East Mountain Forest Health Program 

Frequently Asked Questions 2024-2025

What is the process to receive defensible space/thinning assistance?

The first step is to submit an application on the East Mountain Wildfire Prevention page on ciudadswcd.org. Be sure to pay your assessment fee on the website or mail it to ATTN: Ciudad EMFHP PO Box 93463, Albuquerque, NM 87199. Once your assessment fee and application are received and approved, Ciudad will coordinate with you to schedule a visit to your property and develop a Practice Plan. Your individualized Practice Plan will be reviewed by NM State Forestry. Once this is reviewed and approved we will meet with you to sign a Landowner Agreement and collect a check for your share of the total project cost. Then you will choose an approved contractor from our list of pre-qualified contractors. Contractors must adhere to the work description in your Practice Plan. After the work is done NM State Forestry will inspect the work to make sure it meets the objectives of the Practice Plan. If the work does not pass inspection, the contractor must return and address outstanding issues before they are paid. 

What is a Practice Plan? Why do we need a Practice Plan for thinning work?

A Practice Plan is a document that guides and informs the thinning work to help ensure that your project effectively reduces the risk of catastrophic wildfire and enhances overall forest health/resiliency. This document will be used by both the thinning contractor chosen to perform the work and NM State Forestry to inspect the work for completeness and compliance with their guidelines. The thinning contractor must complete the project as described in the practice plan. It is important to understand that thinning contractors must follow the practice plan and not perform work beyond or different from the practice plan. If additional work, outside of the practice plan is agreed upon between Landowner and Thinning Contractor, that work must take place AFTER the completed project has passed inspection from NM State Forestry. 

For eligibility in the cost share do I need to have thinning work done around my house to create defensible space? 

Yes! To be eligible for the cost share program the work has to include a minimum of 1 acre defensible space, unless defensible space has already been created by prior thinning or an assessment determines that it is not needed. If you have less than 1 acre of land, the minimum rate is still calculated for 1 acre. \

What is meant by the terms defensible space and thinning? 

For Ciudad’s thinning program, those terms are dictated by the following descriptions. 

Defensible Space: Create X acres of defensible space in the area closest to the house or structure, going out at least 100’ from that structure. This area will include cutting and pruning trees, and chipping the slash. Thin to average of 40-60 sq. ft. of Basal Area, leave a variety of tree species, sizes and age classes, and favor leaving Ponderosa Pine and Alligator Juniper. Remove the standing dead trees and unhealthy trees first, then those showing signs of stress, disease, bug activity, mistletoe, and narrow forked ponderosa pine trees. Leave healthy trees in groups/clumps, create random openings between groups of trees. Remove ladder fuels under leave trees. Prune leave trees to approximately 6ft (remove no more than 1/3 live tree height). Firewood is not allowed within 30’ of a structure, but left in piles (no > 4’x4’x4’) out in the open. No chips within 10’of any structure. Slash will be chipped and spread to an average of

1", no > 2" or within 10’ of any structure. This program does not include removal of existing dead and down fuels. 

Thinning: There is no pruning conducted in Thinning areas, otherwise it follows the same definition as Defensible Space within the EMFHP. 

What is the cost for thinning my property? Do I have to thin my whole Property?

No, you don’t have to thin your whole property, it is highly encouraged though. You can have a few acres treated per year if desired. Acres that are treated through the program are eligible for reassessment and retreatment once every 10 years. On average, the cost per acre for the landowner is about $900 as of 2024. The EMFHP has set rates per acre that depend on forest density (basal area), slope, and other factors. If your property has heavy or moderate densities of trees, slopes over 20%, or particularly difficult terrain otherwise the cost will increase accordingly. Your project cost will be calculated based on the following rate table: 

How long does the process take? I would like thinning done as soon as possible.

6 to 9 months from the time an application is submitted to when a project is complete is typical. Best case is about 3 months, some instances a year is more realistic. In rare cases the process can take over a year. It’s best to apply early! 

Thinning work is generally limited to October 15th through April 15th. Working within this window helps reduce the risk of bark beetle outbreak and accidental wildfire starts from equipment. Assessments and project planning goes on year round. 

Can I keep special trees unique to my property? What about privacy screens along roads? 

Yes, to a point these concerns can be addressed in your Practice Plan.. However, there are program objectives that must be met. It is important to know that your property will look more open when the process is complete, and that is a good thing. East Mountain forests are overly dense due to decades of fire suppression and changing management techniques. Having your property treated to the specifications of the EMFHP reduces the risk of catastrophic wildfire and increases forest resiliency.

I live outside the East Mountain area - can I still apply? 

The East Mountain Forest Health Program is focused in areas along the North 14 between Tijeras and La Madera, east of Tijeras off I-40 to Sedillo Hill and south along Highway 337 from Tijeras to Torreon. The goal of the program is to reduce wildfire risk to residents and businesses in Ciudad SWCD’s East Mountain area while maintaining productive forest ecology in the process. 

To submit an application and pay your assessment fee please visit our website: ciudadswcd.org 

If you have additional questions about the EMFHP please contact: 

Ricky Reedy, Forest Health Manager 

505-431-3547 

ricky@ciudadswcd.org