The plan for restoring two dozen watersheds that were impacted by a historically destructive fire in New Mexico’s Gila National Forest is set to be aired toward the end of this month.
What is known as the Black Fire flared for two months between May and July of 2022, burning more than 327,000 acres within the Black Range, which lies within the Gila.
The fire is regarded as one of the largest in all of New Mexico history and destroyed a combination of state, private, and Gila forest land before finally being contained.
Now the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service is in the midst of what is officially called Phase 1 of the Black Fire Recovery project.
That project is focusing on the restoration and recovery of the watersheds, an effort that was revealed late last year with the publication of the Gila National Forest Watershed Restoration Action Plan.
That document noted that “restoring ponds, seasonal pools, bogs, and wet meadows with pooled, standing water will support important drinking and foraging resources for forest bats as well as other wildlife and aquatic species.”
The document additionally recommended that the construction of water troughs and open storage tanks “should be fitted with wildlife escape structures.”
August 18, 2025
By Garry Boulard
