Map of Valles Caldera's major waterways and surrounding watershed boundaries. Click to enlarge map.
NPS/M. Shelley
With miles and miles of meandering headwaters streams, Valles Caldera National Preserve is an incredibly important watershed protection area for the Southwest Jemez Mountains and beyond. In simple terms, Valles Caldera acts as a giant water filter. The caldera's natural bowl shape captures and holds rainwater in wetlands, slowing runoff and reducing sedimentation. Some of this water soaks into the ground, some gets taken up by riparian plants, and some remains surface water. A handful of small streams serve as outlets into the greater Jemez River watershed.
Two primary streams - San Antonio Creek and the East Fork Jemez River - begin within the boundaries of Valles Caldera and generally flow westward, eventually joining courses outside of the Preserve's southwestern boundary. More than 60% of San Antonio Creek and about 42% of the East Fork Jemez River flow within the Preserve. After converging at Battleship Rock in the Santa Fe National Forest, these streams eventually flow into the Rio Grande, which supplies more than 6 million people with irrigation and drinking water.
Valles Caldera is characterized by warm summers, cold winters, and low humidity. Temperature and precipitation vary with elevation throughout the landscape. Redondo Peak receives around 38 inches (96.5 cm) of mean annual precipitation, while Valle Grande receives around 28 inches (71.1 cm). Although temperatures are typically cooler at higher elevations, at Valles Caldera, cold air drains into the valle bottoms, making these areas cooler than the surrounding peaks. Half or more of the annual precipitation occurs during the monsoon season in late summer and early fall.
The precipitation that falls or flows into the caldera’s big valleys are important recharge zones for the region’s groundwater. When the rocks in the volcanically active subsurface heat groundwater, the water rises. As the heated water reaches the surface, hot springs, fumaroles, and/or mud pots occur, underscoring the still active geothermal system and uniqueness of the area.
Sheep herding in the Jemez Mountains, 1935.
Image courtesy of Dan Scurlock
Wetland Restoration
Historically, wetlands were more common at Valles Caldera than they are today. Nearly 150 years of livestock grazing, road construction, mining, and logging during the 19th and 20th centuries led to wetland degradation and loss.
Oral history accounts suggest that there were sometimes up to 100,000 sheep grazing at one time on the Baca Location (present-day Valles Caldera) in the early 1900s. Livestock in those numbers could trample and compact the soils beside streams, causing erosion, sedimentation, and unnatural channelization of waterways.
In addition to livestock grazing, by 1963, logging operations had cut more than 25,000 acres (10,000 ha) of timber from the Baca Location, including 15,000 acres (6,000 ha) of Ponderosa pine and 10,000 acres (4,000 ha) of spruce-fir and mixed conifer stands. The loss of forested areas means a diminished physical buffer against storm water, which can lead to high-severity flooding, soil erosion, and sedimentation of streams.
Since this land's federal acquisition in 2000, restoration efforts have improved wetland quality and extent. Valles Caldera National Preserve is a landscape in recovery, and these studies can help resource managers determine the best course of action to restore ecosystem function and services.
Wetlands are an invaluable resource for plants, animals, and humans. Learn more about wetlands and Valles Caldera's efforts to protect and restore them in this video with Ranger Hayley.
The East Fork Jemez River meanders through Hidden Valley.
NPS/L. Ray
Preserve & Protect
The National Park Service and its partners regularly monitor water quality, aquatic habitat, species health, and hydrology in the streams and other waterbodies of Valles Caldera National Preserve. Visitors to Valles Caldera can also help protect these waterways by complying with the following rules and regulations:
No swimming or bathing is permitted in Park waters.
Glass containers and glassware are prohibited within 100 feet of any body of water.
Pet excrement must be collected and disposed of in a trash receptacle.
A permit is required to operate a vessel on waterways.
All anglers are responsible for being familiar with New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF) fishing regulations and must have in their possession:
a valid NMDGF fishing license
a Habitat Management and Access Validation (HMAV) stamp
Visit NMDGF website for exemptions based on age.
All anglers are required to have a fishing permit issued by the park. Annual permits can be obtained online here on this page. Single-day permits can be obtain in-person at the park.
All waters within the park fall under New Mexico Department of Game and Fish's designation of "Special Trout Waters."
Only artificial flies and lures with single, barbless hooks are permitted.
The park bag limit is two trout.
Live bait is prohibited to prevent the introduction of invasive species. No bait such as worms, grasshoppers, salmon eggs, corn, etc.
Recreational and sports fishers can help prevent the spread of parasites by not transporting fish from one body of water to another, not disposing of fish bones or entrails in any body of water, and ensuring boots and shoes are clean before moving between different bodies of water.
To minimize the chance of the fatal whirling disease, waders or other footwear intended for wading are prohibited. Additionally, the streams within the park are so small that waders are not needed, and the presence of people in the stream muddies up the waters downstream.
All nets must be sanitized prior to use in all waters within the park.
Last updated: January 22, 2024
Park footer
Contact Info
Mailing Address:
090 Villa Louis Martin Dr.
Jemez Springs,
NM
87025
Phone:
505-670-1612
Ranger Station (for general park information)
