ROCK CLIMBING NEWS ITEM

Hueco Tanks Bouldering Access Threatened

WEDNESDAY, 31 JANUARY 2007

Hueco Tanks State Historical Park along with several other Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) properties could be transferred to the Texas Historical Commission (THC) placing the future of the world-class climbing and bouldering found at Hueco at risk.

Texas state legislators and land management agency commissioners recently began an effort to transfer management of more than 20 historic sites from TPW over to THC. As the premiere cultural resource in the state, Hueco Tanks has long been coveted by THC who has a mission centered on the preservation of cultural resources in Texas. Currently under TPW management, Hueco is formally recognized as “one of the premier bouldering locales in the world,” and a transfer to THC will likely bring a more restrictive management approach to bouldering access at Hueco.

In response to this threat, the Access Fund is taking action to prevent the transfer of Hueco Tanks from Texas Parks and Wildlife to Texas Historical Commission as well as support state legislation designed to increase funding to TPW. The Access Fund will pursue a new Save Hueco Tanks campaign in a broad effort to ensure future climbing and bouldering access at Hueco Tanks. The campaign will involve creating an advocacy strategy with Hueco locals, letter writing to state policy-makers, mobilizing climbers at Hueco’s February Rock Rodeo, assembling Access Fund partners to leverage their influence, and direct lobbying of the Texas governor, legislature and agency offices in Austin.

Check www.accessfund.org