Glenwood, NM; May 2, 2013--The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) has opened NM State Highway 159 (Bursum Road) today, May 2, 2013. Prior to re-opening, NMDOT completed the majority of its annual spring maintenance along the road.
Bursum Road is closed annually during the winter months as it is a high-elevation road prone to icy, snowpacked conditions; it re-opens annually during the month of May.
Motorists can expect roadbed conditions to be rough and rocky, and are asked to slow down and exercise caution on the Mogollon-to-Willow Creek portion of the road to avoid tire and vehicle damage.
Bursum Road is paved up to the Community of Mogollon and reverts to native material as it climbs into the mountains. Narrow and winding, the road is characterized as single lane with turnouts. Recommended vehicle length is 20’ maximum. An alternative route for motorists having larger vehicles is Forest Road 141, south of the Community of Reserve.
For further information, contact the Glenwood Ranger District office at (575) 539-2481.
Showing posts with label Catron. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Catron. Show all posts
Friday, May 3, 2013
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Widlfire season in New Mexico
Wildfire season approaches in Catron County in western New Mexico http://
Monday, April 16, 2012
San Augustin Water Grab: A Battle Won But Not the War
A Battle Won But Not the War
Cathie R. Eisen
Walking Water Consulting
PO Box 133
Nogal, New Mexico
April 8, 2012
Across the southern states a battle is raging for our most precious resource. The value of water has reached a premium, and it will only increase with time. As the cities and counties of the west continue to grow, so does the need for new water sources to support their ever increasing demands. While the quest for oil is on the forefront of everyone's mind, dollar for dollar, water is by far more valuable. We can live without oil if necessary, but we must have water to survive. During the past few years, several applications have been submitted to the State Engineers Office in New Mexico for the purpose of tapping into the deeper aquifers, waters which were previously deemed unusable and were until now unprotected from such requests. One by one, they have been protested and denied. This is not the end of the effort. Future legislation will support these requests as our cities continue to grow along with the residential demand for additional supplies; water for sanitary and domestic water use is and always will be a priority to developers and communities. The health and welfare of the masses could easily trump the livelihood of the rural ranchers. They are few, rural residents are many.
The people of the San Augustin Plains in Catron County, New Mexico have been granted a temporary reprieve. New Mexico State Engineer, Scott Verhines recently denied an application for water rights which was filed by the San Augustin Plains Ranch LLC. This application, if granted, would allow the applicant the right to pump as much as 54,000 acre feet per annum (54 million gallons/day) of the deep waters that course beneath the rolling grasslands of western New Mexico. These waters, the "Blood of the Plains," support a fragile ecosystem of man and beast, the last vestiges of our great western culture, history still living and breathing, and depending on what little water remains after years of drought. These are the sacred waters for which the Warm Spring Apaches were named; the same water filled the wells that provided sustenance for the homesteaders and still support their ancestors today. Cattle were watered from these wells as they were herded across the Driveway Trail to the railhead in Magdalena to be shipped to the stockyards. They too followed a long history of necessity, providing sustenance of a different sort to the masses further east and supporting a way of life that could not have existed but for the sparse plentitude of these waters.
Having participated in a study of the water resources of the San Agustin Plains, which was in part spurred by the application for water rights, I have a vested interest in the outcome of this and any future applications. I have seen firsthand the quality of the people and the place, along with how the scarce water resources have defined their way of life. Water, an essential for our survival, the same which has been battled over from the first moment any living creature came to live in the arid Plains of New Mexico, or any other, has defined the edict of the survival of the fittest.
The dwellers of the San Augustin Plains and all of their supporters have won a battle, but not the war. The quest for water to provide for the insidious growth of our cities has only just begun, and one need only look around the corner to see the evidence of that. Now is not the time to celebrate but rather to redouble the effort required to protect this precious element of our survival. Though the battle to maintain control over the future uses of the water resources in Catron County was a heated one, the next will be even tougher. Rest assured the protestors are not the only ones who have learned a lesson. None of us are eager to volunteer for more government regulation of our land and water, but in the end these will be the only defense. We are all punished by the worst person's behavior. It will prove better to establish our own rules and regulations on a local platform rather than wait to have them imposed upon us. The State Engineers Office has their statutes and in this instance stepped up to the plate but they encourage the individual counties to identify and establish their own guidelines, to assure they are specific to their individual needs. Documentation and regulation allows for the application and utilization of water resources to be managed in a conscientious and sustainable manner. Those parameters must be clearly defined to prevent them from being circumvented or misused.
In depth studies have been conducted over a large area of the San Agustin Plains but there is very little substantive hydrological data available for this area. Before decisions can be made regarding any additional demands on the water supply, data must be amassed and utilized to establish the best management practices for now and in the future. The County Commission and the residents need to pool their energies and expertise toward constructing a regulatory platform to assure any application for a water right in their jurisdiction is subject to guidelines that will protect resources, along with the customs, culture and way of life they support. This is the lesson they, and all residents of our Great Plains States should pay close attention to. This is only the beginning of a lengthy and vicious battle. New people are moving to the west every day, all of them demanding their share of the same water we depend on for survival. Historically, this part of the country has been sparsely populated, and the old timers are quick to point out the reason, there ain't much water out here!
