Carlsbad Caverns was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1995 as a result of its superlative natural phenomena. The park faces several challenges in protecting its natural and cultural resources for future generations to enjoy. Some of these challenges and needs are discussed below. Internal Threats Impact of Surface Development. Numerous visitor facilities, including the visitor center and its parking lots, as well as park maintenance facilities and housing, are located directly above the internationally significant cave resources the park was created to protect.
Water pollution is a serious problem.
Runoff from the parking lots and roads is laden with chemicals, which park managers are considering addressing through the use of settling ponds. The maintenance facilities, in particular, are a significant source of hazardous materials. A spill, a leak in one of the underground storage tanks, or other accident could put unknown quantities of hazardous materials directly into the cave system, damaging its mineral formations and the many unique cave plants and animals and threatening visitor safety. Sewage lines serving the housing areas and visitor service areas above the cavern also pose a serious threat. There have been two documented major sewage line breaks and numerous smaller leaks.