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| 6/29/2010 6:00:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article |
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Courtesy photo/Christopher Marona
Morefield Campground will now be available to serve as a starting point for people who don’t wish to drive the 20 miles into Mesa Verde National Park to take a tour of the cliff dwellings. |
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Mesa Verde lives up to green name
Morefield Campground efforts include ways to save water, reduce traffic
Hope Nealson
Journal Staff Writer
Green efforts are underway at Mesa Verde National Park's Morefield Campground, curbing the flow of millions of gallons of water as well as reducing carbon footprints by offering campers access to guided tours from their tent flaps.
"We are obliged to operate in the most sustainable way possible," said Judi Swain, the director of sales and marketing for Aramark, which operates the campground, restaurant and resorts in Mesa Verde National Park. "We took a look at our water consumption last year and said: 'This is crazy. Let's see what we can do to save water.'"
In a joint effort between Mesa Verde National Park and Aramark, environmental upgrades like 23 water meters were installed throughout Morefield Campground, saving 1.3 million gallons of water in 2009 and further reducing expected water usage in 2010. The most recent environmental upgrades included waterless toilets installed at the campground.
"It's not terribly glamorous, but it's a huge water savings," Swain said. "And the whole revamping of the water system, including the metering system, helps us save an awful lot of water, both cost saving and conservation process. All the water that comes into the park is piped in, so we want to conserve water in every way possible."
Also, to reduce the number of cars driving in and out of the park, tours will be offered from the campground, four miles from the Mesa Verde Park entrance off U.S. Highway 160.
The 19-mile drive from the park's entrance to the visitors center and museum where tours are sold on the top of the mesa takes anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes one way.
"The big deal about that is people don't have to drive into the park to get the tour. so it's really convenient," said Swain.
Another first begins later this week, when guests will be able to pick up tickets for the guided tours at the Southwest Colorado Welcome Center, located at 928 E. Main St. in Cortez.
The company's green efforts have spread beyond the campground to its entire park network, diverting 94,000 pounds of recyclables from landfills over the past two years. Swain said recycling No. 1 plastic bottles and cardboard make up the largest portion.
Officials also consolidated some campsites, reducing the number of sites from 425 to 380 to provide more spacious, larger wooded sites, Swaim said.
Swain added the campground is about 19 percent ahead of last year in occupancy.
"We get close to selling out on the big holiday weekends but especially midweek there is space available at Morefield," she said. "It's one of the most beautiful campgrounds in the West with beautiful Gambel oaks, and the wildlife is spectacular."
Morefield Campground is the entry point for three of the park's five hiking trails. Campers can explore Morefield or Chapin Mesa trail heads that provide access to miles of trails for hikers of all skill levels.
One of the tours, the Far View Explorer Tour, will take guests to the most popular Far View archaeological sites, including the third largest cliff dwelling, Spruce Tree House.
For more information, visit http://www.visitmesaverde.com/ or call (866) 292-8295.
Reach Hope Nealson at hopen@cortezjournal.com.
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