WildEarth Guardians

Thursday, January 25, 2007
Valles Caldera: Group offers trust money to get rid of cows

WildEarth Guardians proposes the preserve make money by expanding recreation, eco-tourism, education programs and restoration projects
Contact: Staci Matlock The New Mexican

The Valles Caldera Trust turned down a $25,000 offer from Santa Fe-based WildEarth Guardians this week to put more people but no cattle in the Valles Caldera National Preserve.

WildEarth Guardians made a similar offer last year, which was also turned down by trust board members.

But legally, the trust might have had no option even if it wanted to accept the money and kick out cows, said Valles Caldera Coalition coordinator Marty Peale. "The way the law is written, they have to accommodate livestock if it doesn't damage the resources," Peale said. "So far, as we know, the ecosystem has been improving at the level of use they've been allowing."

WildEarth Guardians says the preserve's cattle operations have lost money every year. The group proposed the preserve make money by expanding recreation, eco-tourism, education programs and restoration projects.

"Of course we want the trust to protect the Valles Caldera," said Melissa Hailey, attorney for the WildEarth Guardians' grazing reform program. "But we also want the trust to gain financial independence by 2015. We just don't see how continuing to graze cattle will accomplish either of these goals."

The trust manages the 88,900-acre preserve in Northern New Mexico. The preserve was established by Congress to be a working ranch with livestock while protecting natural resources and allowing recreational use.

Congress has mandated the preserve be financially self-sustaining by 2015. The trust has offered hunting, fishing, hiking, equestrian, mountain biking, van tours and other activities for a fee.

The once-private ranch became a temporary grass bank for the first few years of the preserve, where local ranchers could graze livestock and rest their permitted public land allotments. Last year, New Mexico State University ran a brief steer program on the preserve. This year the trust opened up the livestock program to bids and recently chose a Dexter, N.M., ranching couple who will pay $6,000 to graze 500 steers on the preserve this summer.

The ranchers' proposal included monitoring the pastures for impacts from grazing, demonstrating low-stress livestock handling, and setting up an education and outreach program.

Copyright 2007 Santa Fe New Mexican - Reprinted with permission