Annual Report 3 - New Mexico - Energy, Minerals and Natural ...

projects, workshops on forest and watershed health, and fire training. This district also reviews commercial harvesting
activity on private lands to assure compliance with state harvesting regulations. In 2010, more than 117 wildland
fires that burned approximately 3,148 acres occurred on state protected and private lands within the district. The
Bernalillo District is home to the New Mexico Forest and Watershed Health Office in Albuquerque and Forestry’s
Inmate Work Camp in Los Lunas.
CAPITAN DISTRICT – Chaves, De Baca, Eddy, Lea, Lincoln, Otero and Roosevelt counties: The Capitan
District (district) encompasses 8,591,874 acres of state and private land.
The district experienced a slower fire season this year with 223 reported incidents that involved 44,514 acres.
Capitan District leads the Pecos Zone Type III Incident Management Team, which was dispatched to suppress three
fires all partially on state and private lands.
Type III teams manage extended attack wildfires efficiently without the need to escalate them to larger Type I or
Type II incidents.
District staff continued working with interagency partners and local forest industry to promote woody biomass
utilization that will eventually lead to future renewable energy projects for Lincoln and Otero counties.
Approximately $1.7 million of federal grant funding was used for defensible space and hazardous fuels treatment
around multiple communities at risk within Lincoln and Otero counties.
The district is home to the Smokey Bear Historical Park, which celebrates the life and legacy of Smokey Bear.
Smokey was born in the mountains just outside Capitan and became the living symbol of wildfire prevention after
fire crews found him clinging to a tree following a devastating wildfire. Following his recovery from burns sustained
in the fire, Smokey was flown to Washington, DC, where he spent his life as one of the most popular residents of the
National Zoo. Following his death in 1976, Smokey was returned to Capitan and for burial at the historical park.
The park boasts a visitor’s center with exhibits about forest health, wildfires, wildland/urban interface issues and
fire ecology. An outdoor exhibit features six of the vegetative life zones found in New Mexico, and an outdoor
amphitheater used for educational programs for school groups.
CHAMA DISTRICT – Rio Arriba, San Juan and western Taos counties: The Chama District encompasses
357,000 acres of private commercial forestland and 88,000 acres of state and private noncommercial forestland.
The Chama District’s primary focus is working with landowners to help them responsibly manage their forest
resources and protect them from wildfire. The district also works on many cross-border projects with state and
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