2022 Annual Report: Compliance & Planning

At A Glance

• 18 research projects reviewed and approved
• 522 public comments received for 3 park projects
• 12 employees involved in interdisciplinary review team
• 990 staff hours spent developing Strategic Action Plan

A park planner points to a Valles Caldera map.

NPS/L. Ray

Compliance and planning are interdisciplinary in nature and are crucial components of park management. Together, these processes ensure that parks are upholding legal obligations for natural and cultural resource protection, accessibility, and public safety while considering the feasibility and sustainability of future projects.

Several years down the road, when we look back at the most consequential years in Valles Caldera’s development as a national park unit, 2022 will undoubtedly stand out. Between the initiation and development of our General Management Plan, Strategic Action Plan, Wilderness Eligibility Assessment, Fire Management Plan, and Front Country Infrastructure Improvements Project, our team has been working diligently to chart the course for Valles Caldera National Preserve.

Throughout the past year, a 12-person, interdisciplinary compliance team met monthly to review upcoming park projects and research proposals. This team approved 18 research projects and 12 internal projects in 2022, including the retirement and removal of 13.6 miles of New Mexico Gas Company pipeline infrastructure from the Preserve and the installation of Starlink satellite internet in 3 park buildings.

Our civic engagement efforts gathered 522 public comments on 3 park projects—indicating strong public investment in the park’s future. A variety of discussions surrounding the park’s General Management Plan are ongoing, including visitor access and circulation, wilderness eligibility, trails, interpretive experiences, and cultural landscapes, among others. This momentum will launch us into Valles Caldera’s formative years, which will determine where we go from here.