Udall, Heinrich to Join Interior Secretary, Former Sen. Bingaman, Local Leaders to Dedicate Valles Caldera National Preserve

Saturday, October 10, U.S. Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich will join U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, former U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, and Tribal, state and local officials at a celebration welcoming the Valles Caldera National Preserve into the National Park Service (NPS). Oct. 1 marked Valles Caldera’s official transition from a unique management structure as part of the U.S. Forest Service to management by the NPS. Both lawmakers pushed for the change to increase public access, and it was enacted as part of an omnibus defense bill at the end of last year.

Udall and Heinrich developed the proposal after extensive input from local residents, sportsmen, veterans' organizations, business owners and elected officials. It ensures the new NPS management will maintain access for hunting and fishing while protecting the Preserve’s natural and cultural resources.

Saturday, October 10, 2015