State Road 512 Project:

Project Delays

• A. The District Forester submitted a workplan to the Office of General Counsel for review and approval. This work is possible through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between NM Forestry Division and the NM Department of Transportation. 
•  NMDOT permitting is required by any company or entity conducting work within a state or U.S. highway corridor and must be completed prior to work. This permitting process requires a 40-day review period, and many components must be submitted as part of the application before the permit can be submitted. Currently we are waiting for a traffic control plan to be provided by a certified traffic control supervisor.

Project Progress:

• The contractor for the project has been selected, and work is on track to be conducted this year.
• The work is expected to be completed in 2026, unintended delays prevented a fall start, but Forestry Division is hopeful for work to initiate as soon as possible prior to the “busy season”. He hopes to have good news to report at next annual Brazos Firewise Public Meeting in June.
• The scope of work on the project has not changed – the project will clear all woody vegetation in the right of way along state road 512 from mile marker 3 to Corkins. (at about mile 7.5) Wood will provide fuelwood for the community firewood project.
• Once underway, the project should move surprisingly expeditiously.
• As part of the required components of the NMDOT work permit application, the Vegetative Management Plan and the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan, include the use of wood chips to be utilized as erosion control material along the shoulders of the highway. This material, as part of all forest treatment prescriptions has a maximum depth not to exceed 2 inches. This will be used to provide the necessary substrate to meet the requirements of the plans.

Defensible Space Grant

You may recall that over 60 people have applied for Defensible space grants in 2024 and 2025.  

Project Progress and Delays

• While State forestry has conducted a number of site visits and initial assessments, contractor availability during the fall was limited and start dates were pushed back in anticipation of our “typical” snowfall that never came. 
• To date, no mitigation activity related to the Defensible Space grant have been completed.
• Community Wildfire Defense Grant funds remain intact to complete the defensible space, hazardous fuel reduction, and riparian restoration projects. Applications are still being accepted through the Upper Chama Soil and Water Conservation District, and they will still be completed on a first come- first served basis.
• The weather could currently support some thinning, but the prospect of launching the effort in the winter months is risky.
• At present the estimate of current applicants has not yet exceeded the grant funds available, so neighbors are still encouraged to apply.
• Kurt and the Brazos Firewise group will continue to educate neighbors on the need for the grant to be effective which means impressing the need for genuine defensible space, balanced with the homeowner need for aesthetics.  

NORA  Powerline Clearing

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