CLICK on the title of this post to read this article in FORBES.
ORF says: The timing of this proposed act is suspect. New Mexico forests are overgrown and dry. The ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS DEFOLIATION PROJECT, released by the US Forest Service on April 17th, warns of silting and sediment flow after a forest fire, " The second potential source of sediment that could affect water quality is roads. Existing and proposed temporary road can provide sediment sources when close to streams, wetlands or riparian areas or where they cross streams. Sediment is introduced to streams where surface
runoff carrying additional flow and sediment from a road enters a stream. Research by Burroughs and King, 1989, indicate that the highest potential for sediment introduction to a stream is when a road is a 100 feet or less from a stream, while from 100-300 feet there is a steady decline in the potential for sediment influence."
This appears to be the latest addition in the pecking order of back door attempts to close the forests to the public, divert the blame of over-growth which depletes underground and groundwater flow in the mountains from federal agencies to other causes. Those other causes, undoubtfully will be ranching, development, or upstream pollution. Roads need to maintained and kept open in the forest for management, fire fighting and public use. It will be interesting to see how the Governor's program impacts the proposed dams to be built on the Gila and San Francisco rivers in Catron and Grant counties.
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Thursday, April 24, 2008
RICHARDSON PROPOSES PROTECTION FOR 5300 MILES OF NEW MEXICO RIVERS
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