I am certified by the New Mexico Environmental Department Operator Certification Bureau as a Level Four Water/Wastewater Operator. While employed by New Mexico Tech Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources I served as a Hydrological Field Technician and participated in an aquifer mapping project administered from 2009 through 2011. This study served to characterize the water resources of the San Agustin Plains and the surrounding area. I have since written a book titled, "Washed In The Blood of The Plains" based on the time I spent in Catron County conducting the study, which will be submitted for publication in the near future. Part of the profits from the book will be contributed to future efforts of the San Agustin Water Coalition to protect the water resources they are so judiciously defending.
Cathie R. Eisen
Walking Water Consulting
PO Box 133
Nogal, New Mexico
April 8, 2012
Across the southern states a battle is raging for our most precious resource. The value of water has reached a premium, and it will only increase with time. As the cities and counties of the west continue to grow, so does the need for new water sources to support their ever increasing demands. While the quest for oil is on the forefront of everyone's mind, dollar for dollar, water is by far more valuable. We can live without oil if necessary, but we must have water to survive. During the past few years, several applications have been submitted to the State Engineers Office in New Mexico for the purpose of tapping into the deeper aquifers, waters which were previously deemed unusable and were until now unprotected from such requests. One by one, they have been protested and denied. This is not the end of the effort. Future legislation will support these requests as our cities continue to grow along with the residential demand for additional supplies; water for sanitary and domestic water use is and always will be a priority to developers and communities. The health and welfare of the masses could easily trump the livelihood of the rural ranchers. They are few, rural residents are many.
The people of the San Augustin Plains in Catron County, New Mexico have been granted a temporary reprieve. New Mexico State Engineer, Scott Verhines recently denied an application for water rights which was filed by the San Augustin Plains Ranch LLC. This application, if granted, would allow the applicant the right to pump as much as 54,000 acre feet per annum (54 million gallons/day) of the deep waters that course beneath the rolling grasslands of western New Mexico. These waters, the "Blood of the Plains," support a fragile ecosystem of man and beast, the last vestiges of our great western culture, history still living and breathing, and depending on what little water remains after years of drought. These are the sacred waters for which the Warm Spring Apaches were named; the same water filled the wells that provided sustenance for the homesteaders and still support their ancestors today. Cattle were watered from these wells as they were herded across the Driveway Trail to the railhead in Magdalena to be shipped to the stockyards. They too followed a long history of necessity, providing sustenance of a different sort to the masses further east and supporting a way of life that could not have existed but for the sparse plentitude of these waters.
Having participated in a study of the water resources of the San Agustin Plains, which was in part spurred by the application for water rights, I have a vested interest in the outcome of this and any future applications. I have seen firsthand the quality of the people and the place, along with how the scarce water resources have defined their way of life. Water, an essential for our survival, the same which has been battled over from the first moment any living creature came to live in the arid Plains of New Mexico, or any other, has defined the edict of the survival of the fittest.
The dwellers of the San Augustin Plains and all of their supporters have won a battle, but not the war. The quest for water to provide for the insidious growth of our cities has only just begun, and one need only look around the corner to see the evidence of that. Now is not the time to celebrate but rather to redouble the effort required to protect this precious element of our survival. Though the battle to maintain control over the future uses of the water resources in Catron County was a heated one, the next will be even tougher. Rest assured the protestors are not the only ones who have learned a lesson. None of us are eager to volunteer for more government regulation of our land and water, but in the end these will be the only defense. We are all punished by the worst person's behavior. It will prove better to establish our own rules and regulations on a local platform rather than wait to have them imposed upon us. The State Engineers Office has their statutes and in this instance stepped up to the plate but they encourage the individual counties to identify and establish their own guidelines, to assure they are specific to their individual needs. Documentation and regulation allows for the application and utilization of water resources to be managed in a conscientious and sustainable manner. Those parameters must be clearly defined to prevent them from being circumvented or misused.
In depth studies have been conducted over a large area of the San Agustin Plains but there is very little substantive hydrological data available for this area. Before decisions can be made regarding any additional demands on the water supply, data must be amassed and utilized to establish the best management practices for now and in the future. The County Commission and the residents need to pool their energies and expertise toward constructing a regulatory platform to assure any application for a water right in their jurisdiction is subject to guidelines that will protect resources, along with the customs, culture and way of life they support. This is the lesson they, and all residents of our Great Plains States should pay close attention to. This is only the beginning of a lengthy and vicious battle. New people are moving to the west every day, all of them demanding their share of the same water we depend on for survival. Historically, this part of the country has been sparsely populated, and the old timers are quick to point out the reason, there ain't much water out here!
