Rep. Salazar Bill Authorizes Mesa Verde Expansion

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U. S Rep. John Salazar (CO-3) has introduced a bill that would authorize the expansion of Mesa Verde National Park.

“Mesa Verde is known for preserving some of the world’s most famous archeological sites,” Rep. Salazar said. “This unique national park is a World Heritage site that will only be more enhanced with this expansion and the passage of this legislation.”

The National Park Service, a local Montezuma County family, the Conservation Fund and the Mesa Verde Foundation are working together to make the expansion possible.  The property includes 324 acres owned by the Henneman family. Their property would be purchased by the Conservation Fund and transferred to the park.  On top of that 324-acre transaction, the Mesa Verde Foundation will donate another 38 acres to the park.

The Henneman property is adjacent to Mesa Verde National Park. At one time, a mile of the park’s access road ran across the family’s property. 

Landowner Jerry Henneman said, “Our property helps comprise the visual gateway to the park from the main entrance road and U.S. Highway 160, and is highly visible from Point Lookout within the park. It provides winter habitat for mule deer and other species, and allows for the continuation of major wildlife corridors back and forth from the park.  The hills bordering the park are covered with pinyon and juniper stands that are hundreds of years old, and the largest colony of Gray’s townsend daisy, a globally imperiled species, has been recorded on our property.”

The Henneman family has owned the property for more than 30 years.

H.R. 783 is a companion bill to S. 126 co-sponsored by U.S. Senator Wayne Allard (R-Colo) and U.S. Senator Ken Salazar (D-Colo).