Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA)
01/01/2025 to 03/31/2025
Lincoln National Forest

This report contains the best available information at the time of publication. Questions may be directed to the Project Contact.
Report Contents (click to jump to a section) :
-  Projects Occurring Nationwide
-  R3 - Southwestern Region, Lincoln National Forest, Forestwide (excluding Projects occurring in more than one Forest)
-  R3 - Southwestern Region, Lincoln National Forest,  Guadalupe Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R3 - Southwestern Region, Lincoln National Forest,  Sacramento Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R3 - Southwestern Region, Lincoln National Forest,  Smokey Bear Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

Projects Occurring Nationwide  

 
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Land Management Plan Direction for Old-Growth Forest Conditions Across the National Forest System
EIS
 - Land management planning  In Progress:
DEIS NOA in Federal Register 06/21/2024
Est. FEIS NOA in Federal Register 12/2024  		Expected:01/2025
  		01/2025 Jennifer McRae
202-791-8488
SM.FS.NFSWONGA@usda.gov 
Description: Amend all land management plans for units of the National Forest System to include consistent direction to conserve and steward existing and recruit future old-growth forest conditions and to monitor their condition across planning areas of NFS.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=65356
Location: UNIT - All Districts-level Units. STATE - All States. COUNTY - All Counties. LEGAL - Not Applicable. National Forests and Grasslands (128 units).
Locatable Mining Rule - 36 CFR 228, subpart A.
EIS
 - Regulations, Directives, Orders  On Hold  N/A  N/A Sarah Shoemaker
907-586-7886
sarahshoemaker@fs.fed.us 
Description: The U.S. Department of Agriculture proposes revisions to its regulations at 36 CFR 228, Subpart A governing locatable minerals operations on National Forest System lands.A draft EIS & proposed rule should be available for review/comment in late 2020
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=57214
Location: UNIT - All Districts-level Units. STATE - All States. COUNTY - All Counties. LEGAL - Not Applicable. These regulations apply to all NFS lands open to mineral entry under the US mining laws. More Information is available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/science-technology/geology/minerals/locatable-minerals/current-revisions.
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Lincoln National Forest, Forestwide (excluding Projects occurring in more than one Forest)  

R3 - Southwestern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Integrated Non-Native Invasive Plant Management
EIS
 - Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Watershed management 		 In Progress:
DEIS NOA in Federal Register 10/02/2020
Est. FEIS NOA in Federal Register 03/2025  		Expected:09/2025
  		09/2025 Tanner Nygren
575-630-3008
Tanner.Nygren@usda.gov 
Description: The forest will be developing a proposal to manage the nonnative invasive plants within the Lincoln National Forest's boundaries. Adaptive management would be incorporated into the analysis.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=31150
Location: UNIT - Lincoln National Forest All Units. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Eddy, Lincoln, Otero. LEGAL - Not Applicable. All management areas within the Lincoln National Forest.
Lincoln National Forest Plan Revision
EIS

           *UPDATED* 		- Land management planning  In Progress:
DEIS NOA in Federal Register 08/06/2021
Est. FEIS NOA in Federal Register 01/2026  		Expected:04/2026
  		04/2026 Jason Freeman
816-844-4006
jason.freeman@usda.gov 
Description: Our draft assessment under forest plan revision is now available for review and public comment. Information on the revision process is also available on our forest website: https://go.usa.gov/xUSMh
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=45148
Location: UNIT - Lincoln National Forest All Units. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Chaves, Eddy, Lincoln, Otero. LEGAL - USFS Lands within the Lincoln National Forest. USFS lands within the Lincoln National Forest, New Mexico.
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Lincoln National Forest,   Guadalupe Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R3 - Southwestern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Guadalupe North Ecosystem Improvements
EA

