The following letter to the editor in support of converting the Valles Caldera into a National Park Preserve was published in the Santa Fe New Mexican this week. Click here to read the letter on the New Mexican website.
The Valles Caldera National Preserve should be transferred to the National Park Service for management. The trust in charge of these federal lands has sharply limited public access to this area. The Park Service has shown their capable visitor management skills in the adjoining Bandelier National Monument. They have demonstrated an excellent balance in handling large numbers of visitors efficiently while preserving the natural values of the area.
The Valles Caldera is one of the largest volcanic calderas in the world and is an outstanding scenic area worthy of national park status. The preserve should be combined with the Bandelier National Monument to create the Valles Caldera National Park. Envision a grand national park with hiking trails to the rim of the caldera with grand vistas of mountain meadows. Opportunities to view the elk herd would be plentiful. A great national park would be a legacy to our state.
Steve McDonald
Placitas
