Hubbell Trading Post Cultural Landscape Report

DEVELOPMENT ALTERNATIVES (continued)

Issue 4: Associated Lands

Briefly this study addresses some of the associated lands that are significant with regard to the Hubbell's historic land use patterns and continue to be significant to the Hubbell landscape to the present day. These include Hubbell Hill, the holding pond - reservoir and adjoining field to the north, and Ganado Dam and the main irrigation canal. Other adjacent lands are significant in their potential to have effects upon the visual quality of the historic landscape and its overall character.

Hubbell Hill

This prominent landscape feature is highly significant with regard to the Hubbell property in that seven of the Hubbell family members are buried there and it was used by the family as a place for contemplation and escape.

If ever the future acquisition of this site from Navajo Nation is possible, it may be desirable. However the hill should remain undeveloped and unchanged as it has remained throughout the years. In fact, members of the family personally requested that the hill be left natural and not made to "look like a cemetery."

Holding Pond-Irrigation Reservoir (and Adjoining Agricultural Field to the North)

Although never officially included within his homestead boundary, Hubbell constructed this reservoir to provide irrigation waters to his surrounding fields. The small field located immediately north of the reservoir was also cultivated by Hubbell and was part of a much larger 16 acre field. Both of these areas are outside of the park boundary and under private ownership.

If the park hopes to rehabilitate the agricultural fields associated with the Hubbell landscape, the use of the historic reservoir is essential as it will facilitate the use of the historic irrigation system for not only the field to its north but to the big field located to the west. It is recommended that the park strive to work out an agreement with the current owner to allow for rehabilitation of the reservoir and the irrigation head ditch and lateral ditches. The agreement could be beneficial to the owner as it would provide him irrigable waters to his small field as well as to the Park Service fields beyond.

Ganado Dam and Main Irrigation Canal

Over the past several years, the National Park Service has actively worked for the reconstruction of the Ganado Dam and reservoir and finally in May of 1994 the project was underway. In September of 1994 the dam was completed and the Bureau of Reclamation noted that within three to five years there should be adequate water in the reservoir to allow for irrigation uses.

For the park to consider rehabilitation of the agricultural fields the 2.5 miles of the main irrigation canal must be operable and provide service from the newly established reservoir to the historic site. The next step for the National Park Service is to work with the Ganado Farm Board to encourage the rehabilitation of the main canal and its operational features such as the flumes, reverse siphons, and sluice gates. It is possible that this can be undertaken as a multi-agency and community effort using a combination of day labor, work-corps, and volunteer crews.

Other Adjacent Lands

The surrounding lands that fall outside of the park boundary are very significant with regard to the overall integrity of the Hubbell landscape in that they provide the setting for this historic resource. Although there have been some changes over the years with regard to development there have only been minor changes with regard to land use. Much of the land around the park is open in character and continues to be used for open range. The developments that have occurred are sited so that they have minimal, if any visual impacts to the historic resource.

Because of the open visual character of the surrounding landscape proposed new developments on adjoining lands have a strong potential for adversely affecting the overall setting for this site. The introduction of large scale structures, high density exterior lighting, or other similar commercial or non-residential development in the immediate vicinity of the park could have detrimental effects.

It is therefore recommended that the park become actively engaged with the community, adjacent landowners, and potential developers to help identify potential conflicts and to work to ensure that proposed new developments are visually compatible with the historic resources of the park (scale, materials, colors, design, etc.) if at all possible.