           *UPDATED* 		- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management
- Watershed management
- Climate Change Adaptation 		 On Hold  N/A  N/A Tanner Nygren
575-630-3008
Tanner.Nygren@usda.gov 
Description: Implementation of soil stabilization, wildlife habitat improvements, rangeland improvements, vegetation treatments, fuelwood collection, prescribed fire, and selective herbicide applications on 197,956 acres of the Guadalupe Ranger District.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=65552
Location: UNIT - Guadalupe Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Chaves, Eddy, Otero. LEGAL - T20S,R18-19E; T21S,R18-20E; T22S,R18-21E; T23S,R19-22E; T24S,R20-21E; T25S,R20-21E. Project area consists of the northern 2/3 of the Guadalupe Ranger District approximately 30 miles west of Carlsbad, New Mexico.
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Lincoln National Forest,   Sacramento Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R3 - Southwestern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Chippeway Water Storage Tanks
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Special use management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 03/22/2024  		Expected:04/2025
  		10/2025 Angelina Munoz
575-682-5327
angelina.munoz@usda.gov 
Description: The Forest is proposing to make a decision on a proposal from the Chippeway Park Water Association (CPWA) to install community water tanks at a higher elevation on National Forest System lands.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=65819
Location: UNIT - Sacramento Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Otero. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Chippeway Community.
Cloudcroft Hazardous Fuels Reduction and Forest Restoration Project
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Forest products
- Fuels management 		 Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 03/2025  		Expected:06/2025  06/2025 Caleb Finch
575-682-5310
caleb.finch@usda.gov 
Description: Developing Proposed action: The purpose of this project is to reduce hazardous fuels and improve forest health and resiliency and promote species diversity for approx. 3000 acres surrounding Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) of Cloudcroft, NM.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=65816
Location: UNIT - Sacramento Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Otero. LEGAL - Not Applicable. The proposed treatment area will be approximately 1.5 miles of the Wildland Urban Interface surrounding Cloudcroft community and neighboring communities.
Denny Hazardous Fuels Reduction and Grassland Restoration Project
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Fuels management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 10/29/2024  		Expected:01/2025
  		06/2025 Caleb Finch
575-682-5310
caleb.finch@usda.gov 
Description: Reviewing proposed action. The purpose of this project is to reduce pinon-juniper and conifer encroachment within the grasslands for approximately 5,000 acres to improve wildlife habitat and reduce fuel build-up.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=65818
Location: UNIT - Sacramento Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Otero. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Denny Hill.
Prickly Poppy Exclosure
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Grazing management 		 Completed  Actual: 11/05/2024  11/2024 Benjamin Mccullough
575-434-7200
benjamin.mccullough@usda.gov 
Description: The Forest Service proposes to construct a permanent fence exclosure around a small population of the Endangered Prickly Poppy population located in the upper portion of Alamo Canyon. The proposed site will be approximately 1 acre.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=66987
Location: UNIT - Sacramento Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Otero. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Upper Reach of Alamo Canyon.
South Sacramento Restoration Project
EIS

           *UPDATED* 		- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Forest products
- Fuels management
- Watershed management 		 In Progress:
Objection Period Legal Notice 12/17/2024  		Expected:02/2025
  		02/2025 David Baker
541-383-5424
david.c.baker@usda.gov 
Description: Restore forest health on the approximately 140,000-acre planning area in the southern Sacramento Mountains. Project is designed to meet restoration objectives at a landscape-scale, primarily in mixed conifer and ponderosa pine forest.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=51146
Location: UNIT - Sacramento Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Otero. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Southern Sacramento Mountains. The area is roughly bound between West Side Road, State Highway 130, and the southern boundary of the Sacramento Ranger District.
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Lincoln National Forest,   Smokey Bear Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R3 - Southwestern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
McBride Post Fire Fuels Reduction and Preparation for Reforestation Project
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Fuels management  Completed  Actual: 11/21/2024  03/2025 Seth Sandin
575-257-4095
seth.sandin@usda.gov 
Description: Proposing vegetation treatments on 598 acres within the McBride Fire scar east of Ruidoso, NM. Project activities would include mechanical and manual vegetation treatments to reduce combustible fuels and to create optimal reforestation conditions.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=66946
Location: UNIT - Smokey Bear Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Lincoln. LEGAL - Not Applicable. The project area is located in Lincoln County, NM less than 1 mile northeast of Ruidoso, NM along Forest Road 120A.
Nogal Canyon Fence 2024
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants  Completed  Actual: 11/04/2024  12/2024 Larry Cordova
575-630-3007
larry.cordova@usda.gov 
Description: Lincoln National Forest is proposing to construct a metal pipe and barbed-wire fence near Nogal Peak trailhead. The fence would be located along and outside of the White Mountain Wilderness boundary and would be 216 feet long.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=66945
Location: UNIT - Smokey Bear Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Lincoln. LEGAL - Section 27, T. 9 S., R. 11 E. Project is located immediately west of the trailhead for trail 48 on Forest Road 400, but outside of the White Mountain Wilderness.
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