Natural Resource Condition Assessments for Valles Caldera National Preserve

Learn about NRCAs

• How do parks use NRCAs?
• Learn more about the NRCA Program

The Natural Resource Condition Assessment (NRCA) Program provides framework, funding, and publishing support to parks to aid in the synthesis and documentation of natural resource conditions. Condition assessment reports are a tool to describe selected park resources, and record a snapshot of their current condition, identify trends, and identify potential or current threats and stressors. Understanding the condition and trend of natural resources is key for parks and NPS planners to appropriately prioritize and allocate stewardship resources.

 

Valle Grande in late afternoon light and shadows.

NPS Photo

About 1.2 million years ago, a volcanic eruption created a 13-mile-wide circular depression high in the Jemez Mountains of north-central New Mexico. Today, the depression—or caldera—is dormant but still shows signs of volcanic life with hot springs and boiling fumaroles. The mix of large grassland meadows—or valles in Spanish—surrounded by forest-covered volcanic domes led to the name of Valles Caldera. Valles Caldera National Preserve, encompassing almost 90,000 acres, preserves the caldera along with an array of wildlife that call the caldera home.

Links to NRCA Products
Materials produced by the park and the NRCA Program.

For other reports and natural resource datasets visit the NPS Data Store.

Source: Data Store Collection 7765 (results presented are a subset). To search for additional information, visit the Data Store.