The Valles Caldera Trust yesterday unveiled a new segment of its web site designed to engage the public in providing feedback on various alternatives for future public access and use at the Valles Caldera National Preserve. Click here to visit the new section of the vallescaldera.gov site. UPDATE: As was mentioned on Valles Caldera Rim, you can download the entire Public Scoping Document as a PDF file by clicking here.
The Trust also announced two public meetings next month, in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, to accept feedback on these alternatives in person.
Upon entering the new Public Access and Use Planning (PAUP) portion of the vallescaldera.gov web site, which is quite extensive and detailed, visitors can learn about five alternative plans that include varying levels of development of permanent facilities and infrastructure throughout the 140-square-mile Preserve. These alternatives were developed in the business model that was prepared for the Trust by Houston-based environmental consulting firm ENTRIX and unveiled to the media in April.
The PAUP section also includes details on each alternative’s ramifications on six separate aspects of the preserve: access, capacity, activities, development, financing, and values.
One of the most interesting aspects of the PAUP section is the fascinating maps that allow visitors to gain a broader view of how these alternatives might affect the Preserve geographically. These maps feature comprehensive detail on the locations for various proposed developments: trails, picnic areas, campgrounds, roads, RV parks, luxury lodges (rooms for which could go for between $550 and $730 per night), observatories, bars, snack bars, food service stations, a conference center, new staff housing, a new administrative center, and “a full service science and education center and campus.”
The Trust indicated in an email that they are also interested in alternatives other than the five proposed on the web site. “At this time we are asking stakeholders to do more than comment; we are asking you to roll up your sleeves and help us build alternatives for public access and use of the Preserve,” the Trust stated.
In order to comment on the proposed alternatives for the future, one must register with the new PAUP section of the vallescaldera.gov site, which involves providing one’s name address, phone number, and email (pseudonyms are not allowed). Visitors will be able to view other individuals’ comments without having to register. Be sure to budget plenty of time for this process, as there is a sizable amount of information to digest on the site.
The Trust has also scheduled two workshops/open houses for next month in order to discuss these alternatives in person. The first hour of each event will consist of “an open house where you can learn about the elements involved in public access and use planning and visit with staff and experts,” according to the Trust. After the first hour, “a series of small group discussions” will begin. Details of these meetings are as follows:
Mon., Sept. 14, 2009, Hilton Garden Inn, 5320 San Antonio Dr NE, Albuquerque, 5:30-8:00 PM
Tues., Sept. 15, 2009, Santa Fe Community College, 6401 S Richards Ave, Santa Fe, 5:30-8:00 PM
