Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today announced that New Mexico will receive a $400,000 grant as the first installment of a 10-year forest and watershed restoration project in the northern part of the state.

Funding was awarded through the Bingaman-authored Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program and will benefit the Zuni Mountain Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration project located in the Cibola National Forest.  The initiative aims to reduce the risk of wildfires and improve watershed and habitat conditions in the area.  Approximately, 56,000 acres will be treated with the $400,000 grant announced today, which is part of the total $6.75 million the project is planned for over 10 years.  The project was selected from among 26 finalists from around the country who competed for the funding.

"The selection of this project for this funding will provide significant benefits in terms of wildfire risk reduction and the health of the Rio Puerco and Rio Nutria watersheds," Bingaman said.  "These investments will create good, long-term jobs for local communities and benefits for local businesses."

Last year, the Southwest Jemez Mountains Restoration Initiative was selected and received $2.4 million through the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program for a 10-year project in and around the Valles Caldera.

Bingaman's 2009 law authorizes funding for landscape-scale forest restoration projects that cover 50,000 acres or more of National Forest and other lands.  Competitive funding is awarded through the program to restoration projects that are developed collaboratively in local communities.  In 2010, the first year of the program, the 10 projects selected through a national competition reduced forest fuels and wildfire risk on nearly 155,000 acres, created an estimated 1,550 jobs, generated approximately $59.5 million in labor income, and produced more than 535,000 tons of woody biomass for bio-energy production.

The Cibola National Forest is also set to be one of the first national forests to take advantage of a more efficient, collaborative approach to planning for its management.  The U.S. Forest Service recently announced a new planning regulation for the management of national forests that will provide for sustainable public access, protection, use of watersheds, habitat and resources.  The Forest Service selected the Cibola as one of the first in the country to take advantage of the new rule.