Friends of Rio Rancho Open Space, Inc.

Friends of Rio Rancho Open Space, Inc.

March 9, 2008

What's Happening? Friends of Rio Rancho Open Space, Inc. (FORROS), is pleased to announce that there will be workers and equipment in the Middle Bosque sand bar during the next two weeks. A licensed and highly qualified contractor will be cutting and chipping salt cedar and Russian olive from the area. Permission to restore the Bosque has been authorized by the City of Rio Rancho, and will be overseen by FORROS. The contractor will remove the invasive vegetation using a mechanical cutter, chain saws and shredder. The work area will be off-limits to EVERYONE (except the contractor and our monitors) during work hours, as this equipment can be dangerous. We are aware that this equipment can be noisy, and we ask for your patience during this important endeavor. The bosque will remain open, but we ask that you keep out of the project area (the sand bar) during work hours.

When? Beginning March 14, workers will remove salt cedar and Russian olive from approximately 12 acres of the Middle Bosque sand bar near Manzano Loop and Rivers Edge Drive. The process should take about two weeks to complete. Workers and equipment will be in the Bosque Monday through Friday, from about 7:30 a.m. through 4 p.m.

What Are The Benefits? The restoration is designed to enhance the bosque and make a more enjoyable place for residents and wildlife. This process will reduce the danger of fire, protect the native habitat, and save water. None of the native vegetation will be removed, unless it is dead and dangerous. Also, we will specifically leave some dead and down trees in place for wildlife sanctuaries.

How Much Will It Cost? This project has been arranged through a grant from the US Fish & Wildlife Service. The city of Rio Rancho will pay nothing for the work.

Questions ? If you have questions or comments about this operation, or the work being done in the Bosque, please call our President, Ann Bagley at 771-2428, or email her at president@forros.org. Please do not attempt to direct the contractor or tell him how to do the job . He is under contract with Friends of Rio Rancho Open Space, Inc. to do this work. Should you see a true emergency, please notify DPS immediately by dialing 911.

We're all looking forward to the completion of this project, as our bosque is a Treasure in our City that needs to be preserved and enhanced. There may be free firewood available in the Willow Creek parking lot, when the operation is complete. We are an all-volunteer organization. If you'd like to help us, we'd like to hear from you.

Sincerely,
Ann Bagley, President

November 29, 2004

What’s Happening? Friends of Rio Rancho Open Space, Inc. (FORROS), is pleased to announce that there will be workers and equipment in the Willow Creek bosque during the next four weeks. A licensed and highly qualified contractor will be cutting, chipping and extracting salt cedar and Russian olive from the area. Permission to restore the bosque has been authorized by the City of Rio Rancho, and will be overseen by FORROS. The contractor will remove the invasive vegetation using extractors, shredders, chain saws and wood chippers. The work area will be off-limits to EVERYONE (except the contractor and our monitors) during work hours, as this equipment can be dangerous. We are aware that this equipment can be noisy, and we ask for your patience during this important endeavor. The entrance to the bosque parking lot, and the Willow Creek bosque will be closed by the city during the time when the contractor is working.

When? Beginning December 2, workers will remove salt cedar and Russian olive from about 40 acres of the Willow Creek bosque. The process should take about one month to complete. Workers and equipment will be in the bosque Monday through Friday, from about 7:30 a.m. through 4 p.m.

What Are The Benefits? The restoration is designed to enhance the bosque and make a more enjoyable place for residents and wildlife. This process will reduce the danger of fire, protect the native habitat, and save water. None of the native vegetation will be removed, unless it is dead and dangerous. Also, we will specifically leave some dead and down trees in place for wildlife sanctuaries.

How Much Will It Cost? This project has been arranged through a grant with Ciudad Soil and Water Conservation District (a state agency) by FORROS. The City of Rio Rancho will pay nothing for the work.

Questions? If you have questions or comments about this operation, or the work being done in the bosque, please call our office at 771-2429, check our website at www.forros.org, or email us . Please Do not attempt to direct the contractor or tell him how to do the job. He is under contract with Ciudad Soil and Water Conservation District to do this work. Should you see a true emergency, please notify DPS immediately by dialing 911.

We’re all looking forward to the completion of this project, as our bosque is a Treasure in our City that needs to be preserved and enhanced. There may be free firewood available in the Willow Creek parking lot, when the operation is complete. We are an all-volunteer organization. If you’d like to help us, we’d like to hear from you.

