Hermit’s Peak Calf Canyon Post Fire Response

Federal, state, and local agencies continued response to flooding.

SANTA FE, NM – August 4, 2023 – In coordination with New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Natural Resource and Conservation Service, US Army Corps of Engineers, Santa Fe National Forest, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the disaster declared Mora and San Miguel Counties, the Northern New Mexico Type 3 Incident Management Team will be coordinating flood response and mitigation near the Hermit’s Peak Calf Canyon burn scar area.

Equipment is being ordered to work on Forest Roads 203, 391, and 114 to mitigate drainage issues caused by high water flow such as erosion and clogged culverts. This is in effort to minimize flooding and improve drainage on those roads.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is implementing advance protective measures in response to the imminent threat posed by post-fire flooding and debris flows in Mora County due to the Hermit’s Peak Calf Canyon Fire. These measures are necessary to protect critical infrastructure such as bridges, major roadways and limited egress/ingress roads, and power and utility infrastructure.

The NRCS has completed 29,000 acres of aerial seeding and will continue to seed an additional 35,000 acres of private lands. The Forest Service is currently analyzing potential seeding treatments within the Hermit’s Peak Calf Canyon burn area across Santa Fe and Carson National Forest System (NFS) Lands. This effort could include up to 30,000 acres of seeding across 26 sub-watersheds.

Previously the Forest Service aerially seeded approximately 8,000 acres on NFS lands and mulched and seeded approximately 1,200 acres of NFS land to the north/northwest of Las Vegas, NM. Helicopters distributed more than 130 tons of seed and 5,000 tons of mulch. The seed mix included native species and a non-persistent annual barley.

The Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District is also actively contracting out work to remove hazard trees along open National Forest roads. To date, more than 370 acres of Hazard Trees have been cut in the Walker Flats, Johnson Mesa and Capulin areas.

NWS – Albuquerque | NM Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management | After Wildfire: A Guide for NM Communities | Santa Fe National Forest Alerts and Notices