Project Findings - Promote Community Assistance

Utilization of small diameter timber (SDT) is a challenge for all four communities. Although there are several creative efforts underway, the SDT industry cannot support itself at this time. Until a viable living can be made from SDT, the industry will continue to be a weak link in a comprehensive response to the wildfire threat. According to Ernie Lopez, Cimarron District Forester, the challenge is finding enough value in the stem of wood to cover transportation costs to its destination. SDT value remains low and it takes a government subsidy to maintain the industry. Local utilizers make extensive use of National Fire Plan Community Assistance grants that keep the industry running.

For Sherry Barrow Strategies (SBS) in Ruidoso, transportation of SDT from fuels reduction projects has proven cost prohibitive in many cases. The 30-40 mile round trip from the National Forest to her factory makes transportation of SDT prohibitive and costly for most contractors. And contracts often do not include enough money or specific provisions to cover transportation costs to utilizers. In Silver City the cost to transport SDT from the Mill Site Project is subsidized by a Collaborative Forest Restoration Program grant. When that grant runs out, it is unclear how the SDT will be transported to sites for processing. Red River has yet to determine how profitable transporting the woodchip material to a biomass fueled facility in southern Colorado will be. Santa Fe has opted not to utilize the wood from its project and will burn or chip all the slash and timber.

In all four communities local capacity to accomplish hazardous fuels reduction work is lacking. A significant portion of large fuels reduction projects are contracted to out-of-state businesses. In some cases, local companies did not have the workforce or the equipment to take on a large project. In other cases, local companies did not understand the contract process and failed to make a bid. An additional problem is the inconsistent work opportunities. A thriving local industry can not be built from seasonal and irregular work. Until communities are able to offer constant work opportunities in fuels reduction, local capacity for fuels reduction projects will remain inadequate.

An additional way New Mexico and the USFS are incentivizing communities is through National Fire Plan Community Assistance grants. New Mexico and the USFS disbursed over $18,000,000 in FY2001 and FY2002 through these grants. One program, the 20 Communities Cost-share Program, has been successful in assisting private landowners to reduce hazardous fuels on their property. Over $4,000,000 has been dedicated to various communities in New Mexico in FY 2001 and FY 2002. Initially, many people were unsure if homeowners would elect to participate in the program. But, Silver City, Ruidoso and Red River saw a "domino effect" the first year. After one homeowner created defensible space, neighbors liked the look and sign up for the grant. This program has not been used effectively in Santa Fe. View graph of NFP grant dollars per resident (as PDF)

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