Minutes of Colfax County Coalition of Firewise Communities, 24 May 2007
Attendees: Joe Stehling, Hidden Lake, President; Bruce Kelley, Shields Survey; Glenn Fortlage, Val Verde; Diana Novacek, Santa Fe Train Ranch, Colorado; Nigel Pallister and Pam Pearson, Ute Park; Ernie Lopez, NM Forestry.
Community Activities: Hidden Lake has conducted two “chipper mornings which reduced the almost 900 cubic yards of slash by about 250 cubic yards and has submitted articles on Pruning Techniques, and Defensible Space to the Hidden Lake web site (www.hiddenlakepoa.org) and for publication in the Tree Farmer magazine. The Shields Survey is stymied by the lack of a contact at the County Fire Administration to complete its Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Ernie Lopez suggested contacting the County Commission chairman for advice. The undersigned will contact the State Firewise coordinator for advice. At Santa Fe Trail Ranch work continues on the Vermejo Park Ranch/Santa Fe Trail Ranch shaded fuelbreak. Additional grant funding was recently received and hydro-ax work resumed May 1st. It is anticipated if the grant application for 2007 is funded the entire boundary between VPR and SFTR will be completed in late 2007. Currently the fuelbreak length is approximately 2 miles on the New Mexico/Colorado state line and another 2.5 miles on the western property boundary between VPR/SFTR. The fuelbreak is being completed to surpass the minimum recommended forestry specifications. Approximately 200 equipment running hours of thinning occurred this past Nov /Dec 2006 on Santa Fe Trail Ranch (SFTR) private property utilizing a Bull Hog (skidder with an approximate 4.5 foot feacon head). Property owners have been pleased with the equipment and operator. The contractor is returning to the ranch on June 5th and SFTR property owners are signed up for over an additional 234 running hours. The SFTR firewise group anticipates alternating between a hydro-ax contractor and this smaller equipment contractor during calendar years. The Bull Hog does an excellent job mulching up ladder fuel and small diameter trees but to adequately mechanically thin larger diameter trees the hydro-ax is necessary. Cost is approximately $160 per hour. The State Lands office has been thinning on property adjacent to Elk Ridge and the area is looking very good.
Fire Forest and Water Fair: Plans are underway to participate in the FFWF Fair at Angel Fire on 7 July. Ute Park is developing from Google Earth a color coded map showing the Firewise Risk of various properties. Pam Pearson and Jody Gray will develop signage identifying the coalition table. Joe Stehling has requested from the Angel Fire Fire Department an invitation for a table at the fair. Has not been received to date. Joe is developing a photo board with thinning project before and after photos and will provide a TV to run Firewise videos as well as a computer to run a slide show of thinning projects. A map of each community will be posted as will various other items. Educational material will be obtained from Firewise for distribution at the Fair. All materials should be prepared by the time of, and brought to, the next meeting for review final preparation.
Organizational Structure Discussion: There was not much discussion on the organizational structure of the coalition. From the discussion by Santa Fe Trail Ranch, forming a non profit 501(c) (3) organization would open doors to grant funding. Now we need to find someone who has the time and is willing to research and prepare the paperwork.
Future Plans: Hidden Lake will have recurring “chipper mornings” in an attempt to eliminate the existing piles of slash. Hidden Lake hopes to conduct community “chipper days” during the week prior to its annual meeting and Firewise day on 4 August. Ute Park will hold its Firewise day in July. Elk Ridge will hold its Firewise day on 1 September and is planning several “Chipper Days” in conjunction with that. The SFTR firewise group is in the initial planning stages of scheduling a tour of the VPR/SFTR shaded fuelbreak site. The event would be on the Vermejo Park Ranch and the SFTR firewise group will need approval by VPR. If approved, the event will be held sometime late June through early August. Santa Fe Trail Ranch is planning on setting up a training session to train personnel to conduct Firewise surveys. Diana Novacek offered to open the training to anyone in the Coalition. Pam Pearson offered, in conjunction with Jody Gray, to contact various radio stations for public service announcements in an attempt to gain publicity for our Coalition.
Joe Stehling reported that a small diameter tree processing plant is being considered for construction on the UU Bar Ranch near Cimarron.
Bruce Kelley reported that the Village of Angel Fire has received a grant for a Grappler truck to pick up slash in and around Angel Fire. That could aid Hidden Lake, Elk Ridge, and Shields Survey, but not Ute Park as it is outside the proposed boundaries for the slash pickup. The plan is to work three weeks a month in Angel Fire and one week a month outside Angel Fire. Areas where slash is stockpiled must have a turn-around for the truck.
Ernie Lopez reported on the availability of a Western States Fire Management 50/50 cost sharing grant. He will send information on the grant. The deadline for submission is early August.
Next Meeting: The next meeting of the Coalition will be held at the First National Bank Community Room in Angel Fire at 1000, Monday, 18 June.
Joe Stehling
President, CCCFC