Sandoval County nearing completion of updated community wildfire protection plan; public meetings planned

Sandoval County emergency management staff and consultants presented an update on the county’s third Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), saying the draft will go to the core team in March 2025 and the public in April for review.

Cody Stropke, a watershed scientist and fire ecologist with SWCA Environmental Consultants, told the commission the CWPP identifies wildfire risks across the county, prioritizes projects to reduce hazard to people and infrastructure, and recommends steps to improve responder access and safety. Stropke emphasized the CWPP is a community‑driven, non‑mandatory set of recommendations: it does not legally obligate the county to implement projects but can help stakeholders qualify for grants and coordinate work.

Stropke outlined three main goals: build resilient landscapes in wildland‑urban interface zones, ensure safe and effective wildfire response for first responders, and work with communities to reduce structural ignitability. He said field assessments are scheduled to rate structures and neighborhoods as low, moderate or high risk and that community input is being solicited via an online hub and survey.

Officials said Corrales and Placitas are two of the communities being targeted for outreach because of their wildfire risk. The schedule presented calls for a core team meeting in April 2025, additional public meetings (a Corrales meeting and at the emergency manager’s office targeted at Placitas), and a final CWPP release after public review. Stropke encouraged commissioners and residents to review the digital plan hub and the survey.

Commissioners asked about the plan’s update cycle and funding: Commissioner Jones noted CWPPs must be updated periodically to remain eligible for some federal grants; Stropke and the county emergency manager said the county uses a five‑year planning cycle and typically begins the update work about two years before a plan expires so there is no lapse. The consultant said the current CWPP was funded through state forestry support, and that future grant timing can affect the schedule because some hazard‑mitigation proposals require long review times.

Emergency management encouraged residents and officials to review the hub site and participate in public meetings to ensure local priorities and site‑specific knowledge (for example, access restrictions at pueblos or special cultural considerations) are captured in the final plan.