Big Numbers of Visitors
Across the West, record numbers of people are visiting public lands. The big national parks like Zion and Yellowstone are seeing unprecedented numbers of people, with visitation nearly doubling over two years ago. It seems that many people who weren’t interested in being outdoors before the pandemic are finding public lands now. The problem is, many of these new visitors have no idea about conservation and ethics, hygiene etc. Some make a mess and vandalize public property.
Bandelier is one of the top destinations for Santa Fe visitors and the park has seen a 57% increase in visitors from a year ago. We don’t have statistics for the Valles Caldera but visitation must be on the rise, despite the remote location.
Remember that the Valles Caldera National Preserve is public land. You own it along with all other Americans. When the gate is closed in the evening, you can still take a walk from the road into the expansive grasslands. During the day can bike into the Preserve or join a ranger walk from the visitor center. You can drive up Forest Road 144 from Espanola and camp on the rim of the Valles Caldera overlooking the Valle Toledo on the national forest side of the fence. You can swim in the Rio San Antonio in secluded pools. You can ride a trespass bull or enjoy a bottle of wine with a friend in the shade of a big pine tree far from anyone else. This is public land and summer almost demands that we visit and etch in some memories.
Rewilding the Preserve
The National Park Service has resumed its rewilding efforts after years of getting its legal ducks in a row. Old ranching infrastructure from the Baca Ranch days needs to be taken out so the Caldera can have a wild feel and wildlife won’t be impeded by fences. Many Caldera Action members have volunteered to help with fence removal this summer. We expect those project to happen in later July and August. Please join us. Contact us by e mail and we’ll invite you when we have a specific project time.
Cattle Trespass Continues
Two crews are rebuilding the north fence between the Valles Caldera and the Coyote District of the Santa Fe National Forest. This fence has openings where trespass cattle come into the Preserve and move down into the Valle San Antonio where they hang around by the stream, damaging the stream, water quality, and rare wildlife habitat. Grazing cattle is illegal in the VCNP except by permit in specific areas.
The National Park Service law-enforcement rangers call the ranchers (identified by the numbers on the ear tags the cattle wear) and they drive the cows out periodically. We’ve noticed that the number of trespass cattle in the Valle San Antonio fluctuates so clearly ranchers are retrieving the cattle, but many cows return since grazing conditions in the Preserve are much better than they are on national forest uplands.
Caldera Action is urging the NPS to raise the fines for cattle trespass after the dilapidated fence is replaced. Ranchers much feel a strong disincentive to allow their cows into the Preserve or the cattle damage will continue. We feel confident that the Park Service will get this right.
Meanwhile two crews are replacing the north fence this summer and we hope the western third of the fence (where most trespass occurs) will be new by fall. We urge readers to visit the north rim of the Preserve and report fence conditions to us and the NPS staff.
E Bike may be Banned in the Preserve Again?
During the Trump years, the Interior Department rushed through and order allowing electric bicycles in national parks. Several organizations sued the National Park Service for not complying with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) when they opened the parks to e-bikes. In response the Acting Director of the NPS has ordered superintendents to “reconsider” their policies on e-bike access while the lawsuit is resolved.
The Valles Caldera managers opened the VCNP to e bikes under orders of Trump Interior officials. We’ll see if that access remains as the lawsuit works its way through the courts.
Summer Rain
The Valles Caldera has received four and a quarter inches of rain at South Mountain in the last month and a half. That’s a big improvement over rainfall averages last year. And our fishing friends report that fishing is excellent despite pollution from cattle in the streams.
