USFS Projects

The U.S. Forest Service plays a pivotal role in all areas prioritized by the Red River Urban Interface Group. The first priority is Pioneer Canyon which borders the town and is located in Carson National Forest. Pioneer Canyon provides critical infrastructure to Red River in two ways. First, since the town's one water tank and a majority of the town's well water are situated in the canyon, a fire incident could significantly affect the town's water supply. Second, a fire in Pioneer Canyon, could destroy the Red River Ski Area, the winter economic base for the town. The USFS and Red River plan to thin this steep and densely wooded canyon. In 2002 the USFS began the archeological survey(AS) and biological evaluation and assessment (BE&A) in Pioneer Canyon. No Mexican spotted owl (MSO) surveys were planned. Previously in 1997, USFS District 3 and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) agreed that if the USFS maintained a minimum basal area appropriate for suitable MSO habitat and the thinning supported a wildland urban interface project within a half mile of private land, then MSO surveys would not be required. However, in 2002 the Regional Office reviewed the agreement and decided the programmatic agreement did not conform to the Forest Plan. So, the planning process for the Pioneer Canyon project required an extra two years to complete MSO surveys. The AS and BE&A continue to move ahead and should be completed in the summer of 2003. The planned NEPA process is an Environmental Assessment and will begin as soon as the surveys are completed. Pioneer Canyon is about 4000 acres. Due to topography and the lack of roads, the Forest Service estimates only 125 acres, or 3% of Pioneer Canyon, will be treated. One plan is for Red River to use grant money to improve water crossings and pullouts on the road to facilitate thinning. Currently, the Forest Service closes Pioneer Canyon to motorized access when the fire danger is high.

The Red River water treatment plant is the second priority designated by the Red River Urban Interface Group. The eight-mile stretch of Highway 38, west of Red River, is lined with six National Forest campgrounds that attract campers throughout the year. The potential of a camper ignited wildfire is increased due to the prevailing southwest winds which could push a wildfire up the small canyon road and directly toward Red River. The USFS Questa District received $60,000 to thin the ponderosa pine forests along Highway 38 and the land surrounding the Red River water treatment plant. The thinning project started five miles west of Red River and followed the road up to the town boundary. About 300 acres of actual thinning were completed at a cost of $200-$300 an acre. The contract was let to a company in Arizona. There were no bidders from the local area even though the information was advertised. The goal of USFS Questa District is to better educate local businesses so they can take advantage of future projects.

The third priority designated for Red River is the Upper Red River Valley. The Forest Service began planning a project in 1996-97 to compliment the town's efforts on private property by creating a buffer on the public land bordering the subdivisions. This project involves 125 acres and thinning will begin in mid 2003. The project area is currently marked and open for firewood gathering. However, there is no public access to the marked trees. Since Red River is already saturated with firewood from ongoing thinning projects on private land, little wood is being taken from the project area. During the next Environmental Assessment the Forest Service plans to create a broader belt around the URRV. The broader belt phase will likely begin in 2004 or 2005.