I am certified by the New Mexico Environmental Department Operator Certification Bureau as a Level Four Water/Wastewater Operator. While employed by New Mexico Tech Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources I served as a Hydrological Field Technician and participated in an aquifer mapping project administered from 2009 through 2011. This study served to characterize the water resources of the San Agustin Plains and the surrounding area. I have since written a book titled, "Washed In The Blood of The Plains" based on the time I spent in Catron County conducting the study, which will be submitted for publication in the near future. Part of the profits from the book will be contributed to future efforts of the San Agustin Water Coalition to protect the water resources they are so judiciously defending.
Monday, April 9, 2012
San Augustin Water Grab Decision Appealed
A legal notice of appeal of the NM Office of State Engineer decision to deny the San Augustin Ranch LLC 's water grab application was published in today's Albuquerque Journal. http://legals.abqjournal.com/legals/show/279214
"NOTICE OF APPEAL DE NOVO FROM ORDER OF THE STATE ENGINEER Applicant/Appellant Augustin Plains Ranch, LLC, pursuant to NMSA 1978, Section 72-7-1, hereby appeals de novo from the State Engineer's Order Denying Application dated March 30, 2012, in the above-referenced New Mexico State Engineer ("OSE") proceeding. Dated April 5, 2012. Respectfully submitted, /s/ John B. Draper John B. Draper Jeffrey J. Wechsler Montgomery & Andrews"
Monday, April 2, 2012
San Augustin Water Grab DENIED!
The Augustin Plains Ranch LLC application has been turned down by the New Mexico Office of State Engineer. San Augustin Water Coalition's Attorney, Bruce Frederick, as confirmed that the State Engineer has said no to every part of the application.
A copy of the order may be viewed here.
"Congratulations to you all for hanging in there and not giving up," said SAWC's Carol Pittman. "Keep in mind that the Ranch has the right to appeal, but according to Bruce the appeal would be in Catron County."
"You may want to think about a donation to the Law Center as a “thank you” to Bruce for all he has done for us to get us to this victory," Pittman said. "He has charged us nothing for his time and he worked very hard for us. In addition he kept his expenses as low as he could."
Donations may be sent to:
New Mexico Environmental Law Center
1405 Luisa Street, Suite 5
Santa Fe, NM 87501
A copy of the order may be viewed here.
"Congratulations to you all for hanging in there and not giving up," said SAWC's Carol Pittman. "Keep in mind that the Ranch has the right to appeal, but according to Bruce the appeal would be in Catron County."
"You may want to think about a donation to the Law Center as a “thank you” to Bruce for all he has done for us to get us to this victory," Pittman said. "He has charged us nothing for his time and he worked very hard for us. In addition he kept his expenses as low as he could."
Donations may be sent to:
New Mexico Environmental Law Center
1405 Luisa Street, Suite 5
Santa Fe, NM 87501
Thursday, March 22, 2012
East Centerfire Prescribed Fire to Commence on Quemado RD
Silver City, NM: March 22, 2012--Pending favorable weather conditions, the Quemado Ranger District on the Gila National Forest is planning on conducting black lining on the East Centerfire Prescribed Fire between March 26 and March 30, 2012, and returning in April to finish burning the interior. Once the black lining starts, the prescribed fire is expected to take a week or so to complete.
Black lining: Before a prescribed fire, black lining is conducted to reburn fuels adjacent to a control line and is usually done in heavy fuels during periods of low fire danger to reduce heat on holding crews and lessen chances for spotting across the control line.
Objectives: improve wildlife habitat, watershed conditions, and reduce fire danger.
Planned acreage: 2,416 (includes 300 to 500 acres of black lining)
Location: in the Centerfire Bog area south of County Road B012, approximately 6 miles northeast of Luna, NM.
Smoke will be visible in the Luna Valley and Armijo Springs area during early morning and evening hours and is expected to decrease as daytime temperatures increase.
Further information: District Fire Management Officer Nate Nozie, (575) 773-4678.
Fire personnel will closely monitor the prescribed fire throughout its duration.
Objectives: improve wildlife habitat, watershed conditions, and reduce fire danger.
Planned acreage: 2,416 (includes 300 to 500 acres of black lining)
Location: in the Centerfire Bog area south of County Road B012, approximately 6 miles northeast of Luna, NM.
Smoke will be visible in the Luna Valley and Armijo Springs area during early morning and evening hours and is expected to decrease as daytime temperatures increase.
Further information: District Fire Management Officer Nate Nozie, (575) 773-4678.
Fire personnel will closely monitor the prescribed fire throughout its duration.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Free Health Screening in Catron County
Project HOPE will be returning to Reserve, Quemado and Glenwood to conduct more free screenings for the community. We provide free testing for glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index and A1C tests for those already diagnosed as diabetics. Participants do not have to fast in order to take these tests – just drink plenty of water before coming. Participants will have a written copy of their test results when they leave the screening, which they can share with their doctor.
We will also be conducting an eye exam which will check for diseases of the eye. This test does not dilate the eyes so there will be no problems with driving afterwards.
