This report is a monthly submission by the Las Placitas Association about community news and views.
Buffalo Tract: Following the official withdrawal of the Buffalo Tract from mining (including gravel), the work begins to decide how the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands in Placitas will be used. LPA has been awarded an Outdoor Recreation Trails+ Grant from the New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division and is in the process of finalizing an agreement with them. Over the next few months, in partnership with the BLM, we will oversee an environmental assessment and recommendations for the use of the Buffalo Tract for the benefit of Placitas and neighboring communities. We are committing that the process will be transparent including a way to sign up as a stakeholder (someone with a vested interest who wishes to be kept advised).
Sacred Places: Honoring Chacoan Culture. LPA sponsored an artists’ adventure in Chaco Canyon in late 2023 that has culminated in an exhibit at Placitas Community Library. Twenty-four artists and 59 works of art are in this exhibition that continues through August 29 with an artist reception Friday, August 2, 5-6:30 pm.
KUPR – Your Community Radio: We are undertaking an upgrade to fiber optics for internet communication. While this increases expenses, we feel it is essential to improving the quality of our stream. If you enjoy KUPR over the internet, please consider going to kupr.org and helping fund this improvement.
Fire on the mountain: On June 26, a small, lightning-caused fire ignited within the Sandia Mountain Wilderness near Osha Spring. Smoke was visible to residents in the canyon and was called in. NM Forestry Division – Bernalillo District responded but disengaged due to concerns for firefighter safety. The following morning a very productive stakeholders meeting was held with management from the Forest Service Sandia Ranger District at the Placitas Community Library. Following the meeting, they hiked to the site, evaluated the situation and made the decision to put out the fire. The Price Valley Heli-Rappel Crew rappelled in, put out the fire and spent the night to make sure it did not flare up again. We are grateful but understand the risk to fire personnel and hope for a time when forest health in the canyon is such that not every small fire is a cause for panic. That’s the goal of the community and the Forest Service.
Pipelines: There are rumors that a new pipeline is being buried in Placitas – countered by a press release from Marathon that this is preventive work with no reports of leaks or problems. Their message is that work is being done on a pipeline through parts of Placitas, the open space and BLM lands. Approximately 4.5 miles of pipeline will be replaced here running from I-25 to the Placitas Station on Camino de las Huertas. Work should be completed by mid-September. What we observed raised questions so we investigated. We have confirmed that they are indeed replacing existing 16 inch pipe. The work was properly permitted by the BLM on an existing right-of-way and the contract calls for reseeding when they are done.
Reverse 911: CodeRED is a free community notification system that will send Sandoval County residents alerts concerning time-sensitive and/or emergency information that may affect your area via phone calls, text messages and emails. Visit https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/7A8E40D7EF62 or download the CodeRED mobile alert app from the App Store or Google Play. Then click on the SIGN-UP button located at the bottom of the alert widget.