Sevilleta's field station used to consist of two trailers and an army of tents where researchers could camp out.
"I bought those two trailer houses so we had somewhere for the students to clean, wash and cook food," said Jim Gosz, a professor in the Biology Department.
Since 1988, some laboratories have been added, and a few houses were built for researchers. Still, the research and education center has been working on getting funding for a state-of-the-art facility where all research could be conducted on-site, he said.
He and his colleagues' hard work paid off Monday when Rep. Heather Wilson announced in the Castetter Hall greenhouse that $3 million in federal funds will be allocated for the center.
The $3 million was part of an appropriations bill for the Department of the Interior that Congress passed last summer.
Wilson said one of her staff members visited Sevilleta, about 50 miles south of Albuquerque, six years ago to see what kind of research was taking place.
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"She was very enthused about what was going on down there," she said. "But it was also clear that the facilities weren't at the level they needed to be."
Wilson said high-speed computer networks that went beyond New Mexico laboratories needed to be in place, as well as a facility that would allow researchers to conduct all their studies at Sevilleta.
"They need to be able to do more of the lab work on-site, rather than having to come back here to the University to do that work," she said. "It's a very special place. They do very unique research on ecology and climate."
UNM President Louis Caldera said a lot of things make the University a great place for conducting research. One of those things, he said, is the beauty and biodiversity of New Mexico.
"The Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge is one of those places that really illustrates that point," he said.
Since 1988, the facility has been doing long-term research. It received $50 million in funds for research over the course of 17 years, Caldera said.
Gosz said the research funding has come from a variety of government agencies, including the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health and the Fish and Wildlife Service.
"That doesn't just happen," he said. "It happens because we have a great congressional delegation that understands the importance of making these kinds of investments and supports these kinds of initiatives."
Caldera said there is another $2 million request to finish the project, and added the total cost of the project is a little less than $7 million.
"This is just part of our very focused effort to attract more federal funding to the things that go toward education and research programs," he said. "It's easier to get it funded in two, three or four chunks rather than get $7 million at one time."
Wilson said getting the other $2 million from Congress shouldn't be a problem.
"We've always had a very good working relationship with UNM in trying to set priorities to get stuff done," she said.
