North Sandia Fuels Reduction Project
What is the purpose of the North Sandia Fuels Reduction project?
To restore, maintain, and improve forested conditions to future disturbances by restoring forest structure and composition and reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire.
Why is this project needed?
- Provide strategic fuel breaks between National Forest System lands and communities at risk
- Reduce risk for uncharacteristic high-severity wildfire
- Create safe, defensible zones for firefighters
- Reduce the risk of hazardous fuels within the NM-165 corridor for public safety
- Improve watershed conditions
Project Area
The NSFR project area is 2,956 acres divided into five treatment areas:
- NM-165/Las Huertas Canyon
- Armijo
- East Boundary Fuel Break
- Oso Corredor
- Pipeline
What is the latest update on this project?
Hazardous fuels reduction work (hand thinning, chipping, fuel wood collection) kicks off in the NM-165/Las Huertas Canyon area (southeast of Placitas, NM) beginning in October 2025, within two treatment units. The use of prescribed fire is NOT proposed in either treatment unit at this time.
Unit 1 Overview
Unit 1 is 10.4 acres in size, located on the east side of NM-165, south of Placitas. The unit is situated on relatively flat terrain between the road, Las Huertas Creek, and Las Huertas Community Acequia. The Las Huertas Acequia retention pond and its associated parking area is surrounded by and excluded from the thinning unit.
Vegetation consists primarily of two-needle pinon and one-seed juniper. Other species may include Gambel oak and Rocky Mountain juniper. The area is densely stocked with some mortality. The objective is to thin forest areas along the upper NM-165 Corridor to reduce hazardous fuel loads, improve forest health, and provide fuelwood.
Scope of Work
Within Unit 1, small diameter Pinyon and Juniper trees will be cut which are less than 9.0-inch DRC (Diameter at Root Collar). Trees will be cut into 4-foot lengths and placed along the road or loaded onto a trailer for transport. Maximum of 6” stump height. Do not cut trees larger than 9” DRC. Unit boundary will be flagged in Orange.
Fuelwood will be stacked neatly along the roads without impeding traffic. In general, all slash generated from operations will be chipped and spread throughout the unit. Chip depth will not exceed 4” average. Ladder fuels may be trimmed up to shoulder height, 33 feet from the road into the unit.
This is a demonstration unit, so other methodologies on slash may be implemented as needed; this could include lop and scatter, or hand piling.
Unit 2 Overview
Unit 2 is located along the upper portion of the NM-165 corridor, beginning just below the Balsam Glade Recreation Site and extending along the NM-165 for 1 mile. Thinning operations will occur 66 feet on either side of the road, covering a total of 15.38 acres. Vegetation in this unit is dominated by white fir (>80%), with additional species including ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, Gambel oak, and New Mexico locust. The area contains a high level of mortality (standing dead, downed, and live trees in declining health). Objective: Reduce hazardous fuel loads, improve forest health, and provide fuelwood for public use.
Scope of Work
Trees with a diameter at breast height (DBH) of 14 inches and below will be cut into 4-foot lengths and placed along the road for public fuelwood collection. Stump height will not exceed 6 inches.
Fuelwood will be stacked neatly along the road without impeding traffic. Material not suitable for fuelwood and any slash generated from operations, will be chipped and spread throughout the unit. Chip depth will not exceed an average of 4 inches. Ladder fuels may be trimmed to shoulder height, extending 33 feet from the road into the unit on both sides, where safe and operable based on terrain and site conditions.
