Sledgehammer Invisible rock art delivers blow to Hueco access Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) recently commissioned a rock-art survey company to photograph and catalog the Native American rock art at Hueco Tanks State Park. During their survey, Rupestrian Cyberservices of Flagstaff, Arizona, found 44 rock-art panels not known to exist before. Among the new finds were images that only appeared after the photographs were digitally enhanced — the art-work in its weathered natural state was invisible to the naked eye. Hueco Tanks' art appears to be divided equally among the three main mountains: East, West, and North. Under the new access restrictions enacted last year, East and West Mountains can only be visited on a guided tour. North Mountain, the most heavily visited, was left open to unguided access and viewed as the "sacrifice mountain." Now, says David Ing, the regional cultural-resource coordinator for TPWD, it appears as if TPWD has taken the wrong approach to North Mountain. The invisible rock-art discoveries show that North Mountain contains more extensive and significant art than previously thought. "I wouldn't be optimistic about access increasing," says Ing, who suggested that the department should take a "sledgehammer" approach to the access issue. Until now, Dragon's Den had been considered a viable candidate for reopening. Despite concerns over erosion, it was not believed to be a culturally and archaeologically sensitive area. It is high on East Mountain, above the level of the surrounding plains where most of the art, pottery, and middens were previously thought to be concentrated. The Cyberservices study, though, suggests that most of the new rock-art discoveries will be located higher in just such places. In short, since TPWD continues to view recreation as subservient to and incompatible with historical preservation, all indications are that access problems will get much worse. It is imperative that climbers speak loudly to salvage some level of access at Hueco, America's finest bouldering area. Beginning this fall, as the agency undergoes the Sunset review — a process that occurs every eight years for each government department, TPWD will be attempting to account for its management policies to the Texas Legislature. This review provides an excellent opportunity for climbers to comment on TPWD's management philosophy in regard to Hueco, as opinions can be submitted directly online at the review website (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/sunset/). Please visit the El Paso Climbers Club site (http://curly.physics.utep.edu) for information on how to submit comments and to whom to write letters. — Scott Jerger Yosemite mess Park's actions judged "arbitrary and capricious" After the 1997 flood in the valley, the Yosemite National Park Service took advantage of a massive federal hand-out to begin road projects along the Merced River. These projects began with the fixing of small culverts and a few sharp curves, but before long the Park had unleashed dynamite, bulldozers, and chainsaws on a beautiful stretch of the lower Merced, chopping trees, blasting cliffs, and dumping "fill" into the river while expanding Highway 140. The intent, presumably, was to allow bigger vehicles faster, easier access to the Valley. "Yosemite is awash in money and they're looking for projects, while other parks have a funding deficit," says Joyce Eden the Sierra Club's spokesperson on Yosemite issues. The Sierra Club and the Mariposans for Environmentally Responsible Growth (MERG) brought a lawsuit to halt the road-building project, and this July Federal Judge Anthony Ishii ruled that the National Park Service had violated federal laws, describing its actions as "arbitrary and capricious" under the National Environmental Policy Act. Earlier this year, knowing the lawsuit was pending, the park had the contractor working virtually around the clock and only the last mile of the river edge — along Highway 140 from the junction with Highway 120 to the Pohono Bridge — was ultimately saved from "improvement." Among those protesting the road expansion on-site were numerous climbers including longtime environmental activist David Brower. Judge Ishii's order also strengthened the Merced's status as a "wild and scenic river" and demanded that the Yosemite National Park Service prepare a comprehensive management plan for the entire length of the river through the park. This river plan must explain how the National Park will protect and enhance the ecosystem and the scenic and recreational values of the river. Ishii's decision may be good news for those seeking to safeguard Camp 4 against development. The earlier Yosemite Lodge development proposals — which would affect Camp 4 — all lie within the "no construction" zone of the Scenic River Corridor. Yet it is too early to tell how the Park will handle this plan. Those wanting to learn more or get involved by expressing their views to the Yosemite Park Service may email Greg Adair at Friends of Yosemite Valley (gadairsf@aol.com), or contact Joyce Eden of the Sierra Club at 408-973-1085 (email yojo@batnet.com).
		Last update: Sat, Oct 30, 1999
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