Reserve
When: Mon, March 19, 2012
Time: 9:00am to 3:00pm
Where: Reserve PMS
Address:
#1 Foster Lane
Reserve
Phone: (575) 533-6456
Quemado
When: Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Time: 2:00pm to 6:00pm
Where: Quemado PMS
Address:
8 Old Town Loop
Quemado
Phone: (575) 773-4610
Glenwood
When: Thu, March 22, 2012
Time: 9:30am to 2:30pm
Where: Glenwood PMS
Address:
21 Menges Street
Glenwood
Phone: (575) 533-6456
We will also be conducting an eye exam which will check for diseases of the eye. This test does not dilate the eyes so there will be no problems with driving afterwards.
Reserve
When: Mon, March 19, 2012
Time: 9:00am to 3:00pm
Where: Reserve PMS
Address:
#1 Foster Lane
Reserve
Phone: (575) 533-6456
Quemado
When: Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Time: 2:00pm to 6:00pm
Where: Quemado PMS
Address:
8 Old Town Loop
Quemado
Phone: (575) 773-4610
Glenwood
When: Thu, March 22, 2012
Time: 9:30am to 2:30pm
Where: Glenwood PMS
Address:
21 Menges Street
Glenwood
Phone: (575) 533-6456
Sunday, February 5, 2012
SAN AUGUSTIN PLAINS WATER GRAB MOTIONS TO BE HEARD 02/07/12
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, February 03, 2012
SAN AUGUSTIN PLAINS WATER GRAB MOTIONS TO BE HEARD
SANTA FE, N.M.— After four years of delays and false starts, the State Engineer is finally hearing motions to dismiss an application to take 54,000 acre-feet of groundwater annually from Catron County. The application, filed by a New York based corporation, is being protested by over 200 residents who live in and around Datil, NM – an area known as the San Augustin Plains. The residents fear that the San Augustin basin that supplies their wells with water and contributes flow to the Rio Grande and Gila River stream systems will be decimated if the application is granted. The New Mexico Environmental Law Center (NMELC) represents over 80 Protestants.
NMELC filed a motion to dismiss the application one year ago. “The application must be thrown out because it does not comply with basic New Mexico law,” said Bruce Frederick, NMELC Staff Attorney. “The corporation’s application seeks a permit to use or sell a vast amount of water for any purpose within seven New Mexico counties. Under New Mexico law, however, the corporation was required to identify exactly how and where it intends to use the water, and its failure to do so means that the State Engineer cannot consider or approve its application.”
WHO: New Mexico Environmental Law Center
WHAT: Hearing before State Engineer addressing motions to dismiss the water rights application
WHERE: Socorro County Courthouse
200 Church Street
Socorro, New Mexico, 87801
575-835-0050
WHEN: Tuesday, February 7th, 10:00 a.m.
INTERVIEWS AND IMAGES ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
www.nmelc.org
CONTACT:
Juana Colón
Wk: 505-989-9022, ext. 21
The mission of the New Mexico Environmental Law Center is to protect New Mexico's natural environment and achieve environmental justice for New Mexico's communities through legal representation, policy advocacy and public education. The New Mexico Environmental Law Center’s attorneys have handled over 100 critical cases in low-income and minority communities fighting pollution and environmental degradation. The NMELC charges few, if any, fees to its clients, most of who are from Hispanic and Native American communities. The NMELC celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2008. Membership and gifts help New Mexico communities protect their natural environment and their health from toxic pollution, the degrading effects of growth and liabilities created by irresponsible mining. Call Sebia Hawkins, Director of Development 505-989-9022, ext. 27 for more information.
###
Friday, February 03, 2012
SAN AUGUSTIN PLAINS WATER GRAB MOTIONS TO BE HEARD
SANTA FE, N.M.— After four years of delays and false starts, the State Engineer is finally hearing motions to dismiss an application to take 54,000 acre-feet of groundwater annually from Catron County. The application, filed by a New York based corporation, is being protested by over 200 residents who live in and around Datil, NM – an area known as the San Augustin Plains. The residents fear that the San Augustin basin that supplies their wells with water and contributes flow to the Rio Grande and Gila River stream systems will be decimated if the application is granted. The New Mexico Environmental Law Center (NMELC) represents over 80 Protestants.
NMELC filed a motion to dismiss the application one year ago. “The application must be thrown out because it does not comply with basic New Mexico law,” said Bruce Frederick, NMELC Staff Attorney. “The corporation’s application seeks a permit to use or sell a vast amount of water for any purpose within seven New Mexico counties. Under New Mexico law, however, the corporation was required to identify exactly how and where it intends to use the water, and its failure to do so means that the State Engineer cannot consider or approve its application.”
WHO: New Mexico Environmental Law Center
WHAT: Hearing before State Engineer addressing motions to dismiss the water rights application
WHERE: Socorro County Courthouse
200 Church Street
Socorro, New Mexico, 87801
575-835-0050
WHEN: Tuesday, February 7th, 10:00 a.m.
