The city of Farmington will conduct fire hazard mitigation and invasive tree species removal to a 10-acre portion of Animas Park.
The mitigation will take place over three years beginning in March and ending in 2022. The purpose of this project is to reduce hazardous fuel density, create additional access for firefighters and reduce the intensity of fire should one occur.
In 2020, crews will remove non-native vegetation (Russian olive and saltcedar) from the designated 10 acres adjacent to the Nature Center, south of Animas River. Native vegetation will be left in place. To reduce new growth of non-native vegetation, crews will then treat the area with an herbicide approved by the Environmental Protection Agency and New Mexico Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Pesticide Management.
In 2021, crews will apply a second application of herbicide treatment.
In 2022, crews will plant native grasses, flowers and trees in mitigated areas.
Parts of the park will be closed during the project. Users are asked to observe and obey all signage for their safety while traveling through these areas.
The Animas Park Mitigation Project is a coordinated effort in partnership with the San Juan Soil Conservation District funded by a grant from the New Mexico Water Trust Board.
For more information, visit ww.ffdnm.org or call (505) 599-1430.
