A Firewise message from Bryan Suhr

As this drought continues I wanted to share some information with the NMASLA. I've begun working to develop 'firewise' landscape management strategies for some of the satellite UNM facilities.  The webpage for the NM State Forestry has a nice listing of the various communities across NM that are at risk of wildfire, the local resources available, and identifies the communities that have a CWPPs (Community Wildfire Protection Plan). As this drought continues we (greens industry professionals) need to be proactive in how we manage our landscapes and there is no better place to start than the design/retrofit stage. This is so much better than cleaning up a once beautiful landscape after the fire.

A list of NM communities: http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/FD/FireMgt/cwpps.htm

The NM main firewise page is: http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/FD/FireMgt/Fire.htm

I was concerned about mulches and fire protection and there is a nice mulch/fire study that was done in Nevada This really shows that we can use mulches even in areas where there might be fires (almost all of NM) and still have defensible spaces. 

Safe Spaces: Designing for Security & Civic Values
Abstracts from the recent ASLA Security Design Symposium for free download and use. A law enforcement official who attended the Safe Spaces symposium two weeks ago said this program was an eye-opener for him and that the information will be incredibly useful in planning his community’s security response.

Therapeutic Landscapes Database
The Therapeutic Landscapes Resource Center is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing information to the public about restorative landscapes, healing gardens, wellness gardens, and other research-based healthcare design.

AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND GOVERNMENT

New Mexico Chapter of the American Planning Associ
Check out the latest information from the New Mexico Chapter of the American Planning Association!

City of Albuquerque Sustainability

City of Albuquerque Water Conservation Program

City of Albuquerque Xeriscape Information

NM Water Conservation Alliance

NM Water Conservation Program
Information on water conservation from the Office of the State Engineer and the Interstate Stream Commission.

Santa Fe Watershed Association
The Santa Fe Watershed Association (SFWA) works to return the Santa Fe River to a living river, from Lake Peak to the Rio Grande, balancing human uses with natural resource protection and restoring the heart to our community.

UNM School of Architecture and Planning (SAAP)
University of New Mexico
School of Architecture and Planning

Xeriscape Council of New Mexico
Check here for information related to xeriscaping in New Mexico, the annual Xeriscape Conference and other events.