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Fresh research from the University of New Mexico’s biology department suggests that forest managers should waste no time replanting vast swaths of trees lost after major wildfires – like the historic Calf Canyon/Hermit’s Peak blaze.
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The wildfire crisis in the United States is urgent, severe and far-reaching. So says a Congressional committee report that came out last month, which also noted federal agencies estimate the total cost of wildfire nationwide is on the order of tens to hundreds of billions every year. And strategies to mitigate the risk in New Mexico rely on getting communities on board.
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Congress has yet to establish a new Farm Bill after the last one expired in September after five years. The continued delay has left many wondering what the implications might be. Director and Secretary of New Mexico's Department of Agriculture Jeff Witte discussed the impacts New Mexico could face if the Farm Bill doesn’t get signed soon.
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Extreme weather events fueled by climate change are causing insurance premiums to skyrocket in some places across the U.S. A new report shows New Mexico and the Southwest sit at the center of the problem.
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The lightning-caused Black Feather Fire 44 miles north of Santa Fe is still burning on just over 2,000 acres. While the area didn’t get as much rain over the weekend as officials had anticipated, it still got enough to keep the fire from spreading further.
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Big wildfires earlier this year damaged the acequias that funnel water to New Mexico’s rural farms and communities. Diversion structures were destroyed, silt and debris filled many existing water channels and water flow changed paths. Monday acequia managers asked lawmakers in Santa Fe to fully fund acequia disaster response.
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Victims of the Calf Canyon/Hermit’s Peak fire can now begin applying for compensation for losses caused by the largest blaze in state history. The fire charred almost 350,000 acres in Northern New Mexico last spring and summer after U.S. Forest Service prescribed burns got out of control. The federal government has accepted responsibility and Monday the Federal Emergency Management Agency opened the claims process.
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A recent webinar discussed the costs of fire mitigation, home insurance, the need for better communication with homeowners living in the WUI, and how towns can put this information into practice.
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Over the past year, the University of New Mexico was awarded $1 million from the U.S. National Science Foundation to explore community resilience to natural disasters. So, scientists, PhD candidates, professors, and high school students decided to take this money and develop low-cost sensors to monitor post-wildfire flooding on pueblo land.
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New Mexicans affected by wildfires may be eligible to receive disaster food benefits and unemployment assistance, but the deadlines to apply are rapidly approaching.