|
Home |
Search the Database |
Display Index |
Contact Us |
Database Login
|
The national database of state and local wildfire hazard mitigation programs
serves as a clearinghouse of information about nonfederal policies and
programs that seek to reduce the risk of loss of life and property through
the reduction of hazardous fuels on private lands. If
you would like to submit a program to the national wildfire programs database,
please complete the following form (MS
Word).
Return to your search results or Perform a new search
|
Title: |
New Mexico -- The 20 Community Strategy
|
|
Type: |
Regulatory
Homeowner assistance
Fuelbreaks
Firewise community recognition programs
Education
Designation of high risk areas
|
|
Jurisdiction: |
State
|
|
State: |
New Mexico
|
|
Program Description: |
New Mexico's lead agency for dealing with wildfire mitigation in Wildland-Urban Interface areas is the Forestry Division of the New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD).
Forestry Division's first goal was to identify those communities most vulnerable to fire, and to provide them with the tools needed to reduce the wildfire hazard risk. The goal emphasizes the need to protect homes within the communities, develop fuel breaks for firefighting, and thin forestlands adjacent to residential areas. Resources for the 20 communities identified as being at highest risk for wildfire are available at 20 Most Vulnerable Communities.
20 Community Strategy
An objective system was created to rate the danger to all communities. The criteria include:
- Proximity of vegetation type to homes
- Availability of water
- Ease of evacuation
- Topography - ridge, valley, slope and exposure
- Type of fuels (forest type)
- Number and size of previous fires
- Direction of prevailing winds in each community
- Ability of community/subdivision to protect homes.
This assessment led to the creation of the "Twenty Community Strategy". The 20 communities identified as being most vulnerable to fire are: Angel Fire/Black Lake, Capitan/Lincoln, Catron County, Cloudcroft, East Mountains, Espanola Bosque, Galinas Watershed, Greater Jemez, Los Alamos, Manzano Mountains, Mayhill/Timberon, Middle Rio Bosque. Mora County Interface, Moreno Valley, Northern Rio Arriba, Pecos, Red River, Ruidoso, Santa Fe Watershed, Silver City Area, Taos Canyon/Shadybrook.
Community Responses to Wildland Fire Threats in New Mexico, is a study by researchers at North Carolina State University which documents local actions taken to reduce risk in four of these 20 communities. These actions include adoption of ordinances, implementation of cost-share programs for creating defensible space on private land, and public education programs. Santa Fe and Village of Ruidoso have adopted the first vegetation management ordinances in New Mexico which require defensible space around homes.
Implementation
The implementation plan for the Twenty Community Strategy emphasizes partnerships between state and federal agencies, and county and local governments to assess risk, protect communities, and restore forest ecosystems. Some of the accomplishments to date include:
- Fifteen communities have begun assessments to evaluate the risks of surrounding forests.
- Plans are being designed to identify future projects and set funding priorities.
- Santa Fe County was the first community to complete its assessment. This led to the adoption of the first wildland fire safety ordinance for homeowners in New Mexico.
- Defensible space projects are underway to thin forests and create fire-safe homes in high-risk areas.
- In 2001, ENMRD provided $2.2 million dollars in flow-through projects to twelve communities. The funding is assisting 600 landowner projects on 6,500 acres.
- Ten communities received an additional $2.1 million dollars for projects in the spring of 2002.
- An additional $1.2 is pending for fuels treatment from FEMA for Las Vegas and Ruidoso.
- New Mexico federal land management agencies report spending $88 million dollars on fuels treatment, completing 50 projects that treated 135,000 acres bordering on seventeen of the twenty communities.
- 8 Firewise workshops have been held around the state to increase public awareness of the WUI problem and techniques for firewise living.
In each of the 20 targeted communities assessments of the existing problem are being done and community-based teams have been organized to plan projects and set priorities. Each community is developing its own information and education program.
Project Descriptions
20 Community Grants provides a list of projects funded under NFP in New Mexico. Most of these projects are for thinning of trees in forest areas adjacent to communities, and creating defensible space around homes.
Contact Information
For more information, contact Karen Lightfoot at her email address, or by phone (505)867-2334.
|
|
