Fundraising 2011
The Preserve was significantly impacted by the Las Conchas fire.
November 1, 2011
Dear Friend of the Valles Caldera National Preserve:
As a member of Los Amigos, you know that the Preserve was significantly impacted by the Las Conchas fire. Because of the mitigation work we have been able to fund with your help, we are making a major contribution to restoration of the Preserve. We hope that you will consider a year end contribution to Los Amigos so that we may do even more.
Approximately 30,000 acres of the Preserve were burned, but not all were burned severely. We have seen the grasslands come back with the fall rains to a brilliant green. And some of the burned forested areas will benefit from the fire, as they needed thinning and burning. However, there were areas on the Preserve which were severely burned and where all the trees and grasses have been killed. In those areas, aspen are beginning to come in to replace the pine and fir. That transition, however, will take quite a few years. In the meantime, the threat of substantial erosion from the denuded hills is immediate: post fire flash floods carry heavy loads of sediment into the wetlands and waterways of the Preserve.
We are cooperating with the Trust on several restoration projects that we hope will minimize some of that damage:
•San Antonio River Ecosystem Restoration Project and San Antonio 319 Project: We had to wait until September to begin work on these projects, but we were able in that time to adjust our plans to mitigate damage to the creek from the intense fire on Cerro Abrigo and Cerro Santa Rosa. We will be doing more work on the San Antonio in May and June 2012 to continue that mitigation effort.
•Restoring Jaramillo Creek 319 Project: We will reduce sediment, and thus temperature and turbidity, along the Jaramillo through the use of innovative stream restoration techniques. The Jaramillo has also been impacted by the fire.
In addition, we will be submitting a Collaborative Forest Restoration Program proposal, to address forest restoration needs in the watershed above the Historic District. This project will help protect both the watershed and the historic buildings from catastrophic fires.
It is a critical for Los Amigos to receive undesignated funds to serve as “match” for these federal funds. Each 319 grant, for example, requires a 40% non- federal match. Some of that comes from our enthusiastic volunteers, as “in-kind” services, but we still need more to be able to continue restoration on the Preserve. Your year-end contribution to Los Amigos will help us, and the Preserve, greatly. Therefore, we are offering a free Morton Print of the Bond Cabin to anyone who donates $125 or above.
We hope you will consider a contribution of that amount.
As always, we appreciate the continuing interest our members have shown in Los Amigos and in the Preserve and we sincerely thank you for all your help. Remember, all contributions to Los Amigos de Valles Caldera are tax deductible. Sincerely,
Doug Fraser, Chair, Board of Directors
Los Amigos de Valles Caldera
Please click here for a link to our other projects.
Thank you for donating to Los Amigos de Valles Caldera’s restoration efforts on the Valles Caldera National Preserve.
□ $25 □ $50 □ $100 □ $125 □ Other
Donations of $125 or more will receive a free Morton print of the Bond Cabin
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Send Contributions to:
Los Amigos de Valles Caldera
3250 La Paz Lane
Santa Fe, NM 87507
Photos: Peggy Gautier