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The
Mesa Verde Association is a joint
membership program of the Mesa Verde
Museum Association and the Mesa Verde
Foundation. Your MVA membership supports
both of these 501(c)(3) nonprofit
organizations.
The Mesa Verde Museum Association
(tax ID 84-1404606) provides educational
and interpretive material to visitors
of Mesa Verde National Park through
an active publishing program and the
operation of retail bookstores online,
in the park, and in Cortez, CO. Our
services enhance the visitor experience
and promote stewardship of Mesa Verde's
world-renowned archeological resources
and natural landscapes. Proceeds from
all Association operations are donated
to the park's interpretive, research,
and education programs.
The Mesa Verde Foundation (tax ID
84-046967) funds capital improvements,
projects, and educational endeavors
for Mesa Verde National Park. Our
projects include construction of a
new Visitor and Research Center near
the park's entrance and remodeling
the existing Far View Visitor Center
into a Tribal Cultures Center to enhance
understanding of the connection between
the Ancestral Puebloans and contemporary
Native American tribes.
You are receiving this email because
you are a member of the Mesa Verde
Association or because you purchased
a product from the Mesa Verde Museum
Association. To ensure that you continue
to receive emails from us, add info@mesaverde.org
to your address book today.
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Welcome to "Verde Views," the e-newsletter
for Mesa Verde Association members and friends.
This periodic publication will keep you
informed about Association news and events,
park happenings, new products and special
sales.
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Winter
Fun Festival This Saturday!
You are invited to participate in the
first ever all-ages three-mile Nordic
Fun Race on the Meadow Bliss Trail on
Saturday, February 23, 2013 in Mesa
Verde National Park! Classic skiers
and skate skiers are welcome. Come out
and enjoy some lighthearted competition
in the Morefield Campground area. Registration
starts at 10:00 a.m. and the race will
begin at 11:00 a.m. There will be random
prize drawings with prizes donated by
the Mesa Verde Museum Association, Slavens
Hardware, and Osprey Packs.
During and after the race, join a park
ranger for a hands-on primitive skills
demonstration including bow drill fire
starting, atlatl usage, and yucca cord
making. Snacks and drinks will be available
for purchase during and after the race.
This is also a great opportunity to
explore Mesa Verde's Morefield Campground
and Meadow Bliss Trails in the moonlight.
Trails will be open for self-guided
skiing or snowshoeing from 6:30 p.m.
to 10:00 p.m. Complimentary hot beverages
and cookies will be provided.
Parking for the events will be at the
winter activities parking lot in the
Morefield Campground Village, just four
miles past the park's entrance station.
A limited number of adult and child
snowshoes will be available for free
checkout during the events. Activities
are subject to cancellation due to weather
or road conditions. Please call 970-529-4461
for more information. Come enjoy the
fresh snow that fell on February 20-21!
Your
Comments Wanted on Mesa Verde’s
Proposed Plan for Controlling Unclaimed
Trespass Livestock
The National Park Service (NPS) is proposing
to develop a management plan to control
unclaimed trespass livestock in Mesa
Verde National Park in southwestern
Colorado. There are currently between
100-150 trespass horses in the park
and on its border. Trespass cattle have
ranged in number from 10-20 in recent
years. Park staff has documented severe
impacts to archeological sites, native
vegetation, and soils. Trespass livestock
has also been documented out-competing
native wildlife for water sources, and
damaging park facilities. There have
also been dangerous confrontations reported
between trespass livestock and park
staff and visitors.
The proposed plan goals are to: 1)
reduce threats to staff and public
safety; 2) reduce negative impacts
to the park's natural and cultural
resources; and 3) reduce facility
damage by trespass livestock. Management
alternatives may include a variety
of approaches including improved methods
of excluding livestock from the park,
returning the livestock to its owner,
and auction.
An Environmental Assessment for reducing
the adverse impacts of trespass livestock
will be prepared in compliance with
the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) to provide the decision-making
framework that: 1) analyzes a reasonable
range of alternatives to meet project
objectives; 2) evaluates potential
issues and impacts to park resources
and values; and 3) identifies mitigation
measures to lessen the degree or extent
of these impacts.
