There will be a public meeting this evening, June 5, conducted by the Jemez Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest from 6:30-7:30 PM at the offices of the Valles Caldera National Preserve in Jemez Springs, regarding potential camping and recreational restrictions in the East Fork Jemez Wild and Scenic River corridor, which is located entirely within the Valles Caldera (outside of the National Preserve).
The headwaters of the East Fork are in the eastern portion of the Valle Grande on the Valles Caldera National Preserve, and the river meanders through the Valle Grande and Hidden Valley before leaving the National Preserve and becoming the East Fork Jemez Wild and Scenic River. It leaves the Valles Caldera as it joins the San Antonio River at Battleship Rock, forming the Jemez River. From the Santa Fe National Forest:
Over the past several years, Jemez District employees have been documenting ongoing impacts to soil, streamside vegetation, rare plants, and water quality as a result of the high volume of recreational use in the area. The District hopes to gain input from the public before designing a proposal to reduce recreation impacts to the congressionally designated Wild and Scenic River.
In 1990, Congress designated 11 miles of the East Fork of the Jemez River located on the Jemez Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest as a Wild and Scenic River. This small meandering stream winds its way through grassy meadows and steep-walled rock canyons on the south side of the Jemez Mountains. On its way to its confluence with the Rio San Antonio, the river passes through the heart of the Jemez Mountains’ most popular recreation area. Popular recreation sites such as the Las Conchas Trailhead, the East Fork box, Jemez Falls Campground, McCauley Warm Springs, and the East Fork hiking trail all occur within or next to the East Fork Jemez Wild and Scenic River corridor.
Over the past decade, ecological assessments of the river have repeatedly illustrated impacts from recreation to the stream system as a result of user-created trails along the river bank, trampling of stream-side vegetation, and improper camping practices. “The river is being loved to death,” said Ranger Linda Riddle, “We hope to continue to allow Forest visitors to camp and enjoy the river, but manage this use so that the East Fork Jemez River maintains its natural beauty and ecological function.”
The offices of the Valles Caldera National Preserve are at 18161 Highway 4, Jemez Springs, NM 87025.
