Valles Caldera revenues down

JEMEZ SPRINGS, N.M. (AP) - The Valles Caldera Trust is blaming an economic downturn for lower revenues last year at the Valles Caldera National Preserve.

The trust released its annual report this week. Despite lower revenues, the trust says grants for scientific projects and education doubled to $3.5 million.

Executive director Gary Bratcher touted the trust's success in funding the preserve's science and education center, which is expected to open next month in Jemez Springs.

In the report, Bratcher addresses how the preserve can meet a federal mandate to become financially self-supporting by 2015. He says that can be realized only if there's a change in federal legislation, access to private capital and public support for projects that would make money.

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Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican