20 Communities Cost-share Program

In 2001, the 20 Communities Cost-share Program provided Red River $246,400 to address the wildfire threat. The town targeted a group of five subdivisions located in the Upper Red River Valley (URRV) as the project area for the grant monies. The URRV sits outside of the jurisdictional lines of Red River but is considered part of the community. Although the jurisdiction belongs to Taos County, these subdivisions are included in the Red River Strategic Plan. Over 500 homes are situated on a strip of private land in a canyon bottom surrounded by Carson National Forest. There are 300 acres of forested private land in the project area. Access into and out of the URRV is one way. There are four main objectives for the project, 1) to reduce the fuel load to keep ignitions out of the crown and drop crown fires on the ground, 2) perpetuate existing aspen stands to provide a natural fuel break, 3) promote escape routes and buffer zones and 4) develop "showcase homes" to promote public commitment to defensible space. The goal is to treat two thirds of the forested aces or 200 acres in the URRV. As of January 2003, 98% of the 2001 grants were completed on 132 properties with 137 acres treated or 69% of the 200 acre goal. The town has accepted 100% of homeowners applying for the grant. The 2002 round of grants provides an additional $40,000 for continuing fuels reduction treatments in the URRV.

Another section of land included in the 2001 grants is the West Fork, a 60 acre parcel with one owner. About 44 acres were identified as treatable and thinning began. Problems developed when the landowner decided the look of the thinned property was not what she envisioned and withdrew from the program. In the end only 18 acres were treated.

In 2002, Red River received $244,000 from the 20 Communities Cost-share Program. The main target area for these monies is Red River Pass, which sits on a ridge in the eastern section of URRV. The 2002 project area is about 200 acres with a goal to treat 150 acres. There are about 80 homes in the Red River Pass and the property is being rapidly developed. A subdivision called Mountain Shadows is the priority target area. The town will pay the 30% match for the 2002 grants.

Red River did not apply for the 2003 20 Communities Cost-share Program. The expense of paying the 30% cost-share in URRV and the slow reimbursement processes for the grant program has been a drain on the town budget. The town decided to stop and assess current projects. In 2004, the town plans to target Bitter Creek as their 20 Communities project area. Continued

 

Red River Urban Interface Group (RRUIG)

RRUIG is a joint effort to deal with the wildfire threat in Red River. Ron Burnham, the Red River Fire Chief, is the driving force behind the group. The members include the Questa District Ranger (USFS), Assistant Fire Management Officer for Carson National Forest (USFS), Cimarron District Forester (NM State Forestry), Red River Fire Chief, Red River Town Administrator, and Red River Mayor. The group does not meet on a regular schedule but rather on an as needed basis. After they developed the strategic plan in 1998, the interaction between members was more through conference calls, e-mails and occasional meetings. Burnham feels they know the next steps to reduce the wildfire risk, "Getting together frequently to acknowledge the next step is not really productive". The group has been busy in 2003. RRUIG has made progress on the Strategic Plan since 1998 and the group is working to update goals and identify new priorities.

 

 

The thinning process

The initial basal area for the mixed conifer/spruce fir forests is on average 140-200 square feet per acre in Red River. The typical prescription reduces the basal area to 80-100 square feet per acre coupled with limbing to eliminate ladder fuels. Other standard prescriptions used in the project area perpetuates aspen stands because they are a natural fuel break, and promotes a clumpiness pattern to allow the homeowner a screen between the road and their neighbor.

After the property is treated, small debris is piled and burned from thinning projects. Larger timber is cut into manageable firewood size logs and stacked on the property. The property owner is responsible for using or removing these logs. The debris from defensible space projects is chipped and hauled from the property using a leased chipper. The town was awarded a 2002 Rural Development grant of $20,000 for a chipper but has not received the funds. USFS placed a hold on 2002 Rural Development grants to pay unexpected wildfire suppression costs from 2002.

 

How long to finish the buffer on private land?

There are no firm statistics on the progress or estimated completion of the buffer on private land around URRV. An estimate by Ron Burnham, is about 20% complete with a ten year time period to finish the buffer. Red River recently purchased GIS software and equipment using a USFS Community Planning grant. This tool will provide the town with the means to accurately monitor progress of their future projects.