New Fishing Fees Raise Costs at Caldera
The Valles Caldera managers plans to start charging for fishing permits at the Valles Caldera. The fee would be ($10 for youth 12-17) and $5 for a 7-day pass ($3 for youth 12-17). This fee would be added to the fee charged for a backcountry permit through Recreation.gov which will only permit 35 people per day to go past the Cabin District including fishermen and women.
By law, fishing and hunting at the Valles Caldera are regulated by the New Mexico Game and Fish Department.
These fees may restrict low-income people from accessing the Caldera fishing experience. On nearby US Forest Service lands fishing is free except for the cost of a state fishing license which costs $25 per year for a New Mexico resident. A state license is required at the Caldera as well.
In a press release, Superintendent Jorge Silva-Banuelos said; “The waters of Valles Caldera National Preserve are an important contributor to the Rio Grande ecosystem and provide vital habitat to several threatened and endangered species,” said Superintendent Jorge Silva-Bañuelos. “This fee will help us better manage the fishing program while continuing to support a quality angling experience.”
Caldera Action and our partners have been pressing Mr. Silva-Banuelos to protect the Caldera’s streams from hundreds of trespass cattle who pollute the streams, ruin the stream structure, and ruin the fishing. We’re happy that he now recognized their importance to species and the watershed.
If you have comments about this new fee, write to David_Krueger@nps.gov.
Caldera Managers Propose Wild and Scenic River Status for Valles Caldera Creeks
Valles Caldera managers are seeking public comment on a proposal to designate creeks in the Valles Caldera National Preserve as “Wild and Scenic Rivers” under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. According to the Park Service, such “designation also provides very strong protection against bank and channel alterations that adversely affect river values, protects riverfront public lands from oil, gas, and mineral development, and creates a federal reserved water right to protect flow-dependent values.”
Caldera Action supports adding these protections to the Caldera’s streams. Such designation may be a tool for the public to address cattle damage or any future developments which could cause pollution or stream damage.
Caldera managers did not specify which segments of the streams in the Caldera are being proposed for Wild and Scenic designation.
Please comment on this proposal at: vall_compliance@nps.gov
