By: Chaco Culture Conservancy
The Chaco Culture Conservancy (CCC), the official philanthropic partner of Chaco Culture National Historical Park, is encouraging public awareness and informed engagement as federal agencies review long-term protections surrounding the world-renowned Chaco Canyon and surrounding archeological sites.
Recent headlines have brought renewed attention to the potential for changes to the 10-mile oil and gas leasing buffer currently surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park. These discussions focus on public lands primarily managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), not lands within the National Park Service or those belonging to Tribal Nations.
On October 30, 2025, the BLM Farmington Field Office announced it is beginning formal consultation with Tribal Nations and affiliated Pueblos on potential changes to Public Land Order 7923, which established the 10-mile buffer around Chaco Culture National Historical Park. The process includes environmental review, Tribal consultation, and a 14-day public comment period.
“As the nonprofit partner supporting the National Park Service at Chaco Culture and Aztec Ruins, our role is to help the public understand the profound importance of Chaco and the impacts of potential changes,” said Phoebe Redfield, Executive Director of the Chaco Culture Conservancy. “It’s important for the public to have that clarity, especially as the issue gains national attention.”
The Conservancy strongly supports the public’s right to access accurate information and to participate in official comment processes once they open. “We believe that informed dialogue helps strengthen preservation,” Redfield continued. “Chaco Culture National Historical Park is among the most extraordinary cultural landscapes in the world. The public’s voices matter, and informed participation helps ensure that decisions about this landscape reflect care, understanding, and respect.”
Chaco Culture National Historical Park and nearby Aztec Ruins National Monument are recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites for their exceptional archeological and cultural significance. The land surrounding Chaco Culture includes a complex mosaic of public, private, and Tribal lands.
In 2023, the Department of the Interior announced the 20-year withdrawal of new oil and gas leasing on federal lands within a 10-mile radius of Chaco Culture National Historical Park. The withdrawal was designed to provide additional review and consultation regarding potential development on public lands managed by the BLM.
In a recent interview with KSJE radio, archeologist Paul Reed of Archaeology Southwest noted that the lands protected by the exclusion zone have not historically been considered areas with high drilling or mining potential. The zone’s focus has been on safeguarding cultural landscapes, water resources, and dark skies while supporting ongoing consultation with the 26 Pueblos and Tribes traditionally affiliated with Chaco.
The National Park Service has long underscored the importance of maintaining the region’s archeological sites, dark skies, air quality, and visual integrity as well as protecting Chaco’s sole drinking water source within the Gallup Sandstone aquifer. These resources, along with thousands of ancestral sites that make up the Greater Chaco system, could face new pressures if the current 10-mile buffer were to be reduced or revoked.
“The preservation of our cultural heritage and our national parks endure through the dedication of the public,” Redfield said. “It’s the people who stand up to ensure these places remain protected for generations to come. That collective care shows our elected officials the value of these landscapes and the need to preserve them.”
The Bureau of Land Management will provide opportunities for public input, during an upcoming comment period potentially as short as two weeks, as part of the review process. The CCC encourages interested individuals to stay informed, explore a variety of credible sources, and engage thoughtfully as federal agencies seek input from Pueblos, other Tribes, local communities, and the public at large.
To learn more about the Chaco landscape, its history, and ongoing preservation efforts, visit: www.chacoculture.org or follow the Conservancy on Facebook and Instagram for updates.
The Chaco Culture Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Chaco Culture National Historical Park and Aztec Ruins National Monument. Through fundraising, community outreach, and partnership development, the CCC works to preserve the cultural and natural resources of these UNESCO World Heritage Sites and National Historic Landmarks while fostering public engagement and stewardship.
If you believe in protecting Chaco and Aztec, consider supporting the Chaco Culture Conservancy. Become a Friend if you aren’t already, share our story, and support our Parks. Together, we can make sure the story of these sacred sites continues, even in the hardest moments.
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