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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

NMDA Contact: Kristie Garcia
Director of Public Affairs, New Mexico Department of Agriculture
krgarcia@nmda.nmsu.edu
Cell: 575-339-5011

DHSEM Contact: Joseph Amador
Public Information Officer, New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
jamador@sandiego.gov
Cell: 619-818-5979

June 27, 2022

State of New Mexico encourages wildfire-impacted landowners to apply for federal emergency watershed protection assistance

July 1 is application deadline for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Services program for Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire areas

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SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Agriculture and the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management encourage landowners impacted by the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon wildfires to apply for watershed protection assistance as soon as possible through their local Soil and Water Conservation District.

July 1 at 4:30 p.m. is the deadline for individuals affected by the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires to apply for assistance from the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program through the project sponsors. EWP is a recovery effort aimed at relieving imminent hazards to life and property caused by floods, fires, windstorms and other natural disasters.

To request assistance or to submit an EWP Program application, individuals should contact their local government sponsor, which, in this case, is their local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). Please contact the following districts based on the location of your land:

On June 15, the USDA announced a waiver of the sponsors’ cost-share requirements for the EWP Program to address watershed impairments in designated areas of New Mexico impacted by recent wildfires. Through the EWP Program, USDA’s NRCS can direct Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to help with assistance.

The waiver of the sponsors’ cost-share requirements allows NRCS to cover 100% of cost for the following areas:

  • Cooks Peak Fire in Colfax County
  • Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fire in Mora and San Miguel Counties
  • McBride Fire in Lincoln County
  • Nogal Fire in Lincoln County

The New Mexico State Land Office is also offering assistance with sponsor applications and funding that complements and leverages EWP work on state lands in the impacted watersheds. Contact the State Land Office at 505-827-5723 or dvstrang@slo.state.nm.us for more information.

For landowners impacted by the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fire area, the New Mexico Acequia Association recorded a webinar explaining how to complete an EWP application. The passcode to view the webinar is ZNL6T3@B.

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