What is a CWPP?

A CWPP is a Community Wildfire Protection Plan. The development of a CWPP is a community-based forest planning and prioritization process.

The CWPP is a collaborative product that has two objectives: to identify and prioritize hazardous fuels treatments that will protect the community and to recommend measures for reducing structural ignitability.

A CWPP is a required prerequisite under the Healthy Forest Restoration Act (HFRA) of 2003 to receive hazardous fuels reduction funding. The minimum requirements for a CWPP as described in the HFRA are:

• Collaboration: A CWPP must be collaboratively developed by local and state government representatives, in consultation with federal agencies and other interested parties. 

• Prioritized Fuel Reduction: A CWPP must identify and prioritize areas for hazardous fuel reduction treatments and recommend the types and methods of treatment that will protect one or more at-risk communities and essential infrastructure.

• Treatment of Structural Ignitability: A CWPP must recommend measures that homeowners and communities can take to reduce the ignitability of structures throughout the area addressed by the plan. 

• View the summary and checklist of the CWPP process

Why develop a CWPP?

A CWPP can help a community clarify and refine its priorities for life, property, and critical infrastructure in the wildland-urban interface (WUI). Each CWPP is different because each plan is specific to the needs of the local community. The specific goals of the East Mountain CWPP are still being defined. Some possible issues that may be addressed include wildfire response, hazard mitigation, structure protection, education, and community preparedness. 

Who pays for a CWPP?

Development of the East Mountain CWPP is funded through a 2005 Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant awarded by the New Mexico Association of Counties (NMAC). The funding for the program is provided by the National Fire Plan through Bureau of Land Management (BLM) funds in cooperation with the NMAC. Additional funding has also been provided by New Mexico State Forestry and the state legislature.

Who's in charge of creating the CWPP?

Ciudad Soil and Water Conservation District (Ciudad SWCD) and the East Mountain Interagency Fire Protection Association (EMIFPA) were awarded the grant funds. More information on Ciudad SWCD, the project coordinator, is available elsewhere on this site. EMIFPA was founded in 1990 with the goal of improving communication between agencies and facilitating a unified fire suppression response throughout the East Mountain area. EMIFPA's current membership includes over ten different agencies, volunteer fire departments, neighborhood associations, local residents, and businesses. In addition to the EMIFPA membership, the CWPP process will include community members and representatives of involved agencies. A core team consisting of area residents and agency personnel has been meeting since fall 2005 to get the process started.

What area will the plan cover?

See map of area