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HOME  - Land management Valles Caldera Crowded for the first time
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Valles Caldera Crowded for the first time |
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Written by Scott Silver
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Tuesday, 29 August 2006 |
The Valles Caldera is public land like no other. It is publicly owned, semi-privately operated, and accessible only to those who have paid a very hefty fee for access. On Saturday, the Valles Caldera threw open its gates and let the common folk flock in to see what they've been missing.
Here is the special-event announcement...
http://visit.losalamos.com/events/detail.asp?EventID=6094
Drive and Discover the Valles Caldera
Date: Saturday, August 26, 2006
Time: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Website: www.vallescaldera.gov
Description: Don't miss this unique and free opportunity.
Travel normally restricted access roads during this one-day
only opportunity. One 26-mile and one 13-mile route will be
open to the public with no access fees.
Pasted below is how the press reported upon that event.
Please remember that we are dealing here is PUBLIC lands, recently purchased by the people of the United States. We are also dealing with the leading model for privatized pubic lands --- lands that are managed for the pleasure and enjoyment of the those whose wallets are of sufficient girth.
I find it odd that the gate-keepers permitted the public a free peek. Having seen what is being denied them will likely generate unrest. I certainly hope so.
Scott
--- begin quoted ---
http://www.lamonitor.com/articles/2006/08/29/headline_news/news03.txt
Valles Caldera opens its doors
DARRYL NEWMAN, Monitor Staff Writer
The Valles Caldera National Preserve, nestled in the depression of an
ancient volcano, wouldn't seem like a place a motorist would get caught
in a traffic jam.
But that was the case Saturday, as a large number of visitors to the
"Drive and Discover the Valles Caldera" were held up in
bumper-to-bumper traffic while they took advantage of an opportunity
geared toward showcasing the area to the public.
After several requests for more access to the Valle Caldera National
Preserve, the public was invited to tour the area free of charge and
see for themselves why the 89,000-acre area that crowns the Jemez
Mountains is worth maintaining.
Still undergoing a transition from a private ranch to an experiment in
public land management, the preserve has limited visitors to the area
to protect its resources and minimize mankind's environmental footprint
on the area.
For the first time in its history, the Valles Caldera board of trustees
and the staff of the trust welcomed the public to explore certain
portions of the area and learn more about the history of the preserve
and initiatives underway through the "Drive and Discover the Valles
Caldera" event.
Jeffrey Cross, director of the Valles Caldera National Preserve, said
the public has been interested in more opportunities to visit the area.
"People have been asking for more accessibility to the caldera and this
event is a good and free way for them to do so," said Cross, who is
currently completing his fifth month as director. "They will also have
a chance to see the work that has been completed on the roads. We're
trying to be responsive to the wants and needs of the general public."
Other upkeep and preservation efforts have included efforts to restore 2,500 acres of wetlands, Cross said.
While driving either the route, visitors were encouraged to visit
learning stations located to the side of the road and pose questions to
the staff and members of the board of trustees.
Information on archaeology and geology, recreation and science and
natural resources provided a look into projects at the Valles.
Originally, a 26-mile route and a 13-mile route were planned but recent
rainfall changed the plans. In place of the two one-way routes, a
single 16-mile route was open. Drivers navigated in and out the same
roadway making maneuvering tricky in some areas where the road is
narrow.
Cross said the board will determine if and when to hold similar events in the future.
"This is a recreational special event," he said. "We'll listen to the panel and learn a lot from this event."
Stephen Maurer, a representative of the Public Lands Interpretative
Association, said Friday that the hundreds of incoming phone calls
regarding the event was an indication of how many people would attend.
"The response we've received has been positive and the event seems to be well received," he said.
Work crews have spent years making improvements to the area and have
grated roads and made improvements to the signage in the area.
Other than affording the public a look into the vast grasslands
comprising the preserve, Maurer said another aim of the event was to
share the challenges and opportunities that the board and staff face in
balancing land management efforts.
"The Congressional mandate states that the preserve must be maintained
as a working ranch," he said. "It is also a scientific treasure that we
want to be used for some recreational pleasure as well. Because the
preserve is now public, there is a great demand to see it. We need to
protect the area but at the same time, allow people to experience it."
Officials of the Valles Caldera National Trust earlier this year in
May, blamed drought and poor forage for their decision to suspend a
livestock grazing program on the national preserve for the summer.
The Valles Caldera Trust was created by the Valles Caldera Preservation
Act of 2000 to preserve and protect the historic Baca Ranch of the
Jemez Mountains. A nine-member board of trustees is responsible for the
protection and development of the preserve.
The president of the United States is responsible for appointing seven
members to the board and the other two members consist of the
superintendent of Bandelier National Monument and the forest supervisor
of the Santa Fe National Forest.
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