INTERVIEWS AND IMAGES ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
www.nmelc.org
CONTACT:
Juana Colón
Wk: 505-989-9022, ext. 21
The mission of the New Mexico Environmental Law Center is to protect New Mexico's natural environment and achieve environmental justice for New Mexico's communities through legal representation, policy advocacy and public education. The New Mexico Environmental Law Center’s attorneys have handled over 100 critical cases in low-income and minority communities fighting pollution and environmental degradation. The NMELC charges few, if any, fees to its clients, most of who are from Hispanic and Native American communities. The NMELC celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2008. Membership and gifts help New Mexico communities protect their natural environment and their health from toxic pollution, the degrading effects of growth and liabilities created by irresponsible mining. Call Sebia Hawkins, Director of Development 505-989-9022, ext. 27 for more information.
###
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Catron County Commission Meeting Date Change
The regular scheduled Catron County Commission Meeting for Wednesday, January 18, 2012 has been changed to Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 9:00 AM. Meetings will resume their regular schedule Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 9:00 AM. Meetings will be held in the Commission Meeting room on the 2nd floor of the Catron County Courthouse. Agendas will be available before the meetings at www.catroncounty.us . For more information, contact Sarah Merklein, County Manager at (575) 533-6423 or by email at ccmanager@gilanet.com.
/s/
Sarah Merklein
Catron County Manager
Publications:
Silver City Daily Press
Thursday, January 5, 2012
El Defensor Chieftain
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Wildfire & Emergency Support Vendors for USFS
FOREST SERVICE ANNOUNCES MEETING FOR VENDORS INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING WILDFIRES & OTHER EMERGENCY INCIDENTS
Silver City, NM; January 6, 2012--The USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region, announces a meeting for vendors interested in providing resources to support wildfires and other emergency incidents on January 26, 2012, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. The meeting is scheduled via video teleconferencing (VTC) at multiple locations throughout New Mexico and Arizona.
In southwest New Mexico, the VTC is scheduled at the Gila National Forest Supervisor’s Office, 3005 E. Camino del Bosque, Silver City. To find the location of other VTC locations, call the Supervisor’s Office at 575.388.8201. Office hours: Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Learn about the registration required to become a government vendor, how to find and respond to a solicitation through the Virtual Incident Procurement (VIPR) system, and how to read and understand contract requirements for specific equipment. The following resource types will be obtained by competitive solicitation for Fiscal Year 2012:
• Mobile laundry units
• Potable and gray water trucks/Trailer-mounted handwashing units
• Portable toilets/Wheelchair accessible portable toilets/Portable handwash units
• Fuel tenders
• Aircraft Rescue Firefighting Apparatus (formerly Crash Rescue Trucks)
• Miscellaneous Heavy Equipment (feller bunchers/masticators/road graders/skidders)
Although not an inclusive list, some other common types of equipment used to support emergency incidents include:
• All terrain vehicles (ATVs) and Utility Vehicles (UTVs)
• Chainsaw repair kits
• Chippers
• Coach bus
• Computers and Printers
• Copiers
• Heavy Equipment (dozers/excavators/transports)
• Mechanic with Service Truck
• Mobile Sleeper Units
• Vehicle rentals (passenger vehicles and trucks without operators)
• Vehicle with Driver (usually owned by individuals or small business and used to haul supplies)
• Water Handling Equipment (support & tactical water tenders and engines)
Interested vendors can also obtain information about VIPR on the Internet at http://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/vipr.php. Current solicitation notices are published on the Internet at https://www.fbo.gov. Enter VIPR into the search box. - End -
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
San Augustin Water Grab Hearing Date Set - Feb 7
The State Engineer has scheduled a hearing on the San Augustin Water Grab for Tuesday, February 7, 2012. PLEASE put this on your calendar and plan to be there. Our numbers are making a difference. It's hard to ignore a crowd!
Date of the hearing: February 7, 2012
Place: Socorro District Courthouse,
Date of the hearing: February 7, 2012
Place: Socorro District Courthouse,
200 Church Street, Socorro
Courtroom 1, second floor
Courtroom 1, second floor
Time: 10AM
The hearing is on the motions to dismiss the application.
Hearing officer: Don Core
The hearing is on the motions to dismiss the application.
Hearing officer: Don Core
Monday, December 5, 2011
Snow hits NM hard
Reports coming in from today's snowstorm:
Motels in the snowstorm area are rapidly filling up as people realize they can't go anywhere.
- Over 18" in the Mountainair area, with drifts up to several feet
- Parts of I-25 closed down
- US 60 from Socorro east to Pie Town impassible, if not closed
- Temperatures cold (in the teens) and dropping in many areas of snow
Motels in the snowstorm area are rapidly filling up as people realize they can't go anywhere.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Catron County Gears Up For Fire Season
Contact: Zina McGuire, Catron County Fire Marshal
PO Box 507, Reserve NM 87830
(575) 533-6470
catronfire@gilanet.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CATRON COUNTY GEARS UP FOR FIRE SEASON
Are we ready for catastrophic wildfires like the Wallow Fire?
