Valles Caldera National Preserve Park Ranger Dr. Adam Dean speaks Jan. 20 at Kiwanis. Courtesy/Kiwanis

KIWANIS News:

Jan. 20, the Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos was treated to an engaging and informative talk from Dr. Adam Dean, a Park Ranger at the Valles Caldera National Preserve. He gave an overview of the geologic, environmental, and human history of the area and discussed the formation of the Preserve and its programs.

Valles Caldera is a resurgent caldera resulting from a very large explosive volcano formed 1.2 million years ago and located between the Rio Grande Rift and the Jemez Lineament. The preserved geologic features and ancient deposits have helped to further research of large-scale explosive volcanism. The central floor contains a collapsed depression approximately 14 miles in diameter with a central dome (Redondo Peak) created by magma buildup. The volcano produced a very high quality of black obsidian, which was used by ancient people for tools, knives and spears. Dean referred to this as a “weapon of mammoth destruction”.

The preserve lies in the Rocky Mountain ecosystem with unusually large meadows covering ancient lakebeds, mixed conifer forests and rich volcanic soil. Once home to a large variety of wild animals, including grizzly bears and beavers who were eradicated when grazing herds were introduced, the preserve is now an ecosystem in recovery with many animals returning.

Human history in the caldera started around 10,000 BC, first with the nomadic Paleo-Indian people and (600 AD) the Pueblo people who farmed corn, beans, squash and other crops.

Spanish settlers began arriving in the 1500s and sheepherding became one of the primary uses of the area. Private ownership began in 1860 with the Cabeza de Baca family who grazed sheep.

The Otero family in 1899 used the location for some development and summer grazing for large numbers of livestock. In 1917, ownership passed to the Bond family who transitioned from sheep to cattle grazing and also established logging operations. James Dunigan purchased the land in 1963 and established the Baca Land and Cattle Company. He ended the logging activity and bought back the timber rights in 1971 and listed Valles Caldera as a National Natural Landmark with the National Park Service in 1975.

Valles Caldera National Preserve was established in 2015. They work with 37 Tribes and Pueblos to uphold their values and the spiritual and ceremonial importance of the area. They provide ranger-led education programs, fly fishing classes, and cross-country skiing trails.