Hueco Plan for Financial Self-Sufficiency,
Improved Access, Safety and Preservation.Hueco must become self-sustaining financially. Since 1998, when the Public Use Plan severely limited the number of visitors, Hueco has been a burden to Texas taxpayers. More than almost any other factor, this represents a long-term danger to access.
This need not be the case. The following proposal, if adopted, will result in Hueco becoming "profitable" (meaning its income from fees will exceed its operating expenses) without compromising preservation.
The ideas in this proposal originate, for the most part, from the staff at Hueco. Our goal at Huecotanks.com is to spearhead an effort to make these excellent ideas a reality. Although each has merit even when considered separately, implementing all of them, in the proper sequence, will create a synergy greater than the sum of any individual component.
Increase North Mountain Visitor Limits
The primary source of the financial imbalance at Hueco is the lack of visitors due to the 70/day limit for self-guided tours of North Mountain. Many local TPW staff and officials are convinced that number can be safely increased to at least 140/day without affecting preservation, even if no additional staff are hired. This conclusion is based on the fact that the majority of visitors are members of very socially responsible groups such as climbers, birders, and rock-art enthusiasts. Indeed, greater numbers of these types of visitors will result in less danger from vandalism, because at 70/day, North Mountain is largely deserted, and there is a greater likelihood that an occasional lawbreaker will be able to engage in vandalism unobserved.
Backcountry Ranger
After the limit is increased, the additional fees can be applied toward hiring a "backcountry" ranger (Backcountry Ranger is an official TPW job description). This ranger will be able to patrol not only North Mountain, but the guided-only sections of Hueco (East and West Mountains). The Backcountry Ranger is an important element in another portion of the plan: allowing a new class of visitors to access East and West Mountain without being part of a guided tour.Trustees
The new class of visitor is the "Trustee". Trustee's will be vetted by a process that is yet to be fully determined, but will at a minimum be required attend the 3-day Guide Training classes every two years. Trustees will also be expected to pay an additional yearly fee (in addition to possessing a TSPP) and will be required to spend of portion of their time during each visit patrolling the backcountry. Trustees will be allowed to engage in recreational activity such as hiking, climbing or birding while "on patrol", and will be expected to coordinate their itinerary with the Hueco staff. Trustees will not be able to escort non-Trustees, but will be allowed to accompany other Trustees. Increased revenues from Trustees will help defray the cost of the Backcountry Ranger.
Picnickers
A significant number of "picnickers" from El Paso are turned away every day. These visitors are typically not as organized as other user groups and rarely have North Mountain reservations. It is unjust to turn them back after driving 30+ miles from El Paso. TPW, as a public entity, has an obligation to devise a plan to deal with the problem. Although it is not consistent with the primary Preservation mission of Hueco to allow large numbers of picnickers on North Mountain (or in the backcountry), there is an easy compromise that can be implemented at no cost to Hueco, using volunteer labor and grants from entities such as the Access Fund. Once this component is in place (see details below), Hueco will benefit from the increased fees.
There are currently several acres of Hueco northeast of the maintenance shed and the on-site staff residences that have been used for many years as nothing more than a "junkyard". The area has already been determined to contain nothing of archaeological, cultural or wildlife value, and is accessible via a separate back entrance. This area can be easily fenced off, equipped with shade shelters, playground equipment for children, portable sanitation and BBQ pits (Hueco proper does not allow any open fires for cooking or other purposes). When North mountain is full, visitors can be diverted to the picnic-only area, pay a reduced fee, and have their names entered on the waiting list. If a North Mountain slot becomes available, they will have the option of paying the full fee, watching the orientation video and entering the park proper.
Hueco "Cabin rentals"
There are presently two on-site houses that are used as residences for the Head Ranger and the Site Manager. The combined cost of utilities for these two dwellings is well over $200.00 month, and is not paid by the residents - the State of Texas foots the bill. The original idea was that the Site Manager and Head Ranger would serve as "night guards", but this is impractical - the staff needs to sleep at night and they cannot guard the multiple square miles of backcountry.
Instead, those two houses can be used as "luxury" accommodations that will compliment the campground. Nightly rates of anywhere from $85 to $125 could be charged, with a limit of six persons/night (to avoid stressing the septic systems). Existing park staff would serve as the "maid service", and a combination of volunteer labor and donated funds would be used to renovate and equip the "cabins". Hueco staff predicts 100% occupancy rates for the two "cabins".Nighttime security guard(s)
Receipts from the cabins would be used to pay for an armed security guard that would actually patrol the park all night. This would eliminate the one remaining source of vandalism that has affected Hueco since 1998 - local "kids" and other miscreants that hop the fence. The guard would also be available to unlock and lock the gate in case of an emergency where a camper or cabin-dweller needs to leave Hueco after-hours.
Ranch-house Pond
The pond directly south of the Ranch House is a mecca for birds and other wildlife - when it is full. For a fairly modest investment - under $20,000 - the pond can be deepened, lined, equipped with storage tanks and kept full year-round. Again, the labor and funding will come from non-TPW sources. By deepening it, lining it, and reducing its total surface area by about 20%, water loss from seepage and evaporation can be minimized. Aeration equipment can be powered by solar-electric converters; solar-powered pumps can also be used to fill the storage tanks with rainwater overflow .
Once the pond is established as a year-round body of water, the benefits to birds and other wildlife will be tremendous. We envision the possibility of creating a new type of limited access to the pond-area only. A section of the "shore" could also be designated for fishing, assuming the pond can be kept stocked and the activity of the fishers does not interfere with the birds and other wildlife.
Summary
This plan will result in Hueco becoming financially self-sufficent, better serving all user groups, and improve safety and preservation. It will go a long way toward healing the wounds that are a result of the current overly restrictive Public Use Plan.