Here’s a look at today’s headlines:
Over the next year, many visitors will have the opportunity to let the Forest Service know how their recreational expectations are being fulfilled on Forest Service lands. This opportunity for input is the result of the 2016 National Visitor Use Monitoring (NVUM) survey which will be underway on the Gila National Forest beginning in October 2015. The purpose of this survey is to provide an estimate of forest recreation visits, the activities engaged in while visiting the forest, visitation trends and the economic impact of recreation visits on local communities.
Quemado Ranger District fire management personnel are preparing to conduct the 3,100-acre Slaughter Mesa prescribed fire approximately eight miles southeast of Quemado Lake. Ignitions may occur when conditions are favorable anytime from Oct. 19 through Dec. 19, 2015. Objectives include improving forest health and watershed conditions, restoring grasslands, enhancing wildlife habitat and reducing hazardous fuels. This prescribed fire will restore pronghorn migration corridors to help prevent isolating the Slaughter Mesa pronghorn population.
The New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services is asking women veterans in New Mexico to take a brief online survey to help the agency assess the needs and level of care provided for the state’s women military veterans. All women veterans—regardless of war or peacetime era served, length of service, or rank achieved–are invited to take the nineteen-question survey, which should only take a few minutes to complete. The survey can be accessed by going to www.surveymonkey.com/r/nmwomenveterans. It is taken anonymously–no name or contact information will be asked of the participants, who can also skip any questions if they choose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director Neil Kornze announced today that he has selected three veteran land managers to serve in state director positions in New Mexico, Nevada and California. Amy Lueders will serve as the BLM New Mexico State Director overseeing more than 13.4 million acres of public lands and 26 million acres of federal mineral resources in New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. She will report to her new post in Santa Fe later this fall.
Don’t forget to cast your daily vote for the Continental Divide Trail and help bring a $25,000 grant to New Mexico. Log on to superiortrails.michelobultra.com and vote. If you would like a reminder to vote, email info@continentaldividetrail.org to be placed on a daily reminder list. New Mexico still trails behind Florida in votes. Please help bring this much-needed grant to the Continental Divide Trail of Silver City and Chama.