By Lif C Strand, Catron County CWPP Contractor
RESERVE, N.M. November 30, 2011. La Niña conditions, an ongoing drought, buildup of hazardous fuels conditions in the National Forests and bad memories of this year’s catastrophic Wallow Fire have prompted the Catron County Commission to take aggressive action to protect lives and property within its borders as the 2012 fire season approaches.
La Niña is a periodic and predictable weather pattern that brings warm, dry conditions to the southwest. Catron County currently is experiencing drought conditions ranging from abnormally dry to extremely dry, within the southern part of the county – the heart of the Gila National Forest – experiencing the worst drought conditions (e.g. a 13.4” precipitation deficit for the first 10 months of 2011 in Glenwood).
“We can expect to see wildfires before spring, due to these dangerous conditions, if nothing changes” said Zina McGuire, Catron County Fire Marshal. “If we learned anything from the Wallow Fire, it is that we can’t wait until we see the smoke to protect our people and property – we have to act now.”
“Catron County has been dealing with concerns of our citizens regarding hazardous fuel reductions and potential catastrophic wildland fires for a long time now,” McGuire said. “We still receive calls, emails and visits by citizens who remain concerned even after the end of the Wallow Fire, and our citizens are very worried about the upcoming fire season.”
Catron County began addressing the issues of catastrophic wildfires after the passage of Catron County’s Disaster Declaration Resolution in 2001, which is still in effect. Following the guidance of the Federal Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003, the County worked in partnership with NM State Forestry, the US Bureau of Land Management and the US Forest Service to create a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) for the 7000 square miles within its borders. Catron County additionally created CWPPs for eleven major Wildland/Urban Interface (WUI) areas.
The CWPPs assessed the state of the forest and woodlands and the risk to WUI areas in order to know what work needed to be done to reduce the risk of wildfire.
“The point of the CWPPs is protection of human life and property” McGuire said. “To be useful tools, the CWPPs must be reviewed and updated immediately.” The Catron County Commissioners agrees.
Accomplishment reports, of the work done by public land management agencies to implement CWPP goals to date, have been submitted to the County by these agencies and will be used to reassess fire prevention priorities.
Additionally, the County has contracted with a Fire Wise/Bio Mass contractor and obtained two chippers and a grapple truck (using all Federal funds) to help residents implement the Fire Wise program.
“Our goal is to analyze the submitted data to see if the fire risk for our communities has changed. Once analyzed, we can make a push to help protect the highest risk communities prior to fire season” McGuire said.
For more information see http://www.catronfireprevention.org/
# # #
Friday, November 11, 2011
Catron County Commission meeting date change
Note that due to deadline needs, the regularly scheduled second monthly meeting of the Catron County Commission has been changed to Monday, November 14, 2011 at 9 a.m.
Among other agenda items, various federal and state land management agencies will be reporting on Catron County Wildfire Protection Plan Wildland-Urban Interface forest management goals achievements.
Among other agenda items, various federal and state land management agencies will be reporting on Catron County Wildfire Protection Plan Wildland-Urban Interface forest management goals achievements.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Catron County Economic Development Advisory Board members named
October 5, 2011 RESERVE NM. The Catron County Commission has approved the membership of Catron County Economic Development Advisory Board. See Catron County Connection for details.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
UPDATE: Gila Cliff Dwellings Closure now only till in November
For Immediate Release
10/13/2011
UPDATE ON GILA CLIFF DWELLINGS CLOSURE AND TJ SITE TOURS
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument Superintendent Steve Riley announced today that the Cliff Dwellings Unit of the National Monument is now anticipated to be closed from October 24, 2011 until just before Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 2011. The closure is due to major repairs scheduled for the West Fork Bridge on New Mexico Highway 15, one mile south of the Cliff Dwellings. The one-month closure will allow A.S. Horner, Incorporated of Albuquerque, under contract with the New Mexico Department of Transportation, to reconstruct the north approach of the bridge that was damaged by flooding in 2008 and 2010. After the road reopens, there may be brief closures of the roadway due to continued construction activities on the abutments on both ends of the bridge.
To allow visitors a unique experience during this closure, guided tours will be available at no cost at the TJ Site of the Monument. Tours of the TJ Site will provide visitors the opportunity to examine the above-ground evidence of an unexcavated, 200-room Classic Mimbres pueblo located just east of the Gila Visitor Center. The TJ Site is accessible ONLY by guided tour. Tours will be offered daily at 11 am and 2 pm. Tours are limited to 20 persons and take approximately 1 1/2 hours. 10 spaces on each tour may be reserved in advance by calling the Gila Visitor Center at 575-536-9461. Participants MUST be at the Gila Visitor Center by tour times.
Visitors should come dressed for winter weather, as the mesa top can be cold and windy, and wear sturdy hiking boots, as the ground is rough and can be muddy. Once NM Highway 15 reopens, TJ Site tours will no longer be offered. For up-to-date information please call the Gila Visitor Center at 575-536-9461 or visit the Monument’s web site at www.nps.gov/gicl.
