Valencia County approves contract to update wildfire protection plan using federal grant
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Summary
The commission approved a contract with SWCA Inc. to update Valencia County's Community Wildfire Protection Plan with a federal Community Wildfire Defense Grant totaling $159,600 and in-kind county match; the project will take one year and support future mitigation funding.
Valencia County commissioners approved a contract with SWCA Inc. on Feb. 18 to update the county’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan using a federal Community Wildfire Defense Grant.
Chief (presenter) explained the history: the original plan was completed in 2012 and accepted by New Mexico State Forestry in 2013, with a 2017 update funded by a New Mexico Association of Counties grant. This grant-backed update totals $159,600 and includes in-kind personnel time as the local match. Staff told the board the update is required approximately every five years and that updated planning will help the county position mitigation projects for future funding.
The response to recent catastrophic wildfires in 2025 in the Lubbock/Luboski area was cited as a motivation for prioritized mitigation work; the presenter said projects identified in the updated plan will have a strong chance of receiving future grants and will assist partners such as the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District.
After brief commissioner questions and expressions of thanks, the board unanimously voted to approve the contract and move forward with the update.
Next steps: SWCA will begin the one-year update and coordinate with county staff and stakeholders to inventory hazards and identify mitigation projects suitable for grant funding.