The Solstice Project - Chaco Preservation

About theSolstice Project I Films I Book I Sun Dagger Model I Research Papers I Teaching/Events I Preservation I LInks I Contact Us

PRESERVATION ALERT!

New Water Tank, an Eyesore, Installed in View of Chaco Park Visitor Center & Sites
A recent Albuquerque Journal article reports that the park has installed a new water tank, “a ginornous shiny thermos,” on top of the mesa above the new Visitor Center construction, visible from many popular sites within the park. The full Albuquerque Journal article can be found at http://www.abqjournal.com/main/author/lesliel. Please take the time to email Jan Biella, State Historic Preservation Officer, jan.biella@st.nm.us, and ask that the tank be relocated, reduced in size, and repainted. Park Superintendent Barbara West can be emailed at barbara_west@nps.gov.

Plan to Manage Visitors of Chaco
The park’s work on a General Management Plan Amendment Environmental Assessment (EA), due out this winter, calls for radical changes in the managing of visitors to Chaco (mandatory visitor education, gated car-wash like entry to the loop, and severe group visit limits, to name a few). The park is already shutting down access to many sites by roping off areas in the campground and on the trails that have previously been accessible. The nature of the visitor experience is being impacted although there is significant disagreement within the park staff about whether the changes are in fact necessary. Public input will be sought when the new EA is released; the purpose and need for the amendment, as well as the drastic changes proposed, need critical review.

All material on this site is © The Solstice Project


About theSolstice Project I Films I Book I Sun Dagger Model I Research Papers I Teaching/Events I Preservation I LInks I Contact Us
PRESERVATION ALERT! New Water Tank, an Eyesore, Installed in View of Chaco Park Visitor Center & Sites A recent Albuquerque Journal article reports that the park has installed a new water tank, “a ginornous shiny thermos,” on top of the mesa above the new Visitor Center construction, visible from many popular sites within the park. The full Albuquerque Journal article can be found at http://www.abqjournal.com/main/author/lesliel. Please take the time to email Jan Biella, State Historic Preservation Officer, jan.biella@st.nm.us, and ask that the tank be relocated, reduced in size, and repainted. Park Superintendent Barbara West can be emailed at barbara_west@nps.gov. Plan to Manage Visitors of Chaco The park’s work on a General Management Plan Amendment Environmental Assessment (EA), due out this winter, calls for radical changes in the managing of visitors to Chaco (mandatory visitor education, gated car-wash like entry to the loop, and severe group visit limits, to name a few). The park is already shutting down access to many sites by roping off areas in the campground and on the trails that have previously been accessible. The nature of the visitor experience is being impacted although there is significant disagreement within the park staff about whether the changes are in fact necessary. Public input will be sought when the new EA is released; the purpose and need for the amendment, as well as the drastic changes proposed, need critical review.
All material on this site is © The Solstice Project