Current Planning Projects

Staff members of Mesa Verde National Park are working on several planning projects. As directed by law and National Park Service Management Policies, we are developing these plans to provide a forum for public input and discussion; and to document the alternatives considered and the resulting management decisions for park records.

We want to get as many people involved in these plans as possible, so we have developed this list of current planning projects. We have included a brief description of each project and identified a park contact person. Each of these planning projects will ultimately help implement the park's General Management Plan, and better achieve our mandate: to protect resources unimpaired for the enjoyment of present and future generations.

Visitor Distribution and Transportation Plan/EIS. A plan with an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is being prepared to take a comprehensive look at the best way to provide people with information about visiting the park and how to get people to and through the park.

A Public Open House was held on May 25, 2004 at the Colorado Welcome Center in Cortez. National Park Service staff and transportation consultants from David Evans and Associates, Inc. presented a range of preliminary alternatives to the local community to solicit input and feedback before entering the refinement and detailed environmental evaluation stage. Copies of the Open House materials can be found online HERE. The files can be read with Adobe Acrobat Reader, which can be downloaded from http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.
Contact: Patty Trap, Chief of Planning

Far View Lodge Planning. A plan and environmental assessment to rehabilitate or rebuild the Far View Lodge is currently available for review and comment. This document presents the evaluation of alternatives for rehabilitating or replacing the Far View Lodge, lodging units, and the Far View secondary wastewater treatment system in Mesa Verde National Park.

An electronic copy of the document is available online at:
http://www.nps.gov/meve/public_info_office/pdf_files/
meve_lodging_final_ea_030904.pdf . This file can be read with Adobe Acrobat Reader and is approximately 5.7 megabytes in size, so please be patient loading the document. Adobe Acrobat Reader can be downloaded from http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html. Copies will be available at the public libraries in Cortez, Dolores, Mancos and Durango and can also be obtained from the park by calling 970-529-4465.

The comment period will close April 26, 2004. Comments can be mailed to: Chief of Planning, Mesa Verde National Park, P.O. Box 8, Mesa Verde National Park, CO 81330. Or, your comments can be sent via email to: meve_planning@nps.gov.
Contact: Patty Trap, Chief of Planning

Fire Management Plan and EIS. A Fire Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement(EIS)is underway. The plan will develop fire management objectives and actions for accomplishing those objectives, and include fire suppression, prescribed fire, fire use, hazardous fuels/mechanical fuels reduction, and Wildland fire/urban interface problems.
Contact: Doug Paul, Assistant Fire Management Officer

Comprehensive Interpretation Plan. A Comprehensive Interpretation Plan will help us determine the best means to tell-or interpret-the park's stories to our visitors. The type of questions to be explored will include whether we should provide a guided tour, brochure, wayside, or other means to help visitors understand the past and present role of fire?
Contact: Tessy Shirakawa, Chief of Interpretation

Housing Development/Trailer Replacement Plan EA. The trailers (mobile homes) used as employee housing in the park are inadequate. This plan will evaluate alternatives to replace these trailers with adequate housing for park employees required to live in the park.
Contact: Patty Trap, Chief of Planning

Headquarters Utility Plan and EA. Plans to replace old heating systems and underground fuel oil storage tanks in the Museum, Headquarters Building, and Chief Rangers office are progressing. An Environmental Assessment (EA) will help identify cost-effective ways to accomplish these tasks while minimizing environmental impacts.
Contact: Frank Cope, Chief of Maintenance

Road Projects. An Environmental Assessment is being prepared to help us determine the best way to make major repairs to the park's main entrance road in 2003. As with the project above, the best solution will complete the project in a way that minimizes any impacts to the environment and is the most cost effective.
Contact: Frank Cope, Chief of Maintenance

BLM Mancos Canyon Boundary Fence and EA. Due to the presence of a river boundary line, Mesa Verde's eastern boundary cannot be fenced securely without fencing the entire four (+) miles of the Mancos River Canyon on the National Park Service side of the river, at great expense. The area in question already has been a source of trespass into the park by Ute Mountain Ute Tribe horses. Proper fencing here is critical to protecting the park's fragile backcountry natural and cultural resources from livestock impacts. The BLM is willing to allow the park to survey and fence this line. The park needs to conduct a legal survey of this BLM line and to have it fenced. Because the BLM line borders a wilderness study area, the park needs to write an Environmental Assessment with the BLM in order to seek public comment.
Contact: George San Miguel, Resource Management Specialist

Yucca House Boundary Study and EA. A boundary study and an Environmental Assessment (EA) are being initiated as the first phase in the development of a General Management Plan for Yucca House National Monument. The park is undertaking this study and EA at this time because the adjacent landowners have expressed an interest in selling. If these lands were sold and developed, the scenic resources of Yucca House National Monument and habitat for area wildlife could be impacted, and other special natural and cultural resources related to the monument could be placed at risk. The boundary study will examine lands adjacent to the existing monument boundary to determine if these lands contain resources integral to the protection and preservation of the cultural, historic, natural, scenic, and recreational values of this unit of the national park system. It will discuss the potential impacts of adding or not adding specific areas to the monument and it will consider other possible management options for the identified lands. The associated EA will analyze the proposed action and alternatives and their impacts on the environment.
Contact: Patty Trap, Chief of Planning

Redeveloping Wetherill Mesa. Fires in the summer of 2000 consumed all of the facilities at Wetherill Mesa. A Plan with an Environmental Assessment will be prepared to determine the type of experience visitors should have at Wetherill Mesa and the resulting type and level of facilities that should be constructed.
Contact: Patty Trap, Chief of Planning

Government Performance and Results Act. In accordance with the Government Performance and Results Act, the park prepares a 5-year Strategic Plan, Annual Plans, and Annual Reports. These plans describe and report the overall progress made towards meeting the park mandate to protect resources and provide for visitor enjoyment. These plans will be available on our website.
Contact: Patty Trap, Chief of Planning

We want to hear from You!
Do you want to be on our Mailing List?

CALL US. You can reach any of the park contacts listed by calling the main park number at 970-529-4465.

WRITE US. Please send written comments to:

Superintendent
Mesa Verde National Park
PO Box 8
Mesa Verde National Park, CO 81330

E-MAIL US. Please address comments for all planning projects to meve_planning@nps.gov.