Courtesy of the National Park Service

Hovenweep National Monument’s annual performance plan and documents providing details about the appropriated budget and fee revenues for Fiscal Year 2000 are available for public review, as required by the National Parks Omnibus Management Act of 1998.

Highlights of the monument’s budget, which funds specific goals in the annual performance plan, include:

• $1 million for construction. The monument is planning a new visitor-contact station at the Square Tower area, with construction to begin in the early fall. An estimated $35,000 in fee revenues retained by the monument will be used to construct a handicapped-accessible trail from the new facility to the Loop Trail.

• $85,000 for resource preservation and management, including control of exotic plants such as tamarisk and resource-protection patrols by law-enforcement rangers.

• $48,000 for park administration.

• $44,100 for facility operations and maintenance. Projects include eliminating safety hazards around the area and maintaining the monument’s utility systems.

• $27,900 for visitor services, including interpretive activities such as evening programs and guided tours of the Square Tower area, and emergency training for rangers. An estimated $18,600 in fee revenues retained by the monument will be used to provide rangers at the visitor center who will collect fees and provide information.

A copy of the complete annual performance plan is available by writing to: Superintendent, Hovenweep National Monument, c/o Natural Bridges National Monument, Box 1, Lake Powell, Utah 84533.