CHACO CANYON - New threats to the beauty, solitude and cultural riches of Chaco Canyon National Historic Park have spurred outdoorsmen, environmentalists and history buffs to organize in opposition to development which threatens the integrity of this western New Mexican treasure.

This World Heritage Site has been relatively protected by its isolation and absence of roads on its periphery. For several years, the park has been challenged by the possibility of oil and gas drilling on state land within view of the visitors' center and unexcavated 1,000-year-old ruins could be put at risk if drilling is begun.

Chacoan ruins to the north on Bureau of Land Management lands are also threatened by development. These lands are part of a connective corridor to the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness through the Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness Study Area and other potential wilderness units identified by the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance and other wilderness agencies and groups.

Cultural resources of the park would be threatened by seismic exploration by Cimarex Energy, the leaseholder on the lands near the visitors' center, and other companies. Such pollutants as oil field dust, air pollutants and noise is projected to reduce visibility and degrade the experience of visitors. Negative publicity has caused Cimarex Energy to delay plans for developing properties visible from the visitors' center, but they could be revived at any time.

Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall are expected to introduce the Chaco Wilderness Bill in this session of Congress. Such legislation would be necessary to accomplish the following protections for the park:

o Permanent protection for Chaco Canyon by designating approximately 20,000 acres as Wilderness, as defined by the National Park Service.

o Agreement between federal and state governments for a 99 year conservation easement across adjacent state lands to prevent drilling and allow time for negotiations to incorporate these lands into the park.

o Revision of the boundary of the Pueblo Pintado Outlier to include the large ruin and other identified significant archeological sites and transfer administrative jurisdiction over those lands to the National Park Service.

Another threat to the ancient ruins is the plan by San Juan County to pave CR7950, a dirt county road, which takes the traveler from U.S. 550 to the park. Such groups as Friends of Chaco and the Chaco Alliance favor grading and gravel over pavement, because they fear that a paved road will bring tour buses and crowds into the fragile environment. Delicate ruins and artifacts could be severely damaged if the park is overrun with tourists.

San Juan County Manager Keith Johns has been quoted in the Albuquerque Journal as claiming that the dirt road is “terribly unsafe,” but there have been only three accidents in three years on the road, according to a report commissioned by the county.

Anyone who has visited Chaco Canyon knows that the washboard road slows the traveler, but that period of slow driving allows one to really look at the scenery and get into the frame of mind to consider ancient cultures.

For more information visit www.nmwild.org or call the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance at 1-505-216-9719.