U.S. Forest Service /tags/u-s-forest-service U.S. Forest Service en-US Copyright Mon, 07 Apr 2025 17:27:03 GMT Surveys reveal widespread cattle damage to New Mexico’s rivers and wetlands /local-news/2025-04-07/cattle-damage-new-mexico-public-rivers-wetlands A newly released report shows widespread livestock grazing is destroying streamside habitats in New Mexico and Arizona. Mon, 07 Apr 2025 17:27:03 GMT /local-news/2025-04-07/cattle-damage-new-mexico-public-rivers-wetlands Bryce Dix How federal cuts threaten small town economies and elevate fire risks /local-news/2025-03-26/cuts-threaten-economies-elevate-fire-risks As the Southwest heads into peak fire season, the Trump Administration’s cuts to federal agencies are set to hit some local recreational economies hard – especially as conditions ripen for wildfire. Wed, 26 Mar 2025 13:46:29 GMT /local-news/2025-03-26/cuts-threaten-economies-elevate-fire-risks Bryce Dix Despite mass layoffs, poll shows bipartisan approval of federal environmental agencies /local-news/2025-02-28/bipartisan-approval-federal-environmental-agencies Recent polling shows that Western voters – both Democrat and Republican – overwhelmingly approve of these agencies and the work they do. Fri, 28 Feb 2025 21:47:09 GMT /local-news/2025-02-28/bipartisan-approval-federal-environmental-agencies Bryce Dix Wipeout: New Mexicans talk about what mass firings mean for the future of public lands /local-news/2025-02-24/wipeout-new-mexicans-talk-about-what-mass-firings-mean-for-the-future-of-public-lands A week ago, on orders from the Trump administration, federal officials began firing thousands of employees at agencies including the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Energy, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Forest Service, which is part of USDA. Searchlight spoke to three New Mexicans who were fired. Mon, 24 Feb 2025 21:38:58 GMT /local-news/2025-02-24/wipeout-new-mexicans-talk-about-what-mass-firings-mean-for-the-future-of-public-lands Molly Montgomery, Searchlight New Mexico Indios Fire not expected to grow more as firefighting efforts near completion /local-news/2024-06-10/indios-fire-not-expected-to-grow-more-as-firefighting-efforts-near-completion The Indios Fire, which has been burning in the Santa Fe National Forest since May 19, is not expected to grow any larger, according to fire officials. As the fire dies down along with the complexity of the situation, command of the firefighting effort changed hands Monday from a regional team to a local one. Tue, 11 Jun 2024 00:28:28 GMT /local-news/2024-06-10/indios-fire-not-expected-to-grow-more-as-firefighting-efforts-near-completion Nash Jones Yearslong battle over trespassing cows on Valles Caldera triggers lawsuit /local-news/2024-06-06/yearslong-battle-over-trespassing-cows-on-valles-caldera-triggers-lawsuit The U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are at the center of a lawsuit put forward by several conservation groups accusing the federal government of failing to protect endangered species on the Valles Caldera Preserve. Thu, 06 Jun 2024 19:48:11 GMT /local-news/2024-06-06/yearslong-battle-over-trespassing-cows-on-valles-caldera-triggers-lawsuit Bryce Dix New wildfire defense grant program at a snail’s pace as fire season looms /local-news/2024-04-03/new-wildfire-defense-grant-program-at-a-snails-pace-as-fire-season-looms Kim Wright, a retired nurse, volunteers with the Cimarron Watershed Alliance. A year ago she learned that the federal government was awarding more than $8 million to the alliance to help nine northern New Mexico communities better defend themselves against wildfire. Those communities are still awaiting signs of on-the-ground wildfire preparedness as fire season fast approaches. Thu, 04 Apr 2024 00:58:17 GMT /local-news/2024-04-03/new-wildfire-defense-grant-program-at-a-snails-pace-as-fire-season-looms Elizabeth Miller, New Mexico In Depth Forest Service warns those celebrating Easter on public lands against bringing in plastic confetti /local-news/2024-03-29/forest-service-warns-those-celebrating-easter-on-public-lands-against-bringing-in-plastic-confetti As we’re approaching Easter weekend, officials are advising all families considering a trip to our state and national parks to be careful about what they bring with them. Fri, 29 Mar 2024 17:32:56 GMT /local-news/2024-03-29/forest-service-warns-those-celebrating-easter-on-public-lands-against-bringing-in-plastic-confetti Jeanette DeDios USDA proposes overhaul of old forest management plans /local-news/2024-01-03/usda-proposes-overhaul-of-old-forest-management-plans Old growth forests are a natural and crucial resource for mitigating the ongoing effects of climate change because they provide clean drinking water and absorb carbon from our atmosphere. Wed, 03 Jan 2024 20:37:36 GMT /local-news/2024-01-03/usda-proposes-overhaul-of-old-forest-management-plans Bryce Dix Environmentalists urge Congress to extend comment period for LANL transmission project /local-news/2023-12-20/environmentalists-urge-congress-to-extend-comment-period-for-lanl-transmission-project As New Mexicans are preparing for the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays, a public comment period for a proposed electrical transmission line in Northern New Mexico is gathering heat from environmentalists, who claim the 30-day deadline is too short. Wed, 20 Dec 2023 21:50:18 GMT /local-news/2023-12-20/environmentalists-urge-congress-to-extend-comment-period-for-lanl-transmission-project Bryce Dix