RUIDOSO, N.M. (KRQE) – Just months after the South Fork wildfire torched the Lincoln National Forest around Ruidoso, the U.S. Forest Service is already working to help regrow some of the areas that have been decimated by problems with flooding and erosion.
“We’re dropping a blend of seeds that will help start reestablishing the vegetation on the ground and help kind of sure up that ground against further erosion,” said Lincoln National Forest Public Affairs Officer Amanda Fry.
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Over the next week, people in Ruidoso will see helicopters and airplanes flying over the South Fork burn scar dropping seeds and mulch. The work started on Tuesday with crews dropping a blend of grass and barley seed. Forest managers hope seeding will wrap up this week, and mulching could be completed by early next week.
“We’re going to see some aerial mulching, and what that does is drop an insulation layer on top of those seeds to protect them and help them really get established in the area,” said Fry.
As the effort continues, some areas will be closed off for safety. “Especially for the mulch, you don’t want to be hiking out there and have that fall on your head,” said Fry.
The South Fork Fire burned more than 17,000 acres in and around the Smokey Bear Ranger District in June. This reseeding and mulch project will take place across more than 1,100 acres of burned area, and the mulching will be spread over almost 600 acres.
While they’re already seeing some natural re-growth, monsoon season has brought catastrophic flash flooding to the area that the forest service is hoping the reseeding project can help address.
“Now that monsoon season is over, we have between now and then when we have that good winter moisture to really help establish those seeds and get a good ground vegetation there established,” Fry explained.
Depending on soil conditions, the forest staff said there’s a chance they could see results with rooting grass in just a few weeks. The closed areas are expected to reopen in November.
Closures include:
Northern Boundary: At the junction of NM Road 532, Forest Service boundary and Mescalero Apache Reservation lands, extending approximately 2 miles east to the Forest Service Boundary
Eastern Boundary: Follows the Eastern Forest Service Boundary south for approximately 4 miles to Rio Ruidoso
Southern Boundary: Follows Rio Ruidoso west for approximately 2 miles to the Forest Service boundary adjacent to Mescalero Apache Tribal lands
Western Boundary: Follows the boundary line between the Forest Service and Mescalero Apache Tribal lands north for approximately 2 miles.
