HOUSE MEMORIAL 74

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2016

INTRODUCED BY

Zachary J. Cook

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING RECOGNITION OF THE COLLABORATIVE FOREST RESTORATION PROGRAM BENEFITS TO OTERO, LINCOLN AND CHAVES COUNTIES.

     WHEREAS, authorized by congress in 2000, the collaborative forest restoration program in New Mexico established a new and innovative program to provide cost-sharing grants for collaborative forest restoration projects on public land; and

     WHEREAS, the objectives of the collaborative forest restoration program are to promote healthy watersheds and reduce the threat of large, high-intensity wildfires, improve communication and joint problem-solving, encourage sustainable communities and forests through collaborative partnerships and develop, demonstrate and evaluate ecologically sound forest restoration; and

     WHEREAS, Otero, Lincoln and Chaves counties share four hundred ninety thousand acres of forests and watersheds; and

     WHEREAS, the westside Sacramento mountains watershed restoration and fuels reduction project was created by the forestry division of the energy, minerals and natural resources department in the division's 2013 New Mexico communities at-risk assessment plan to identify areas at high risk for wildfires; and

     WHEREAS, the westside Sacramento mountains watershed restoration and fuels reduction project applied for and received a planning grant from the collaborative forest restoration program to fund the completion of resource surveys and documents to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 required for all projects on public lands; and

     WHEREAS, the proposed action of the westside Sacramento mountains watershed restoration and fuels reduction project is to use a combination of mechanical thinning and prescribed fire on approximately six thousand seven hundred acres of Lincoln national forest and city of Alamogordo land to reduce the threat of high-intensity wildfires and promote healthy watersheds; and

     WHEREAS, to enhance the current efforts among collaborative forest restoration program partners, the Sacramento mountain wood industry summit will be convened in Ruidoso on March 30-31, 2016; and

     WHEREAS, information on forest prescriptions and watershed restoration practices, emerging markets and demands for forest projects and highlights of successful forestry and wood product business will be discussed at the summit; and

     WHEREAS, a summit objective is to revitalize the logging industry in the region, expanding the efforts of additional collaborative forest restoration programs and stewardship projects to perform environmental studies that will enable a timber supply for more than a decade within all four hundred ninety thousand acres of forested areas, excluding classified wilderness areas; and

     WHEREAS, the benefits of revitalization of the logging industry will positively affect the local and regional economy; and

     WHEREAS, the project will result in increased surface water flows to the Sacramento mountain watershed for the benefit of the city of Alamogordo, surrounding communities and the region; and

     WHEREAS, increased surface and groundwater supplies will aid reduced forest density and will positively affect ranchers and wildlife; and

     WHEREAS, within Otero, Lincoln and Chaves counties, logging and thinning efforts allow for forest restoration where there is now a dangerous overgrowth and growing fuel load; and

     WHEREAS, immediate benefits of logging and thinning efforts include:

          A. the prevention of devastating crown fires that could threaten life and property;

          B. an increase in water surface flows and aquifer storage to maximize a good source of water for all water-rights users and the environment; and

          C. the allowance of more plant life and water for agricultural, livestock and wildlife growth; and

     WHEREAS, a byproduct of a reinvested logging industry would include job creation and the possibility of a railroad stop in the tri-county area as tonnage increases; and

     WHEREAS, continuing support of the collaborative forest restoration program and the westside Sacramento mountains watershed restoration and fuels reduction project is vital to promoting healthy watersheds and ecologically sound forest restoration in New Mexico;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the benefits of the collaborative forest restoration program to New Mexico be recognized; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Otero, Lincoln and Chaves counties be commended for their continuing efforts in encouraging sustainable communities and forests through their collaborative partnership; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the county commission chairs of Otero, Lincoln and Chaves counties, the mayor of Alamogordo and the partners of the westside Sacramento mountains watershed restoration and fuels reduction project.

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