The NPS encourages public participation
throughout the NEPA process. The public
has two opportunities to formally
comment on the project; once during
initial project scoping and again
following release of the Environmental
Assessment. The NPS is currently in
the scoping phase of this project
and would like to hear thoughts and
concerns. The scoping period will
run from January 17, 2013 through
February 28, 2013. Comments must be
received by February 28 in order to
be considered.
The NPS invites you to submit your
written comments online at the NPS
Planning, Environment, and Public
Comment website at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/meve.
You may also mail your comments to
the address below.
Before including your address, phone
number, email address, or other personal
identifying information in your comment,
you should be aware that your entire
comment, including your personal identifying
information, may be made publicly
available at any time. While you can
ask the NPS in your comment to withhold
this information from public review,
the NPS cannot guarantee that they
will be able to do so.
Please address written comments to:
Mesa Verde National Park
Attn: Trespass Livestock Management
Plan
PO Box 8
Mesa Verde National Park, CO 81330
Applications
Due March 1 for 2013 Artist-in-Residence
Program
Mesa Verde National Park is currently
accepting applications for its 2013
Artist-In-Residence (AIR) program.
Mesa Verde National Park’s AIR
Program provides professional artists
the opportunity to become a part of
a long established tradition of artists
in our national parks. Mesa Verde’s
AIR Program is now managed by the
Mesa Verde Museum Association (MVMA),
a 501(c)(3) nonprofit partner to the
National Park Service (NPS). The AIR
Program was initiated as part of the
park’s Centennial Celebration
in 2006. The works completed under
this program contribute to the public
understanding and appreciation of
our national parks, create a legacy
preserved for future generations,
and offer park visitors and the public
an opportunity to see our heritage
through the eyes and ears of the contributing
artists.
This year the park will provide a
historic, rustic residence to selected
participants for five, two-week periods:
• May 5 through May 18
• May 19 through June 1
• September 1 through September
14
• September 15 through September
28
• September 29 through October
12 (local artists only)
All participants will be required
to attend a short orientation session
before being allowed to enter backcountry
areas. Participants will be required
to be a National Park Service "Volunteer-In-Park"
(VIP) during their residency, and
will give a public program on the
second Thursday of their residency.
No stipend is provided. Participants
in the Artist-In-Residence program
will find the cabin fully furnished
including linens and kitchenware.
In return, participating artists are
asked to donate to the park a high-resolution
digital image of an original piece
of work from, and representative of,
their residency in Mesa Verde National
Park.
Entries for the 2013 program will
be accepted through March 1, 2013.
A jury of diverse artists will select
the program finalists. Notifications
of finalists will be made by April
15, 2013.
For additional information about
the Mesa Verde AIR program and for
application instructions, visit the
park’s Artist-In-Residence webpage
here
or contact AIR Coordinator Jan Wright
at 970-529-4445 or AIRCoordinator@mesaverde.org
Prescribed
Burns This Month
Mesa Verde National Park fire management
staff plans to implement three pile
burns throughout the park. The burns
will take place on Chapin Mesa with
one large pile near the “four-way
intersection” in the vicinity
of park headquarters, one large
pile near the Morefield sewer lagoons
in Morefield canyon and fifty small
piles near the park entrance. The
objective of both of these burns
is to consume the existing accumulation
of woody material from past fuel
reduction projects.
The piles consist of branches and
brush generated from maintaining
defensible space around park buildings
during the past summer. Fire crews
removed encroaching vegetation in
order to aid in the management of
wildland fires and also to help
the structural fire crew in its
efforts to protect park buildings.
The project followed guidelines
of the National Fire Protection
Association’s “Firewise
Communities” program, and was
developed and funded through the
Wildland Urban Interface Initiative
in cooperation with the National
Fire Plan.
The removal of hazard fuels should
help protect structures in the event
of a nearby wildland fire. Protection
of structures is a very important
aspect of fire management at Mesa
Verde. It is estimated that it will
take two to three days to complete
ignition and clean-up operations
of the piles.
Smoke impacts for all three projects
are expected to be minimal. However,
visitors to the park may encounter
smoke on the roadway during the
Chapin Mesa pile burn and near the
park entrance. Please drive carefully
and watch for fire personnel, vehicles,
and warning signs in the vicinity
of the project.
