Valles Caldera National Preserve, in the Jemez Mountains in north-central New Mexico, is a high elevation ecosystem at elevations ranging from 8,000 to 11,254 feet. A recent Natural Resource Condition Assessment evaluated seven resources at the preserve: landscape connectivity, visual resources (or scenic views), Redondo Peak diversity, wetlands, New Mexico meadow jumping mouse habitat, the Jemez Mountains salamander, and songbirds.
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Valles Caldera National Preserve
Article 1: Condition of Valles Caldera’s Natural Resources and Scenic Views: 2022 Assessment
NRCA Overview: Valles Caldera National Preserve, in the Jemez Mountains in north-central New Mexico, is a high elevation ecosystem at elevations ranging from 8,000 to 11,254 feet. A recent Natural Resource Condition Assessment evaluated seven resources at the preserve: landscape connectivity, visual resources (or scenic views), Redondo Peak diversity, wetlands, New Mexico meadow jumping mouse habitat, the Jemez Mountains salamander, and songbirds. Read more
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Valles Caldera National Preserve
Article 2: Life on Redondo Peak: Plant and Arthropod Diversity at Valles Caldera’s Highest Elevations
Valles Caldera National Preserve: Redondo Peak is the highest point in the preserve (11,260 feet in elevation). A comprehensive inventory of plants and animals was conducted there in 2014. A recent condition assessment for the preserve focused on inventory results for plants and arthropods, and, among other things, found 101 plant species on Redondo Peak (98 of them native), 60 moth species (including four newly recorded for the park), and at least 75 species of spiders. Read more
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Valles Caldera National Preserve
Article 3: How’s the View? We’ve Been Looking at that at Valles Caldera
Valles Caldera National Preserve: Scenic views in national park units contribute to a visitor’s ability to connect with nature and experience the values of a park, but views can be affected by human-related development and activities. A recent Natural Resource Condition Assessment at Valles Caldera “looked at” the condition of views at seven locations within the preserve and found they were in good condition overall. Read more
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Valles Caldera National Preserve
Article 4: Restoring Wetlands at Valles Caldera
Valles Caldera National Preserve: Wetlands are some of the most valuable ecosystems on Earth. Among their many values are providing fish and wildlife habitat, improving water quality, and easing damage from floods and storms. As in many other places, wetlands in Valles Caldera have been impacted by human activities of the past. However, wetlands in the preserve are being restored, and according to a recent condition assessment, restoration efforts are working. Read more
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Valles Caldera National Preserve
Article 5: What’s furry, has big back feet, and lives by a stream? Answer: The New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse!
Valles Caldera National Preserve: One of 22 known populations (in New Mexico) of the endangered New Mexico meadow jumping mouse lives in stream-side wetlands in Valles Caldera National Preserve. As part of a recent study, the NPS and its partners summarized the occurrence of the mouse in the park and surrounding area, identified potential jumping mouse habitat in the park, and identified two indicators of habitat condition that could be used for a future condition assessment. Read more
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Valles Caldera National Preserve
Article 6: An Endangered Amphibian on an Active Volcano: the Jemez Mountains Salamander at Valles Caldera
Valles Caldera National Preserve is a very important place for the Jemez Mountains salamander. The preserve is one of the largest, fully protected areas throughout the species’ historical range. The Natural Resource Condition Assessment Program recently partnered with Utah State University to determine what we know about the salamander in the preserve and how it is doing. Find out more about this secretive creature and what we learned. Read more
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Valles Caldera National Preserve
Article 7: Songbirds at Valles Caldera National Preserve
Valles Caldera National Preserve: Do you have a favorite songbird species that visits your feeder or nests in your yard or local park? With its variety of habitats, Valles Caldera has nearly 200 species of birds on its checklist, with 117 species known or suspected to breed there. A recent condition assessment at the preserve used existing data to assess songbird species richness and abundance, and to see if key indicator species of each habitat type were present. Read more