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Colfax County adopts multi-jurisdiction hazard mitigation plan to speed access to federal mitigation funds
Summary
The Colfax County Commission adopted a new multi-jurisdiction hazard mitigation plan that counties and participating municipalities can use individually to pursue FEMA mitigation and recovery funding; commissioners discussed bridges, dams and next steps to add high‑hazard dams to the plan.
Colfax County Commissioners voted to adopt the Colfax County, New Mexico Multi-Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan, a comprehensive planning document county staff said will make it easier for municipalities in the county to apply directly for federal mitigation and post-disaster funding.
Emergency management staff told the commission the plan — which staff described as “over 500 pages” — was prepared over roughly two years after the Cooks Peak fire and is written so each municipality can formally adopt it as its own plan rather than be treated only as part of a county plan. That structure, staff said, will allow villages and the City of Raton to pursue FEMA mitigation and recovery dollars directly in many cases instead of routing applications through the county.
The plan highlights roads and bridges as a primary county concern and includes recommended mitigation projects, staff said. “Without an approved hazard mitigation plan, you can be prevented from replacing older bridges with modern engineered structures after a flood,” the emergency management presentation said, citing past losses of World War II-era bridges on the Canadian River. The plan also addresses a program recently announced by federal agencies to fund upgrades to aging dams, and staff said they plan to submit a revision as new state rules are enacted so high‑hazard dams can be eligible for the federal program.
Commissioners asked how the plan will be implemented and who will help municipalities carry out mitigation projects. Staff said Colfax County can assist municipalities but that the multi-jurisdiction approach gives each entity the option to act independently when applying for funds. The presenter also said the county will submit a revision to add a stronger dams section once New Mexico adjusts state rules; staff noted there are 33 regulated dams in the county and that dozens have been identified as having serious deficiencies.
The commission approved the resolution adopting the plan. During discussion, commissioners said participating municipalities have begun placing the plan on their own agendas — Eagle Nest had already adopted it and Raton was scheduled to consider it the same night.
The new plan is intended to support future mitigation grant applications and to clarify county and municipal responsibilities for projects such as bridge replacement, dam remediation and other resilient infrastructure work.
The commission vote approved the resolution as presented. Staff said they will circulate the final adopted plan and any future revisions to municipalities and will work with owners of high‑hazard dams on emergency action planning and possible grant applications.
