![](media/image1.wmf){width="2.43125in"
height="1.6243055555555554in"}Bandelier National Monument was designated
in 1916 by President Wilson, who cited its prehistoric objects and
features as the primary reason the area should be set aside for
protection. The proclamation described these items as being of "unusual
ethnologic, scientific and educational interest." Continuing research in
Bandelier has shown the monument and its resources are actually an
integral component of the larger Pueblo culture of the southwest, with
one of the highest concentrations of Pueblo structures and archeological
sites in the world.

Bandelier's value lies not only in its cultural treasure of prehistoric
structures and artifacts but also in 33,000 acres of land that has a
wide range of elevation gradients and landforms supporting a diversity
of vegetation types and associated wildlife. It is the "extraordinary
combination of archeological, historic, ethnographic, geological,
ecological and wilderness values in a scenic landscape" as stated in the
Monument's "Strategic Plan" (NPS 2000) that serve as the primary source
of Bandelier's significance as a unit of the National Park Service. The
preservation, protection, understanding and management of Bandelier's
natural and cultural resources "through an integrated program where
management activities support naturally functioning ecosystems
consistent with cultural resource preservation needs" are stated as the
monument's mission.

***Why is any action needed?***

The physical and biological conditions of ecosystems fluctuate and the
degree and range in which they vary under natural conditions depends on
disturbances, such as climate, fire, and flooding. Over time, plant and
animal species adapt to these conditions and are able to tolerate
disturbances within this range. Humans sometimes alter this "range of
natural variability" of physical and biological conditions through their
land use practices, which can adversely affect some of the key functions
in an ecosystem. This is the case in Bandelier National Monument.

Under sustainable conditions, most woodlands and forests in the monument
would be relatively open, with a healthy understory of vegetation
carrying frequent, low-intensity surface fires. However, because of
intense historic livestock grazing and fire suppression, woody
vegetation has increased, making stands more dense and closed. Dead
debris and fuels have built up and the understory of forbs and grasses
has been nearly eliminated. These changes are outside the range of
natural variability in Bandelier's vegetative communities and are
resulting in large-scale changes in vegetative types, major increases in
the risk of crown fire events, and loss of wildlife habitat. Especially
important is the severe soil erosion that is causing wide-spread loss of
prehistoric cultural resources, whose preservation is the primary reason
the monument was created.

***What is proposed?***

The National Park Service has begun a planning effort that would include
an Ecological Restoration Plan and associated environmental impact
statement (EIS) to examine ways to reestablish healthy, sustainable
vegetative communities. Sustainable communities are those that display
physical and biological conditions within the natural range of
variability. The Ecological Restoration Plan would guide Bandelier's
management of degraded vegetation for the next 15-20 years.

***We want your help!***

On April 2, 2003, the National Park Service announced in the *Federal
Register* its intent to begin the planning process and prepare an EIS.
We are in the early stages of our planning process and would like your
thoughts on the need for a plan and what you believe it should cover.
The designated wilderness in the park offers the NPS a challenge in
determining how to manage for wilderness values like solitude, and at
the same time addressing the urgent need to restore ecological
functions. We would like your input to identify the desired future for
the landscape in wilderness, given that damage to the vegetation, and
erosion of soils and cultural sites is occurring across much of that
landscape. For example, what management actions do you believe could
occur in a wilderness? Are there places at Bandelier where action is or
is not needed? What approaches to restoration do you believe the NPS
should use? We want your input on these and other potential conflicts or
tradeoffs, as well as any benefits this plan could provide.

A good place to have your thoughts recorded or questions answered is at
either of two scoping sessions. Each will be a casual, open house format
where you can browse through existing information, ask questions, and
provide comments. If you are unable to join us, or wish to send comments
in writing regarding the proposal or any other information, please
provide them in writing before July 14, 2003 to the address below.

Please note this is not the end of public scoping on this plan. We
anticipate a short newsletter and second set of scoping sessions to
discuss alternatives this summer. We look forward to your participation
in this planning effort to restore naturally functioning ecosystems in
Bandelier National Monument.

Meeting Schedule:

June 24, 2003 June 25, 2003

4:30 to 8:30 p.m. 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Los Alamos Inn Old Santa Fe Trail

2201 Trinity Drive Building

Los Alamos, NM 1100 Old Santa Fe

Trail

> Santa Fe, NM

Please send your comments to:

Ecological Restoration EIS

c/o John A. Mack

Bandelier National Monument

HCR 1, Box 1, Suite15

Los Alamos, New Mexico 87544

Email: <BANDEIS@NPS.GOV>

Or call, John Mack, Project Manager

\(505\) 672-3861 ex. 563