Bill Huey, champion for Valles Caldera

Bill Huey, 85, passed away in August in Tesuque. Bill was a director of the Game and Fish Department and one of the State’s Natural Resources Department directors. In 1975 Bill stated, “The single biggest problem facing wildlife is the loss of habitat altogether, or the loss of its availability.”

I got to know Mr. Huey while lobbying to acquire the Valles Caldera during the late ’90s. A team of environmental activists would meet frequently at the Audubon center in Santa Fe. I remember Bill’s calm demeanor, and the fact that his personal friend Sen. Domenici was willing to help, but only under a very restrictive set of conditions—financial self-sustainability.

Most of the folks involved did not like this approach, but we were all very concerned that the property faced the alternative of being turned into a development of second homes. Bill was able to keep the focus on public acquisition rather than arguing about management strategies.

Prior to these discussions, I had only spent a small amount of time on the property, thus my primary impression of this small supervolcano was of the view along the highway between Jemez Springs and Los Alamos.

The huge herd of elk was impressive even from a distance, but the true scale of the property was not evident to me until more recently. It was with Bill’s help that we preserved this land for the use of the wildlife and enjoyment by us all.

—John Buchser, chapter chair