Statement of Purpose

The purpose of designating the unincorporated neighborhoods of La Cordillera, Los Cordovas, Llano Quemado, Ranchos de Taos, and Talpa, collectively as “Las Comunidades del Valle de los Ranchos Traditional Historic Community” is to:

· Protect the character and heritage of Las Comunidades del Valle de los Ranchos by ensuring the right to determine our future as residents of Taos County, free from extraterritorial jurisdiction and annexation by the Town of Taos;

· Honor and preserve the interwoven values of the rural heart, history, cultural traditions, and architecture of Las Comunidades del Valle de los Ranchos;

· Acknowledge and support the acequia system engineered and constructed within the watershed of the Rio Chiquito and Rio Grande del Rancho—dating from the 18th century—and to recognize the acequias as a unique historical, cultural, and natural resource within Taos County, New Mexico, and the United States.