Completed corner post along Valles Caldera Boundary Fence.
Protecting the Caldera, One Fencepost at a Time
The 50-mile boundary fence around the Valles Caldera National Preserve had not seen full maintenance since the early 2000s, back when it was still the Baca Ranch. Now, Rio Grande Return is partnering with the Santa Fe National Forest to take on the challenge – clearing deadfall, repairing, and rebuilding the fence to help prevent trespass cattle from entering and impacting the preserve.
While a few groups have repaired short sections over the years, 2024 marked a turning point. RGR committed to tackling the full perimeter. Last season, we rebuilt nine miles of fence, covering much of the Caldera’s northern edge and parts of the southern and western boundaries. Beyond standard fence construction, we are prioritizing key areas, and creating a buffer zone by felling trees that could damage the fence in future storms.
This tough, remote work is led by staff member Harold Yazzie and a hardworking crew from the Navajo Nation – Torreon Chapter. Hands down they are some of the best fence builders in New Mexico. With much of the terrain inaccessible by roads, the team is using mules and all-terrain vehicles to haul materials across steep and rugged landscapes, and human power when it’s too rugged for the mules.
The payoff is big: a more secure boundary means better protection for the Caldera’s ecological and cultural treasures – its streams, wetlands, wildlife, and sacred landscapes that form the heart of this iconic preserve.
The crew arriving in style at the fencing work site.
A view along the reconstructed fence line showing cleared vegetation.