for more managed camping in the area.

The state Department of Game and Fish faced similar concerns with the popular Cimarron Canyon in northwest New Mexico three miles east of Eagle Nest. "It was loved to death," said Lance Cherry, spokesman for the Department of Game and Fish.

A few years ago, the Legislature approved an agreement for New Mexico State Parks to manage the Cimarron Canyon campground, and conditions have improved, Cherry said.

It will take some time and money to install better facilities, hire a resident ranger and enforce camping rules once the Pecos Canyon becomes a state park, said Ley and Doug Jeffords, executive director of the Upper Pecos Watershed Association. But the benefits will be worth it for the river and recreationists. "People who use the canyon will see vast improvements, cleaner facilities, a safe place to camp," Jeffords said.

Pecos Canyon State Park would become the fifth new state park established under the Richardson administration. "I am confident this new state park will be a treasure for years to come for New Mexicans and visitors to share," Gov. Bill Richardson said Monday. He will support legislation in the 2009 session to establish Pecos Canyon State Park.

State Parks Director Dave Simon called the park "a gift to the people of New Mexico" during this 75th anniversary of New Mexico's state parks.

The village of Pecos, the Pecos Business Association, the Truchas Chapter of Trout Unlimited and many other groups have supported the park's creation.

The state Game Commission owns approximately 186 acres in six locations along 17 miles of Pecos Canyon. A 20-mile stretch of the Pecos River, from its headwaters in the Pecos Wilderness south to Terrero, is already protected under the federal Wild and Scenic River System.

"We worked hard to provide money and manpower to this area, but we always knew it needed more attention," said Joanna Prukop, Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources.

Other state parks established under Richardson's tenure are Eagle Nest Lake, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Mesilla Valley Bosque and Cerrillos Hills/Galisteo Basin. In the past five years, general fund budget support for state parks has increased from $7.7 million in fiscal year 2004 to $13.3 million in fiscal year 2009.

Contact Staci Matlock at smatlock@sfnewmexican.com.