The City of Albuquerque Parks and Recreation Department and Ciudad Soil and Water Conservation District are implementing a forest health initiative starting December 2023 until April 2024. The City’s Open Space Division and Albuquerque Fire and Rescue secured a nearly $1,000,000 FEMA grant in 2019 to support a wildfire mitigation project to reduce the severity of catastrophic wildfires and support overall forest health. The City completed the first phase of the project by working with SWCA Environmental Consultants on a comprehensive Environmental Assessment and project plan that FEMA approved in September 2023. 

The project area is 470 acres on both the west and east sides of the Rio Grande, south of Bridge Boulevard to north of Central Avenue. In recent years, this stretch of forest has seen numerous wildfires varying in size and severity. Crews are primarily focused on removing non-native species of plants as well as thinning understory vegetation that serves as ladder fuels under large Cottonwood trees and removing downed wood. This will improve the area's ecological integrity and reduce the hazardous fuel load that may contribute to catastrophic wildfires.

Trails and access points will be temporarily closed while crews are working. The project will be overseen and supported by several agencies, including Ciudad Soil and Water Conservation District, the Open Space Division, Albuquerque Fire and Rescue, and the New Mexico Forestry Division.

For trail closure and weekly updates, please visit the City of Albuquerque Open Space website.