To visit partially excavated Mimbres pueblos and gather more information on the Mimbres people, visit the Mimbres Cultural Heritage Site just off of New Mexico Highway 35 at mile 3.5, at 14 Sage Road. This site is open daily from 11 am to 3 pm and offers not only an interpretive walking tour through the prehistoric sites, but a chance to visit two late 19th century ranch houses and exhibits, some on loan from the Contact Station at the Cliff Dwellings trail head. Visit their web site at www.mimbresculturesite.com for additional information.
Throughout the road closure the Cliff Dwellings will be formally CLOSED for their protection and so that staff can be redirected to tours at the TJ Site. Persons entering the Cliff Dwellings at any time during this period are subject to ticketing and fines.
10/13/2011
UPDATE ON GILA CLIFF DWELLINGS CLOSURE AND TJ SITE TOURS
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument Superintendent Steve Riley announced today that the Cliff Dwellings Unit of the National Monument is now anticipated to be closed from October 24, 2011 until just before Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 2011. The closure is due to major repairs scheduled for the West Fork Bridge on New Mexico Highway 15, one mile south of the Cliff Dwellings. The one-month closure will allow A.S. Horner, Incorporated of Albuquerque, under contract with the New Mexico Department of Transportation, to reconstruct the north approach of the bridge that was damaged by flooding in 2008 and 2010. After the road reopens, there may be brief closures of the roadway due to continued construction activities on the abutments on both ends of the bridge.
To allow visitors a unique experience during this closure, guided tours will be available at no cost at the TJ Site of the Monument. Tours of the TJ Site will provide visitors the opportunity to examine the above-ground evidence of an unexcavated, 200-room Classic Mimbres pueblo located just east of the Gila Visitor Center. The TJ Site is accessible ONLY by guided tour. Tours will be offered daily at 11 am and 2 pm. Tours are limited to 20 persons and take approximately 1 1/2 hours. 10 spaces on each tour may be reserved in advance by calling the Gila Visitor Center at 575-536-9461. Participants MUST be at the Gila Visitor Center by tour times.
Visitors should come dressed for winter weather, as the mesa top can be cold and windy, and wear sturdy hiking boots, as the ground is rough and can be muddy. Once NM Highway 15 reopens, TJ Site tours will no longer be offered. For up-to-date information please call the Gila Visitor Center at 575-536-9461 or visit the Monument’s web site at www.nps.gov/gicl.
To visit partially excavated Mimbres pueblos and gather more information on the Mimbres people, visit the Mimbres Cultural Heritage Site just off of New Mexico Highway 35 at mile 3.5, at 14 Sage Road. This site is open daily from 11 am to 3 pm and offers not only an interpretive walking tour through the prehistoric sites, but a chance to visit two late 19th century ranch houses and exhibits, some on loan from the Contact Station at the Cliff Dwellings trail head. Visit their web site at www.mimbresculturesite.com for additional information.
Throughout the road closure the Cliff Dwellings will be formally CLOSED for their protection and so that staff can be redirected to tours at the TJ Site. Persons entering the Cliff Dwellings at any time during this period are subject to ticketing and fines.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Western Legacy Alliance Takes Tax-Payer Fight To Congress
Western Legacy Alliance Takes Tax-Payer Fight To Congress
Provided by Caren Cowen, New Mexico Cattle Growers Association
Western Legacy Alliance (WLA) Chairman Jennifer Ellis, Blackfoot Idaho, joined by Lowell Baier, Boone & Crockett, and others exposed the reality of tax payer funded “environmental” litigation before the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary’s Subcommittee on Courts, Commercial and Administrative Law, October 11, 2011, held a hearing on H.R. 1966, the Government Savings Litigation Act.
Western Legacy Alliance (WLA) Chairman Jennifer Ellis, Blackfoot Idaho, joined by Lowell Baier, Boone & Crockett, and others exposed the reality of tax payer funded “environmental” litigation before the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary’s Subcommittee on Courts, Commercial and Administrative Law, October 11, 2011, held a hearing on H.R. 1966, the Government Savings Litigation Act.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Catron County could lose Tripp in redistricting
http://www.dchieftain.com/dc/index.php/news/3936-courts-to-determine-redistricting-maps.html
The House plan would have a greater impact on the constituency of District 49, represented by Rep. Don Tripp of Socorro. Tripp said in an interview last week he would lose all of Catron County and Alamo, Magdalena and San Antonio in Socorro County.
The House plan would have a greater impact on the constituency of District 49, represented by Rep. Don Tripp of Socorro. Tripp said in an interview last week he would lose all of Catron County and Alamo, Magdalena and San Antonio in Socorro County.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Pie Town Festival Sept 10
Sat September 10 - 31st Annual Pie Festival - Jackson Park, Pie Town, NM
9am - Pie Baking Contest Entry ( at the Fire House)
9am - Pie Baking Contest Entry ( at the Fire House)
11am - Judging of the Pies
11am Children’s Games begin
11:30 am Crowning of Pie Festival Queen
1:00pm Pie Eating Contests for kids and adults,
2:00pm Horned Toad Races
3:00pm Raffle Prize Drawing
Live Music in the Afternoon - Auctions of Pies (entered in Pie Contest) Evening Dance 8:00 pm featuring Doug Figgs and the Cowboy Way. Food Vendors & Pies for Sale! Arts & Crafts!
