Project Findings - Reduce Hazardous Fuels

Collaboration is one of the core principles in the Western Governor's Association goals. Ruidoso, Red River and Silver City utilize collaborative processes to integrate the complex mix of interests, actions and resources to address their respective wildfire threats. Each community discusses or prioritizes action through their stakeholder groups to make progress in reducing hazardous fuels, thereby diminishing the threat of a wildfire.

In Santa Fe, the Santa Fe Municipal Watershed Project started out with an unprecedented collaborative effort during the plan's creation. However, the group disbanded after the plan was completed. Implementation of the plan, including the reduction of hazardous fuels in the watershed has been significantly delayed, in part due to lack of accountability and coordination on the behalf of the USFS and the community at large. Consequently, over 40% of the city's water supply remains at high risk from catastrophic wildfire.

The National Fire Plan Community Assistance grants allow New Mexico's most at-risk communities to apply for financial assistance to address their wildfire threat. Ruidoso, Red River and Silver City aggressively seek monies under these programs. There has been limited use of these Community Assistance grants in Santa Fe.

Each of the four case study communities is located near a National Forest where the wildland urban interface risk is the greatest. In each community the USFS plans projects to compliment local efforts to address the wildfire threat. In Ruidoso, Silver City and Red River, the USFS has made solid progress in implementing their plans. Progress in implementing work in Santa Fe has been less successful.

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