Valles Caldera Trust Board to Hold Final Meeting

Date: July 13, 2015
Contact: Rob Dixon , 505-661-3333

Jemez Springs, NM –The Valles Caldera Trust (Trust) board of trustees will conduct its final public meeting on Saturday, July 25, 2015, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the Valles Caldera National Preserve. The meeting will be followed by the annual storytelling jamboree held as part of the Trust's weekend-long Preserve Days celebration commemorating the 15th anniversary of the passage of the Valles Caldera Preservation Act, which established the preserve as federally-protected public land. To celebrate the preserve's birthday, the public can enjoy free entry from Friday, July 24 to Sunday, July 26. Meeting attendees should arrive early as shuttle services will transport them from the Valle Grande visitor center to the meeting location under the big tent in History Grove.

The purpose of the meeting is to celebrate the 15 years of dedication by employees of the Trust to meet the goals set out by the Valles Caldera Preservation Act of 2000. Presentations will be given to describe the results of the Trust's final State of the Preserve report and to recognize the contributions of current Trust employees, followed by an opportunity for public comment. The Trust will hand off management of the preserve to the National Park Service on October 1, 2015. 

"As we look forward with great excitement to the next chapter in the preserve's future, the board would like to recognize the accomplishments of all the staff, volunteers, and partners who have worked tirelessly over the past fifteen years to study, restore, and educate the public about this unique landscape," said outgoing chairman, Dr. Ken Smith. "We want them to know that we are very grateful for their work and sacrifice." 

Each year the Trust commemorates the creation of the preserve with the free Preserve Days weekend celebration. The Trust will host special activities throughout the weekend beginning Friday, July 24 through Sunday, July 26. Friday's activities feature staff presentations and demonstrations on current and past projects, guided hikes, and nature immersion experiences. After the board meeting on Saturday, the 3rd annual Jemez Mountains Storytelling Jamboree will spin tall tales. Sunday's activities feature family friendly guided walks and forest monitoring educational programs. For a complete schedule of activities, please visit the Valles Caldera National Preserve website. 

Members of the Valles Caldera Trust board of trustees are appointed by the President of the United States. Current members are: Dr. C. Kenneth Smith, Sewanee, TN;Catherine Allen, Santa Fe, NM;Kent Salazar, Albuquerque, NM;Dr. Melissa Savage, Santa Fe, NM;Karyn Stockdale, Santa Fe, NM;Maria Garcia, Supervisor of the Santa Fe National Forest;and Jason Lott, Superintendent, Bandelier National Monument.