Payments for Ecosystem Services, Ruidoso Watershed

Location

Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico

Client

South-Central Resource Conservation and Development Council
Collaborative Forest Restoration Program

Project Description

The Village of Ruidoso, NM resides along the Rio Ruidoso at the base of a steep, forested watershed. This watershed is overdue for a catastrophic wildfire and the Village's infrastructure and tourist-based economy is at extreme risk of a major post-fire flood event.

GSA is co-leading a two-part investigation of the watershed to determine the feasibility of establishing a payment program, whereby the Village would pay the landowners in the upper watershed to implement forestry-fuels projects to reduce the downstream post-fire flood risk.

Phase 1 project elements evaluate the potential for watershed treatments to reduce post-fire runoff. Phase 2 involves community outreach and education activities and addresses potential long-term payment mechanisms.

Project stakeholders, including the Village of Ruidoso, the Lincoln National Forest, and the Mescalero Apache Nation.

Project Highlights