Fire managers plan to light the
piles during the months of January
or February. The burns will only
take place when weather and smoke
dispersal parameters are met. For
further information concerning these
burns, please contact Keith Krause
at 970-529-5062 or Steve Underwood,
Fire Management Officer, at 970-529-5049.
Keep
Saving the Date for Rims to Ruins
Art Event
Mesa Verde Foundation is pleased
to announce its inaugural Rims
to Ruins painting extravaganza
in Mesa Verde National Park. The
Rims to Ruins event will
show the tremendous diversity
of the park through the eyes of
nationally acclaimed participating
artists.
• Participating artists
will paint on May 20 and 21, 2013
on Wetherill Mesa, which is closed
to the general public at this
time of the year. Artists will
be allowed to paint in areas and
ruins not otherwise open to the
public at any time.
• On May 22, artists will
participate in a “quick draw”
event on Wetherill Mesa, followed
by an auction of framed art produced
that morning.
• Guests will be invited
to attend on May 22, watch artists
paint, enjoy a delicious brunch,
and participate in an auction
of the “quick draw”
pieces.
Artists then will complete two
or three pieces at their studios
that will be shown and offered
for sale at an event and exhibition
in Denver on October 22 at the
Denver Public Library. The artwork
will remain on view at the library
through November 3, 2013.
This promises to be a very special,
national art event. Some of the
participating artists include
Joe Anna Arnett, James Asher,
Joe Bohler, John Burton, Lorenzo
Chavez, Doug Dawson, John DeMott,
David Drummond, Barry Eisenach,
Gerald Fritzler, Veryl Goodnight,
George Hallmark, Jay Moore, Gary
Niblett, Ralph Oberg, Andrew Peters,
Robert Peters, Jesse Powell, Jim
Rey, Laura Robb, Elizabeth Robbins,
Curt Walters, and Jim Wilcox.
For more information, please
call MVF at 303-321-3120.
MVNP
Winter Recreational Opportunities
Mesa Verde National Park’s
winter trail systems are open
for winter recreational use!
The trails include the Cliff
Palace Loop Road, Wetherill
Mesa Road Trail, Prater Canyon,
and Morefield Campground Trails.
Maps and detailed information
on skiing and snowshoeing winter
recreational opportunities can
be obtained on the park’s
website (www.nps.gov/meve),
at the new park entrance Visitor
Center, by calling the Chapin
Mesa Archeological Museum at
970-529-4631, or by calling
park dispatch at 970-529-4622.
Free snowshoe loans are available
at both the Visitor Center and
the Museum. The new Visitor
Center and store are open daily
from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Chapin Mesa Archeological
Museum and store are open daily
from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Spruce Tree House, the park’s
third largest cliff dwelling
and the only alcove site open
during the winter, can be visited
on a ranger-guided walking tour
offered three times daily at
10:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:30
p.m. These one-hour tours are
free and do not require a ticket.
Interested visitors should meet
the ranger in the lobby of the
Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum
just before tour time.
The Mesa Top Loop Road will
remain open throughout the winter
from 8:00 a.m. to sunset, weather
permitting. Heavy snowfall or
icy road conditions may close
the road temporarily. The main
park road will remain open throughout
the winter, subject to road
closures when hazardous road
conditions exist.
Food service is available at
Spruce Tree Terrace, open daily
from 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
There is no gasoline or other
fuel available in the park.
Planning your summer getaway to
Mesa Verde? The Mesa Verde Museum
Association and National Park Service
worked extensively with Rufus Guides
to create this handy publication
that contains everything you need
to know to enjoy your visit to Mesa
Verde National Park. From cliff
dwelling tours to hiking trails,
dioramas to dining, park history
to common plants and animals, this
guide addresses it all—and
includes two detailed fold-out park
maps. Lavishly illustrated in full
color, this 4.25” x 10.25”
18-page booklet is barely larger
than a folded road map. A must-have
for every park visitor, and something
our neighbors around the park will
want to give their house guests!
Priced at $5.00, or just $4.00
for Mesa Verde Association members;
click here
to purchase yours today. As always,
proceeds from your purchases support
Mesa Verde National Park.
Not a member yet? It’s easy
to join! Just click here
or call us at 1-800-305-6053 or
970-529-4445 for assistance.
Misplaced your member discount
code? Just call or email us at info@mesaverde.org
and we'll be happy to provide it
to you!
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