Single Publication

With increasing moisture throughout Northern New Mexico, Carson National Forest employees are preparing for several forest restoration projects that will use prescribed fire over the next few months. The exact timing of each project will depend on weather, site conditions and available personnel. 

The projects are part of the USDA Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy, which calls for increasing the pace and scale of work to address the growing wildfire threat, make communities safer and protect critical infrastructure and natural resources. All told, over 14,000 acres could be treated this late summer and fall across the forest between two large projects: The Enchanted Circle Landscape and Rio Chama Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Project. 

Enchanted Circle Landscape 

The Enchanted Circle Landscape covers approximately 1.5 million acres of federal, state, tribal and private land, including over a half million on the Carson National Forest’s east side (Camino Real and Questa ranger districts). The increased pace and scale of the work is primarily funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. 

Prescribed fire is planned for the following restoration projects:  

• McCrystal Rock Unit (6,333 acres), Valle Vidal Prescribed Fire Project 
  Northeast side of Valle Vidal. Ignitions will prompt a temporary closure of the McCrystal Campground. Visitors can use the nearby Cimarron Campground. 

• La Jara (1,306 acres) and Apache (286 acres) Units, La Jara Fuels Reduction and Restoration Project 
  Near Taos Pines, Angel Fire, Valle Escondido. 

• TSV Special Use Permit Burn Piles (208 acres), Taos Ski Valley Master Development Plan 
  Burn piles in Taos Ski Valley resort special use permit area. 

Rio Chama Collaborative Landscape Restoration Project 

The Rio Chama CFLRP encompasses 3.8 million acres, spanning federal, state, tribal and private lands in New Mexico and Colorado with the aim of restoring the forested headwaters of the Rio Chama and Rio Grande rivers. The project covers the entirety of three Carson National Forest ranger districts: Tres Piedras, El Rito and Canjilon. The program is funded through various bills, including the Inflation Reduction Act. 

Prescribed fire is planned for the following restoration projects: 

• Montoya (899 acres) and Blas (842 acres) Units, Canjilon Wildland Urban Interface Project 
  East and south of Canjilon. 

• Unit 1 (4,544 acres), Jarita Mesa Grazing Allotment
  West of Vallecitos and La Madera, adjacent to the 2019 Francisquito Fire and 2022 Midnight Fire. 

Additional Projects 

More projects may be added to plans for the fall. Other restoration efforts, such as thinning, will continue in various locations around the forest. 

Fuelwood Gathering 

Fuelwood gathering in general is encouraged. Permits for up to 10 cords are free on the Camino Real and Questa ranger districts and $20 for 10 cords/$40 for 20 cords for all districts. 

Plan Ahead 

Visitors, including hunters, planning trips should check the Alerts & Notices page on the Carson National Forest website for implementation notices, which are generally posted at least one week ahead of potential ignitions.  

Notices will also be posted to InciWeb, forest social media (Facebook, X) and New Mexico Fire Information.