Biennial Monitoring and Evaluation Report Snapshot

How are we meeting our goals

2022 - 2024

From 2022 to 2024, Cibola National Forest staff grappled with multiple formidable challenges. The aftermath of a global pandemic reshaped our operations and priorities, increasing the complexity of our mission. Additionally, the rising frequency and intensity of wildfires posed ongoing threats to the Forest and the communities it supports. On top of that, extreme drought conditions exacerbated the environmental stress on our ecosystems, making our work even more crucial.

Cibola Mountain Districts: Sandia Ranger District, Magdalena Ranger District, Mountainair Ranger District, Mt. Taylor Ranger District

• Vegetation management, riparian improvement, fuels projects, and invasive species projects have been implemented on approximately 8,774 acres across 24 watersheds on the Cibola National Forest.
• In fiscal year 2024 the Forest Guild was able to secure a grant made available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). This funding in collaboration with the Forest will allow additional invasive species data to be collected on the Zuni Mountains Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (CFLRP).
• In total for fuels accomplishment for the Mountain Districts from 2022 to 2024 were roughly 21,418 acres and timber total were roughly 5,451 acres for FY22 till FY23.
• In Fiscal Year 2023, the Cibola National Forest entered into an agreement with McKinley County Soil and Water Conservation District for the Black Mesa Wildlife Improvement Project Area.
• Since the inception of the LMP in 2022, authorized use has dropped about 10% from 85% authorized use to 76% based on a three-year average.

Recommended changes

Minor adjustments to six monitoring question indicators and a change in frequency for three monitoring questions is recommended. Monitoring question changes are recommended relate to updates made in data sources and wildlife species indicators. Changes to the Forest plan are not recommended.

Summary of Monitoring Results

Status of Select Watershed Conditions

Vegetation management, riparian improvement, fuels projects, and invasive species projects have been implemented on approximately 8,774 acres across 24 watersheds on the Cibola National Forest. Of those projects, 3,802 acres were for vegetation management, 4,417 acres were for fuels, 549 acres were for invasive species treatment, and 6 acres were completed for riparian improvement. 11 watersheds have been rated as functioning at risk, while 13 have been rated as functioning properly. Water Quality, Terrestrial Invasive Species, and Forest Health have been rated as good across all 24 watersheds. Treatments that have been implemented and planned have the potential to change the watershed condition rating by changing indicators that do not have a good rating.

Status of Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystems

Work has been initiated for a review of the environmental assessment for Integrated Pest Management of Noxious/Invasive Plants Cibola National Forest, Catron, Cibola, Colfax, Harding, Lincoln, Mckinley, Mora, Sandoval, Sierra, Socorro, Torrance, Union and Valencia Counties in New Mexico,;Cimarron County in Oklahoma;Dallam County in Texas. This assessment authorizes the use of Integrated Pest Management for the control of identified invasive species. The review is expected to evaluate current methodologies and expansion of identified invasive species, including native species to facilitate desired conditions as described in the Forest Plan.

Water resources such as the Shush Kin Fen show visible improvement compared to before fen restoration activities have been implemented. Spring condition for a selection of springs located in the Sandia Ranger District were inventoried and their conditions were assessed by the SSI field crew. This assessment will guide further spring/riparian improvement work in the future.

Status of Select Focal Species

The two focal species recommended in the 2022 Cibola National Forest and Management Plan are the Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens) and the Grace's Warbler (Setophaga graciae).

No treatments have been implemented that tier to this BMER as of the drafting of this report. It would be more appropriate to evaluate this indicator at the project scale.

Ecological Conditions for At Risk Species and Progress towards Meeting Desired Conditions, Objectives, and other Plan Components

Initially, LANDFIRE data was indicated as the required methodology by the forest plan to try and determine if the vegetation structure is meeting or approaching desired conditions, this may have been thought to be the best available option at the time.

Forest Service Activity Tracking System (FACTS) and Fuels Treatment Effectiveness Monitoring (FTEM) databases/systems do not have the same problematic issues nor require the extensive edits that LANDFIRE does, and actual data could be used for monitoring. Would encourage using both FACTS and FTEM rather than current LANDFIRE.

Productivity of the Land

Current soil condition data has been retrieved from the Terrestrial Ecosystem Unit Inventory (TEUI) and serves as a start to capture a trend in future monitoring reports. Assessment of soil condition has not been assessed in more than 5 years due to limited personnel. It is recommended that assessments be conducted soon, and as close as possible to the 5-year time frame as schedules permit rather than on an annual basis. Rather than an annual to 5-year reporting frequency a 10-year monitoring period is recommended for best monitoring results.

Social, Economic, and Cultural Sustainability

Social, Economic, and Cultural Sustainability Because this is the first Biennial Monitoring Evaluation Report, monitoring of trends in sales is difficult to evaluate. In 2023, there was a small decrease in total volume (1,498 CCF). As time progresses, future reports will explore trends in sales.

Authorization letters for the collection of ceremonial use products are provided on an ad hoc basis. In 2022, the following letters were issued: Cochiti Pueblo, Santa Ana Pueblo, Santo Domingo Pueblo, Zia Pueblo, and Zuni Pueblo. In 2023, letters were issued to Isleta and Jemez Pueblos.