Since 2018, the Carson National Forest and it’s partners have been implementing the Kiowa-San Cristobal Wildland Urban Interface Project in the area located between Deer Mesa/Gallina Canyon and Lama. This project, which underwent an Environmental Assessment beginning in 2015, is intended to reduce the risk of wildfire in and around the communities of San Cristobal, Valdez, Arroyo Hondo, Lama, Gallina Canyon, Deer Mesa, and Turley Mill. Project work - primarily forest thinning and prescribed burning - has been ongoing since 2018.

The most recent prescribed fire, which took place last fall, has caught the attention of residents because of the obvious scorching of trees that occured along NM 522. This tour will be an opportunity to visit areas within that prescribed fire unit to discuss the intent of that thinning and burning project, assess the effectiveness of the burn, hear concerns and answer questions from local residents, and discuss future work that is planned within the Kiowa-San Cristobal WUI Project area.

This tour is open to the public and will be led by Taos Valley Watershed Coalition Coordinator (and San Cristobal resident) J.R. Logan. The tour will include representatives from the Carson National Forest and NM State Forestry Division.

A free enchilada lunch prepared by Wendy Medina will be served at the San Cristobal Community Center from noon to 1 p.m. The tour will go from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. All members of the public are welcome to attend.

If you plan to join, please remember that, like any meeting of the Taos Valley Watershed Coalition, this trip is intended to promote honest and respectful dialogue between community members, governmental agencies and other interested organizations. We encourage open, facts-based conversations about the health of our forests and watersheds.

Please email J.R. Logan at johnrogerlogan@gmail.com with any questions, including questions you’d like to discuss or address during the tour.