Most people know Chaco Culture National Historical Park for its remarkable ancient architecture. But the story of Chaco extends far beyond the park’s boundaries.
The Greater Chaco Landscape includes ancestral communities, ancient roads, sacred places, natural features, and cultural connections that stretch across northwestern New Mexico. For many Tribal Nations, these places remain part of a living cultural landscape that continues to hold deep meaning today.
That’s why Crow Canyon Archaeological Center is urging the U.S. Department of the Interior to maintain existing protections for public lands surrounding the park.
As stated in Crow Canyon’s official comments:
“The Greater Chaco landscape is not an expendable space between protected archaeological sites.”
# WHAT’S BEING CONSIDERED?
A federal order known as Public Land Order No. 7923 currently protects approximately 336,400 acres of public land around Chaco from new mineral leasing and mining claims. The Department of the Interior is considering whether to remove those protections entirely or reduce them from a 10-mile buffer to a 5-mile buffer.
Crow Canyon has asked the Department to retain the current protections, arguing that the Greater Chaco Landscape is far more than a collection of archaeological sites.
# FIVE REASONS CROW CANYON OPPOSEES REDUCING PROTECTIONS
### 1. The Cultural Record Is Incomplete
Not every culturally important place appears in government databases. Many sites, traditional use areas, and cultural connections are known through Tribal knowledge and oral traditions, and some information is intentionally kept confidential. As a result, existing records do not provide a complete picture of what could be affected by future development.
### 2. A Tribal-Led Study Has Not Yet Been Included
The Department of the Interior funded a cultural resources investigation conducted by the Chaco Heritage Tribal Association—a collaboration of the Pueblos of Acoma, Jemez, Laguna, and Zuni, along with the Hopi Tribe. Although the study has been completed, its findings have not been incorporated into the current environmental review.
### 3. New Lidar Data Could Reveal Important Information
Recently released lidar data may provide new insights into the Greater Chaco Landscape. Lidar (short for Light Detection and Ranging) is a remote-sensing technology that uses laser pulses from aircraft to create highly detailed maps of the ground surface. It can help identify ancient roads, architecture, agricultural systems, water-management features, and other landscape patterns that may be difficult to see through traditional surveys or aerial imagery.
Crow Canyon’s analysis suggests these newly available data could significantly improve understanding of the region before decisions about protections are made.
### 4. Mitigation Is Not the Same as Protection
Avoiding a known archaeological site does not necessarily protect the broader cultural landscape surrounding it. Development can affect viewsheds, soundscapes, sacred places, travel routes, and relationships among culturally significant locations. Some of these impacts cannot be repaired or offset after they occur.
### 5. Tribal Nations and the Public Need More Time to Participate
Crow Canyon argues that meaningful review requires meaningful participation. The organization expressed concern that Tribal Nations and the public were given limited time to review extensive environmental documents and provide feedback. Additional time would allow for government-to-government consultation, consideration of new information, and a more informed decision-making process.
# SUPPORTING TRIBAL NATIONS
The All Pueblo Council of Governors and the Tribal Nations that make up the Chaco Heritage Tribal Association have strongly opposed reducing protections for the area. Crow Canyon stands with these Nations in calling for meaningful consultation, respect for Indigenous knowledge, and long-term stewardship of the Greater Chaco Landscape.
# LOOKING AHEAD
For Crow Canyon, retaining current protections is about preserving options. Continued protection allows time for Tribal consultation, cultural knowledge, ongoing research, and new technologies to inform future decisions.
Once cultural resources and landscapes are altered, some impacts cannot be undone. Protecting the Greater Chaco Landscape today helps ensure its history, cultural significance, and living connections remain intact for future generations.
# WHERE TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT:
BLM Chaco Withdrawal Environmental Assessment Project Page
Find your state representatives HERE. If you’d rather not speak directly, leave a voicemail after hours. Just be sure to include your name and address so your call is counted.