Current Program Status (January 4, 2010):

First - Grants are being administered by the Cuba Soil and Water District (SCWD) at this time and they have indicated in the awarding of this grant that they will perform fuel mitigation services in the Jemez Corridor including our six communities. You may contact them at (575) 289-3950, or Cuba Soil and Water District, P.O. Box 250, Cuba, NM 87013.

Second - If interested participants can not get a response from the CWSD then should contact Karen Lightfoot at the New Mexico State Forestry Department, 5105 Santa Fe Hills Blvd. NE, Rio Rancho, NM 87144, (505) 867-2334, or karen.lightfoot@state.nm.us.

Third - If interested participants are not being responded to, then please contact Ann Cooke at abcooke@q.com or (505) 662-7195.

2009 Chipper Days: (March 23, 2009)

We are pleased to again offer Chipper Days.  See "Chipper Days" in any of our navigation menus for full details.  This service is a courtesy provided by the Sandavol County Volunteer Fire Department and the US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service and the Greater Eastern Jemez Wildland/Urban Interface Corp.  Abuses of this service will result in it being withdrawn.

Several new Documents of Possible Interest: (February 4,2009)

1)  Final Grant Report of Greater Easter Jemez Wildland Urban Interface Corporation

This report to the State of New Mexico details our progress during 2007 (.pdf).

2)  2008 Fire Operations Key Points

As fire seasons lengthen and generally become more challenging, the standard messages to the public and news media are becoming less realistic. For years, messages have centered on slight variations of several basic themes: We have enough equipment and personnel; we will protect your home if it is threatened; and we will fight all fires aggressively. But the nature of fire season is changing, and given budget realities, it is time to alter public expectations and increase public education regarding what the wildland fire community can and cannot do (.pdf).

3)  Sandoval County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP)

A CWPP is a Community Wildfire Protection Plan. The development of a CWPP is a community-based planning and prioritization process.

The CWPP is a collaborative product that has two objectives: to identify and prioritize hazardous fuels treatments that will protect the community and to recommend measures for reducing structural ignitability.

A CWPP is a required prerequisite under the Healthy Forest Restoration Act (HFRA) of 2003 to receive hazardous fuels reduction funding. The minimum requirements for a CWPP as described in the HFRA are:

Collaboration: A CWPP must be collaboratively developed by local and state government representatives, in consultation with federal agencies and other interested parties.

Prioritized Fuel Reduction: A CWPP must identify and prioritize areas for hazardous fuel reduction treatments and recommend the types and methods of treatment that will protect one or more at-risk communities and essential infrastructure.

Treatment of Structural Ignitability: A CWPP must recommend measures that homeowners and communities can take to reduce the ignitability of structures throughout the area addressed by the plan.

Click here to view our CWPP.

Bark Beetle FAQ's:

Bark Beetles are a dangerous and persistent pest even if you cut down all infected trees, and thin your lot.  The slash and "firewood" that is left must be treated with great care!  For information about this important issue see our new Bark Beetles page.

Pine Needle Facts:

You may ask: What good are those pesky pine needles, anyway?

On the forest floor, pine needles naturally interlock, forming a mat.  This duff mat slows water flow and protects bare ground from wind, offering enhanced erosion control and more time for water to filter into soil during rainstorms.  A layer of pine needles also acts as natural mulch, holding soil moisture longer and keeping weed growth down. 

In a pine forest, plant nutrient recycling starts with the needles on the forest floor.  In the arid southwest, this can be a slow process as moisture drives decomposition.  Without frequent, low intensity fires, pine needles can accumulate. 

 So how much pine duff is too much?

• Any piles of needles greater than thirty-six inches high within ten feet of buildings.

• Any layers of pine needles greater than four inches deep within two feet of buildings.

Remember that pine needles are not the major vegetation fire danger problem in defensible space.  Dense unhealthy trees, wood piles too close to structures, and ladder fuels are worse problems.

How should you dispose of pine needles if there really is too much duff?

• Your best choice is composting on site away from structures.

• Another choice is to burn them in a safe permitted manner.

Large volumes of pine needles will clog a chipper and may contain rocks that will damage blades.  So chipping is not a good option.  Large volumes of green waste, including truckloads of pine needles may not be accepted at transfer stations or landfills.

How to Become a Tax-Exempt 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization:

GEJWUIC's president (Ann Cooke) details her anecdotal experiences and lessons learned while working through the process to become a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation as a result of being awarded a state grant and the need to manage that and donated monies.  Ann wrote this article for the Firewise organization; it appeared in their December 2004 newsletter.  Her fascinating description is a must read for others interested in forming their own Tax-Exempt 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization, and will give the reader a new appreciation for volunteer work.   For full information, see our "How to Become a Tax-Exempt 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization" page.  This document is also available on our "Documents" page in .pdf file format.