Heinrich presses forest service chief on fencing to keep cattle from entering the Valles Caldera National Preserve

During a hearing last week before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to review the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Budget Request for the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich questioned U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore on the need to complete fencing in the Santa Fe National Forest to prevent trespass cattle from entering the Valles Caldera National Preserve.

The Valles Caldera was set aside as a national preserve to protect its ecosystems, headwaters and elk herds. For years, cattle have illegally entered the VCNP from neighboring Forest Service grazing allotments, causing damage to streams, riparian areas and wildlife habitat.

In his October 2021 confirmation hearing, Park Service Director Charles “Chuck” Sams III said, “I am committed to figuring a way to ensure that there are no trespass issues.”

WildEarth Guardians said this promise has gone unfulfilled as hundreds of cattle have been documented in the VCNP meadows.

“I feel a deep sense of betrayal,” said Madeleine Carey, Southwest Conservation Manager for WildEarth Guardians. “We were promised this persistent issue would be dealt with and, if anything, things have gotten worse.”

During the hearing, Heinrich asked, “When we last talked, the Forest Service was finalizing a contract to repair the Santa Fe National Forest fence that keeps cattle from trespassing onto the neighboring property, which is the Valles Caldera National Preserve. What is the status of that contract at this point?”

Moore responded, “So we’ve agreed to put up a million dollars toward the construction of the fence, and we’ve also agreed to go halves on the maintenance of the fence once it’s done.”

Heinrich responded, “This has been a long time coming. So I would just urge you and Park Service Director Chuck Sams to figure this thing out, because it’s a continual source of friction in the area.”