The editors of the Journal North weighed in today on the legislation introduced by Sens. Bingaman and Udall on May 27 to transfer the Valles Caldera National Preserve to the National Park Service by calling it “a good idea, but a few questions remain.” Click here to read this editorial (after clicking on this link, non-subscribers to the Journal must click on the “trial access pass” button in the lower left of the screen to read it).
While supportive of this legislation overall, the editorial board primarily questions the aspect of the legislation that stipulates that cattle grazing “may” be allowed “in areas of the Preserve in which grazing was permitted during the grazing season preceding the date of enactment of this act, and to the extent that the use furthers scientific research or interpretation of the ranching history of the Preserve.”
“It’s been amply demonstrated that cattle grazing is not a significant moneymaker for the preserve,” the editors state. “Moreover, it could be argued that the continued representation of ranching interests on the preserve board has obstructed efforts to expand recreational access to the 89,000-acre property for the general public, which has been steadily clamoring for more opportunities to visit in the 10 years since purchase.”
The Journal North deems the call for both grazing and recreation “the trickiest part of the senators’ proposal (as anyone whose National Forest campsite has ever been invaded by a small herd of legally wandering cows can attest).”
However, the editors conclude by indicating their strong overall support for this legislation, declaring that “turning the preserve over to the Park Service is the right idea, and Congress should get behind the bill.”
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Edward Olona of Springer wrote a letter to the Albuquerque Journal about the Valles Caldera legislation that was published yesterday, stating that “for hunters like myself, we can rest easy now that hunting is guaranteed under the new legislation, and we will no longer have to fight to try and keep the current failed management from trying to charge us outrageous fees of over $10,000 to hunt our own public land…this action by our senators ensures that citizens of the Land of Enchantment will all be able to enjoy this spectacular, God-given land for ourselves and future generations.” Click here to read this letter.
The Journal also printed a letter by Oscar Simpson of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation yesterday, who asserted that “it is time to put the Valles Caldera under new management, and I commend Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall for doing the right thing for the citizens of New Mexico. It is also important that their legislation guarantees that traditional activities like hunting and fishing will continue under NPS management.” Click here to read the letter.
