Archive for June 4, 2013

Sandia Ranger District Closure To Start June 10, 2013

by Karen Takai, Sandia Ranger District

The Sandia Ranger District will close the forest on June 10, 2013 due to very high fire danger. The only open areas will be portions of Forest Trail 365 including secondary trails associated with Forest Trail 365, outside of the Sandia Mountain Wilderness and South of the Tram. In addition, the Tram, High Finance Restaurant /Deck, the Sandia Ranger District Administrative site and the Tijeras Pueblo Interpretive Trail will remain open.

“Our weather is still trending to be dry and our fuel moistures are at very low levels. With these moistures so low the threat of a large fire is quite high. We need to make sure human starts do not happen and that means keeping people out of the forest until fire risk has lessened. We also need to make sure there are no visitors in the back country area if something did start. We would not be able to rescue you. So, please stay out! ”  Matt Rau, Fire Management Officer, Sandia RD.

Fines are being strictly enforced. A single person entering closed areas or using open fire in any manner will be cited up to $5,000 and up to 6 months in jail and for a group fines up to $10,000 and or up to 6 months in jail.

Stage III Fire Closure Restrictions include: Entering Closure Areas by vehicle, hiking, running, horseback riding, motorcycles, roller blades, or flying in.

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In the Foot hill trail system (which will still be open) as defined in the first paragraph the following restrictions stand.

  1. Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, charcoal, coal, wood or stove fire
  2. Using an explosive
  3. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building
  4. Possession, discharging or using any type of firework or pyrotechnic device
  5. Operating a chainsaw or other equipment powered by an internal combustion engine is prohibited.
  6. Welding or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame

The current Fire Restriction orders can be found on the Cibola’s web site: http://www.fs.usda.gov/cibola in the “Alerts and Notices” section.

Final Update on Lightning Starts in the Manzano Mountains

by Arlene T. Perea, Mountainair Ranger District

Mountainair, NM – June 4, 2013, 12:00pm:  Three (3) of the four fires that were found in the Manzano Mountains after Sundays Lightning Storm have now been extinguished.  Eight (8) Smokejumpers remain and are mopping up hotspots on the Pack Trail Fire in the Manzano Wilderness, but expect to have it contained and controlled this evening or tomorrow morning.

No additional fires have been detected at this time but fire personnel are fully aware of the possibility of “sleepers” that may lay low for several days before becoming visible as humidity and moisture levels continue to drop.

Extra severity crews and Engines remain on the Mountainair Ranger District and will continue patrolling both the Manzano and Gallinas Mountains in the next few days.  There will be a total of 6 engines today and 5 engines tomorrow on the district.  In addition to the extra engines, the 20 person Ruby Mountain Hot Shot Crew is on the district for additional hand crew support.

“We are so appreciative of all the support that the fire fighters (ours and visitors) and the Ranger District are receiving throughout the community” said Karen Lessard, Mountainair District Ranger.

This will be the final update on the lightning fires sparked up after Sunday’s storm unless other fires are detected in the next few days.  Thanks for your patience during a very tense couple of days.

All public is asked to use extreme caution when visiting the National Forest.  Please be aware, the Mountainair Ranger District will be going into Stage 3, Partial Forest Closure on Monday, June 10.  For more information call Arlene Perea or the Mountainair Ranger District at 505-847-2990.

Public Service Announcement: Wildlife Festival at WLW in Edgewood, June 15

Join the celebration of New Mexico’s native wildlife and plants at Wildlife West Nature Park’s Wildlife Festival in Edgewood on Saturday, June 15, 2013.  

Wildlife West’s zoo is one of the few places where people can be close to and observe Mexican Wolves in their natural habitat, get a behind the scenes tour of Koshari, a 500 pound black bear, and learn about 24 other species of wildlife that are native to New Mexico. Tours start each hour during the day.

Representatives from wildlife and environmental organizations will present, including Elke Duerr, Albuquerque filmmaker and conservationist, on Mexican wolves in the wild; Dr. Scott Altenbech on bats; Doug Scott, author of “Waterfalls in New Mexico”, on amazing waterfalls in our arid state; and Dr. Christian Meuli, permaculturalist, on water harvesting.  Visitors will also learn about the life cycle of monarch butterflies presented by Tatia Veltkamp from Wings of Enchantment, and the wonderful world of native bees and other pollinators by Laurie Lange from the Pollinator Nation and Bee Collaborative. Laurie will also bring orchard mason bee houses, seeds for pollinator gardens and seed plan kits.  Plus, join an herb-walk through Wildlife West lead by Mary Jo Hoven.

Participants are invited to stay for the Cowboy Chuckwagon and Western Swing Dinner Show beginning at 6:00 p.m. with a free-flight Peregrine Falcon show, then the barbeque dinner, followed by a live western-swing music performance by Holy Water & Whiskey. Show ends at 9 p.m. The dinner and show are in a covered all-weather amphitheater and includes a free hayride.  Reservations for the dinner show are required by 2 p.m. on the day of the show.  Chuckwagon tickets are $25 for adults, $23 for seniors, $12 for children 5-11, and kids under 5 are free.

All activities throughout the day, except for the Chuckwagon Dinner Show, are included with regular admission to Wildlife West:  $7 for adults, $6 for seniors, $4 students and children under 5 are free, plus free parking.
Wildlife West is located just 25 minutes east of Albuquerque, off Interstate-40 and legendary Route 66 in Edgewood. For more information at visit www.wildlifewest.org or call 505-281-7655 or toll-free 1-877-981-WILD (9453).
Schedule of Events:

10am – Gates Open to Wildlife Zoo

11am – Black Bear tours start/repeats hourly plus Butterfly presentation by Tatia Veltkamp/Wings of Enchantment

 Noon – Herb-walk by Mary Jo Hoven

1pm – Waterfalls by Doug Scott

2pm – Mexican Wolves by Elke Duerr

3pm – Water Harvesting by Dr. Christian Meuli

4pm – Bats by Dr. Altenbech