20
Communities Cost-share Program
New
Mexico's 20 Communities Cost-share Program allows private
landowners to thin on their property at a reduced cost.
National Fire Plan monies support this program and are passed
through the state to cities, towns or counties to help defray
costs to create defensible space around homes, thin forested
private property and promote overall forest health. Ruidoso
was awarded over $1,000,000 during the 2001 and 2002  round
of grants. Through this program homeowners can be reimbursed
up to 70% of the maximum reimbursement rate per acre set
by NM State Forestry Division (NMSF). The standard for the
State program is for crown fire protection and is more strict
than Ruidoso's municipal program.
The
20 Communities Cost-share Program was administered by the
South Central Mountain Resource Conservation and Development
Council (RC&D) in 2001, but in 2002 administration was
transferred to Lincoln County. NMSF wanted a full government
entity to administer the grant and RC&D is a quasi-governmental
agency. NMSF is unable to administer the program due to
a state anti-donation clause that prohibits them from directly
distributing money to private landowners.
The
county is in the process of hiring a grant administrator
whose duties will include enforcing the 20 Communities Cost-share
Program. The county manager plans to vigorously enforce
the program to ensure landowners are actually accomplishing
what they have contracted to do and to ensure the monies
committed actually get used.
2002
was the second season for the 20 Communities Cost-share
Program for RWUIG. With these monies they have completed
projects that abut USFS property within Ruidoso and lands
that adjoin the Mescalero Reservation. They funded over
300 projects with the 2001 grant. For the 2002 round of
grants, RWUIG decided to consolidate the efforts within
the County (Alto, Ruidoso Downs and Ruidoso) in one large
grant instead of competing against each other. Lincoln County
received $600,000 for 2002. RWUIG has prioritized areas
for treatment in the southwest region of Lincoln County
and are targeting the southwest side communities as the
first line of defense.
Hazardous
Fuels Reduction Projects
Municipal
Projects
Ruidoso
created a management plan to thin forested areas on 638
acres of village property. The  plan
includes two project areas—Grindstone and Eagle Creek.
The Grindstone project is 185 acres and surrounds Grindstone
Lake, which is one of the main sources of water for Ruidoso.
The municipal land abuts USFS land and the village has thinned
to the same management prescription as the USFS to create
a uniform fuels reduction around the lake. The 438 acre
Eagle Creek project was funded in 2001 through a Collaborative
Forest Restoration Program (CFRP) grant in the amount
of $335,852. The project combines hazardous fuels reduction
with restoration work. Reyes Thinning has been awarded the
contract and began work in October 2002. The prescription
is to cut ponderosa pine up to 12 inches in diameter. The
project incorporates school kids to help with planned monitoring
work, in addition to other monitoring components. Slash
and small diameter timber will be utilized where it is accessible.
Contractors wishing to collect personal use timber or firewood
will utilize wood greater than 5 inches in diameter. Slash
material less than 5 inches in diameter will be transported
to a compost facility.
USFS
Projects
In 1995
USFS created a 13-mile fuel break around Ruidoso. So far,
the USFS has treated 2,800 acres around Ruidoso. The current
most vulnerable site is Eagle, which is 6,000 acres. Out
of these 6,000 acres they will treat 2,600. The plan is
to put out contracts for the project after October 1, 2002.
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