Stop by the Catron County Historical Society table. Catron County Search & Rescue will be there too selling Elk Raffle Tickets again this year for their fundraiser. Tickets are $5 each. Winner gets cow elk tag, muzzleloader, food, lodging and meat processing included.
8pm Evening Dance featuring Doug Figgs and the Cowboy Way Food Vendors and pies for sale - Arts & Crafts - All Day!
Contacts for Pie Festival festivalinfo@pietowncouncil.com
11am Children’s Games begin
11:30 am Crowning of Pie Festival Queen
1:00pm Pie Eating Contests for kids and adults,
2:00pm Horned Toad Races
3:00pm Raffle Prize Drawing
Live Music in the Afternoon - Auctions of Pies (entered in Pie Contest) Evening Dance 8:00 pm featuring Doug Figgs and the Cowboy Way. Food Vendors & Pies for Sale! Arts & Crafts!
Stop by the Catron County Historical Society table. Catron County Search & Rescue will be there too selling Elk Raffle Tickets again this year for their fundraiser. Tickets are $5 each. Winner gets cow elk tag, muzzleloader, food, lodging and meat processing included.
8pm Evening Dance featuring Doug Figgs and the Cowboy Way Food Vendors and pies for sale - Arts & Crafts - All Day!
Contacts for Pie Festival festivalinfo@pietowncouncil.com
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Fur and Feather Open House Saturday, September 3, 2011
Fur and Feather Animal Assistance in Pie Town is holding our first Open House on Saturday, September 3, 2011 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The public is invited to come out and meet us and learn about the Fur and Feather Sanctuary, our rescue mission and rehabilitation efforts for abused and unwanted animals. You'll also get to meet rescued dogs, cats and kittens.
There will be refreshments served, a craft table and give-a-ways.
The Catron County Piece Maker's Quilting Guild has generously donated handmade quilted pillowcases, pet beds and pet blankets which will be available for purchase. The quilted pillowcases are part of American Patchwork & Quilting's nationwide initiative to provide 1 million pillowcases to people who need to know someone cares. Over 299,000 pillowcases have been made to date as quilters turn their love of community, quilting and sewing into messages of comfort, hope and love – for foster children, a cancer patients, victims of domestic violence and pet rescue and rehabilitation organizations. The Catron County Piece Maker's Quilting Guild has so kindly chosen Fur and Feather Animal Assistance as one of their worthy charities.
This is also the Fur and Feather annual pet food drive. Pet food and monetary donations will be accepted.
For more information contact Fur and Feather at 575-772-2661 or 575-772-2543 and via email FurAndFeatherAnimalAssistance@gmail.com.
To view our adoptable pets and learn more about us, visit our website www.furandfeather.org or look for us on AdoptAPet.com (zip code 87827).
We hope to see you there!
Fur and Feather Animal Assistance, Inc.
A permanent residential facility for dogs and cats designed for comfort, well being, and CARE for LIFE.
Where Every"One"Deserves a Chance.
575-772-2661 Laurie Beauchamp
575-772-2543 Sharon Bostick
www.furandfeather.org
PO Box 555 Pie Town, NM 87827
The public is invited to come out and meet us and learn about the Fur and Feather Sanctuary, our rescue mission and rehabilitation efforts for abused and unwanted animals. You'll also get to meet rescued dogs, cats and kittens.
There will be refreshments served, a craft table and give-a-ways.
The Catron County Piece Maker's Quilting Guild has generously donated handmade quilted pillowcases, pet beds and pet blankets which will be available for purchase. The quilted pillowcases are part of American Patchwork & Quilting's nationwide initiative to provide 1 million pillowcases to people who need to know someone cares. Over 299,000 pillowcases have been made to date as quilters turn their love of community, quilting and sewing into messages of comfort, hope and love – for foster children, a cancer patients, victims of domestic violence and pet rescue and rehabilitation organizations. The Catron County Piece Maker's Quilting Guild has so kindly chosen Fur and Feather Animal Assistance as one of their worthy charities.
This is also the Fur and Feather annual pet food drive. Pet food and monetary donations will be accepted.
For more information contact Fur and Feather at 575-772-2661 or 575-772-2543 and via email FurAndFeatherAnimalAssistance@gmail.com.
To view our adoptable pets and learn more about us, visit our website www.furandfeather.org or look for us on AdoptAPet.com (zip code 87827).
We hope to see you there!
Fur and Feather Animal Assistance, Inc.
A permanent residential facility for dogs and cats designed for comfort, well being, and CARE for LIFE.
Where Every"One"Deserves a Chance.
575-772-2661 Laurie Beauchamp
575-772-2543 Sharon Bostick
www.furandfeather.org
PO Box 555 Pie Town, NM 87827
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