Text of the cover letter: Dear Friends and Neighbors: The Jemez Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest is proposing a project along the upper Rio Cebolla where it crosses Forest Road 376. The purpose of the project is to improve habitat for the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse. The enclosed attachment describes the project’s details. The responsible official for the project is the Jemez District Ranger, but Allan Setzer, Cuba District Ranger will take the lead on the project. We request your comments on this project. To be most helpful, please send your comments by August 10, 2014 ... Read More
July 11, 2014
Source: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/07/03/new-mexico-ranching-family-tells-feds-dont-fence-us-out/ This photo shows livestock drinking from a watering hole, June 20, 2014, near Crystal, N.M.AP For more than a century, the Lucero family has grazed livestock in the majestic landscape near Fenton Lake in the Santa Fe National Forest. They started with sheep and, in the 1920s, switched to cattle. But that may all come to an end because of an endangered mouse. “You’re taking a lot of heritage away,” said Mike Lucero, as he looks over the creek that cuts through the meadow. He was accompanied by his brother Manuel and cousin Orlando, who have brought their family’s ... Read More
July 4, 2014
A poacher in New Mexico has taken illegal harvest to new heights. Acting on an anonymous tip, Department of Game and Fish Officers found more than 1,600 rainbow trout in the home of Bounchanh Bounsombath, 62, of Clovis, New Mexico. The perpetrator was arrested and admitted to catching all the fish at Green Acres Lake and Denis Chaves Pond in northwest Clovis. Department hatchery workers released approximately 10,000 rainbow trout into Green Acres and Denis Chaves between November 2013 and March 2014. Licensed anglers may catch and keep up to five rainbow trout per day and may possess up to 10 ... Read More
June 10, 2014
Governor Susana Martinez is soliciting proposals for river restoration projects around the state. Under the New Mexico River Stewardship Program, the Legislature approved $2.3 million in capital outlay funds to spend on projects protecting the health of rivers and watersheds, which would include lowering riverbanks, replanting native vegetation, clearing out invasive plants and restoring wetlands. Municipalities, counties, irrigation districts and community groups can apply for the funds, and winning applicants will be announced in September. Link to website - http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/swqb/RiverStewards/ ... Read More
June 10, 2014
The following is a letter that we have sent to the USFS in response to their publication of a notice of intent to construct the cattle and elk fencing on the Rio Cebolla that we have planned for our May 31, 2014 volunteer project. In general, projects on Federal property that go beyond simple repairs and maintenance require an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Those documents are a big deal and frequently take a year or more to get through the process. There are exceptions for projects that fall within the general scope of a previously issued EIS, where a Forest ... Read More
April 27, 2014
Ron Loehman, Conservation Chair From the April 2014 newsletter Each season New Mexico Trout members volunteer for work on conservation projects in support of the US Forest Service and other state and federal resource management agencies. Many of the projects are on streams in the Jemez Mountains and most are on weekends.Our first project was a great success, cleaning up trash along the Rio Guadalupe on 12 April. Sixteen hardy souls tromped through the underbrush retrieving 39 large bags of trash - enough to fill a full size pickup bed and then some! Afterwards, they enjoyed a streamside lunch and ... Read More
April 23, 2014
Dave Menicucci From April 2014 newsletter A project is ongoing at the Valles Caldera to understand trout movements following wildfires. Last year we extracted, tagged and relocated 72 trout on the East Fork and 85 on the Rio San Antonio. This year we will be electroshocking both the extraction and relocation areas to determine whether the trout have remained in the relocation areas or migrated back to the extraction areas. There are two parts to this effort, both requiring volunteers. Part 1, Electroshocking I am seeking a minimum of 10 volunteers on each of two days. Among the volunteers I ... Read More
April 23, 2014