PCM is not holding regular meetings at this time but is an organization that will become active as land and water issues arise that need the attention of the membership.
Only five Sierra County residents showed up at the Sierra- Socorro Water Planning meeting June 20 at K-Bob's Restaurant in T or C. It was an opportunity for county residents to suggest additional alternatives to meet the future demand for water and to prioritize these alternatives. This was the second of four meetings that will be held this year in the two-county area to develop regional water plan.
One alternative that the group found to be important is the removal of exotic vegetation; another is the improvement of surface water conveyance systems to agricultural lands, namely irrigation ditches.
The two most causes of water loss according to figures supplied by Hydrosphere Resource consultants are the evaporation from Elephant Butte Reservoir and the second is the loss in riparian areas to the salt cedars along the Rio Grande River.
The local plan, along with water plans from other regions in the state, is expected to contribute information to a statewide water plan, that will guide decisions on interstate water management.
The current water plan is a 40 year plan and was developed in 1990 with updates in 1994 and 1998. Next year the next update is expected.
The Final Environmental Impact Statement on the Resource Management Plan for Elephant Butte and Caballo Reservoirs was released recently bringing to an end a seven-year planning process.
The Multi-Purpose Emphasis, which allows varied activities to continue on project lands with appropriate constraints has been selected as the preferred alternative.
If you wish a copy of this report, it may be obtained by contacting Western Network, 1350-B San Juan Drive, Santa Fe, NM 87505; Phone (505) 982-9805.
Fire restrictions are currently in effect on all public and most private lands in southwestern New Mexico. Open burning of cropland, fields, rangeland, debris, slash piles, weeds, and prescribed burning is prohibited. Some exemptions may exist for the planned burning of cropland.
There are also restrictions on charcoal grills and wood and coal stoves used outside of dwellings. An exception may exist where the stove uses kerosene, white gas or propane as a fuel.
BLM lands in Otero, Luna, Dana Ana, Sierra, Grant and Hidalgo counties have fire restrictions on the burning of any solid fuels. This means no campfires. Operating a chainsaw is prohibited without the following safety measures:
1. An approved spark arrester.
2. A chemical pressurized fire extinguisher of not less than 8 ounce capacity by weight (with chainsaw operator).
3. One round-point shovel.
4. Smoking is prohibited except within an enclosed vehicle or building.
Welding, or operating a torch with open flame, is prohibited except within an area that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials at least 10 feet on all sides from equipment.
US Forest Service Gila National Forest Fire Restrictions includes lands of the Apache National Forest and the National Park Service administered by the Gila National Forest.
The building, maintaining, attending or using of a fire, campfire, or stove fire is prohibited. Some exceptions exist for developed sites.
Using explosives is prohibited. Smoking is prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle or building on a developed recreation site.
Possessing, discharging, or using any kind of firework or Other pyrotechnic device is prohibited.
Welding, or operating a torch with an open flame is prohibited. Combustion engines must not be operated or used without a spark— arresting device properly installed, maintained, and in effective workin working order.
A SINGLE SPARK CAN IGNITE DRY GRASS OR PINE NEEDLES AND START A WILDFIRE?
Co-sponsored by the Paragon Foundation and Eagle Forum of NM. was held recently in Alamogordo. Henry Lamb, Executive Vice President of Environmental Conservation Organization, Tom DeWeese, president of the American Policy Center, Mrs. Cathie Adams, affiliated with Eagle Forum and an observer of major United Nations Conferences, and Derry Brownfield, national talk show host, were the speakers. If you are in the area when this seminar is being held, DO NOT MISS THE OPPORTUNITY OF ATTENDING.
ELEPHANT BUTTE LAKE has plenty water. There are more beaches and some camping places where you can camp almost surrounded by water. The lowered water levels have widened the beaches along the 200 miles of shoreline around the lake and given campers more space.
Senator Pete Domenici (Rep) at a meeting in Las Cruces recently said that one good development with the drought is that government agencies have been conducting more water resources research the last five years than they have been during the last 35 years.
Domenici was seeking information that he can take back to Washington, D.C. to fight for farm and ranch financial relief and to draft a long-range drought plan, a plan not only for the current drought but also to put together future emergency plans.
A rancher from Radium Springs told Domenici of what ranchers have to contend with during a drought. He told Dornenici that he needed to lay a pipe line to distribute water to drought-stressed cattle, but since his ranch is on BLM land he has to apply for a permit. He applied and was turned down. He reapplied and was approved, but now with the new Farm Bill he has to start all over again.
LeDrue Hyatt of Luna County told the Senator that the trade agreement with Mexico has put New Mexico cattle growers at a big disadvantage as Mexican ranchers can raise calves for the market much cheaper because their labor costs are less, they are not strapped with environmental laws, chemical restrictions and labor regulations that U.S. cattle men have to contend with.
Norm Plank, Farm Bureau executive manager, told Doinenici that ranchers are very disturbed that the National Forest Service is removing cattle from the National Forests in response to the dry conditions. "They are moving cattle out of the forests and serving notices that they are going to remove more, Plank said. " There is no assurance that ranchers will get National Forest grazing permits back again. Those grazing permits are considered collateral when ranchers apply for loans."
Domenici responded that he believes that the National Forest Service should have given ranchers advance notice on its pending plans and that the Agency should have used a smoother process.
Mike White, a Chaves County rancher, said that the drought is causing the water table to drop and the grass to wither away in his part of the state. White stated further that "Many ranchers have reduced their herds down to about half their range carrying capacity. They don't have grass nor money to buy supplements."
Marty Sweetser of the Farm Service Agency in Dewing noted, "It's pretty tough out there. The market's down and there's no rain. We had 1.5 inches of rain in February, and that's about all for the year."
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