Sincerely,
Bea Herrick, President

February 15, 2004

What’s Happening? Friends of Rio Rancho Open Space, Inc. (FORROS) is proud to announce the completion of the 23-acre River’s Edge II-III project on February 6 and the 5-acre North Beach project on February 9. Everyone is happy with the results.

When? Work began August 19, 2003 to remove salt cedar and Russian olive along the river. The clearing process is called “mechanical removal” and is labor-intensive, involving the use of chain saws, wood chippers and herbicide to prevent regrowth. This selective clearing is critical, so we may retain the native vegetation, such as cottonwood, coyote willow and New Mexico olive.

What Are The Benefits? The restoration is designed to enhance the bosque and make a more enjoyable place for residents and wildlife. This process will reduce the danger of fire, protect the native habitat, and save water. None of the native vegetation will be removed, unless it is dead and dangerous. Also, we will specifically leave some dead and down trees in place for wildlife sanctuaries.

How Much Will It Cost? These projects have been arranged through grants with Ciudad Soil and Water Conservation District, and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The City of Rio Rancho (and its residents) paid nothing for the work. Don Chalmers Ford graciously lent us a pick-up truck to move our wood chipper around.

What’s next? We plan to spend the spring and summer protecting the cottonwood forest by wrapping the trees to prevent further beaver damage. In the fall, we’ll move to the Spruce Mountain Loop bosque area and continue the clearing process.

Questions? If you have questions or comments about this operation, or the work being done in the bosque, please call our office at 771-2429, or try our web site at www.forros.org.

We’re all looking forward to the completion of this project, as our bosque is a Treasure in our City that needs to be preserved and enhanced. There is free firewood available periodically in the North Beach parking lot. (If you’d like to volunteer to help us, please call our office.)

Sincerely,
Bea Herrick, President

December 17, 2003

What’s Happening? Friends of Rio Rancho Open Space, Inc. (FORROS) is proud of the ongoing work to clear invasive vegetation (Salt Cedar and Russian Olive) from the 20 acre bosque in River’s Edge II – III (near River’s Edge Dr. and Manzano Loop), along the river. Currently the Ciudad-funded contractor has cleared about 17 acres of dense growth. Everyone is happy with the results.

When? Work began August 19 to remove salt cedar and Russian olive from the 20 acre bosque in River’s Edge II – III (near River’s Edge Dr. and Manzano Loop), along the river. The process should be completed in early January. Workers and equipment will be in the bosque Monday through Friday, from about 7:30 a.m. through 4:00 p.m.

What Are The Benefits? The restoration is designed to enhance the bosque and make a more enjoyable place for residents and wildlife. This process will reduce the danger of fire, protect the native habitat, and save water. None of the native vegetation will be removed, unless it is dead and dangerous. Also, we will specifically leave some dead and down trees in place for wildlife sanctuaries.

How Much Will It Cost? This project has been arranged through a grant with Ciudad Soil and Water Conservation District (a state agency) by FORROS. The City of Rio Rancho (and its residents) will pay nothing for the work.

Questions? If you have questions or comments about this operation, or the work being done in the bosque, please call our office at 771-2429, or try our web site at www.forros.org. Please Do Not Attempt To Direct The Contractor Or Tell Him How To Do The Job. They are under contract with New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts to do this work. Should you see a true emergency, please notify DPS immediately by dialing 911.

We’re all looking forward to the completion of this project, as our bosque is a Treasure in our City that needs to be preserved and enhanced. There is free firewood available periodically in the North Beach parking lot. (If you’d like to volunteer to help us, please call our office.)

Sincerely,
Bea Herrick, President

November 6, 2003

Subject: Free Firewood

Dear Neighborhood Coordinator,

Free Firewood? Yes, there is something that is really free! No strings attached!

Friends of Rio Rancho Open Space, Inc. is currently clearing Russian olive and salt cedar from the Rio Rancho Bosque. Some of the cleared wood is being cut into fireplace length and is piled in the North Beach parking lot (directions below).

Please make an announcement at your next neighborhood meeting that wood is available. Your neighbors are encouraged to take what they need for winter heating. They will need to load, transport and possibly split the wood. There may be Russian olive and/or salt cedar, and the wood may be dry or wet.

The wood is being brought to this location by Rio Rancho Community Service Volunteers on most weekends. Please do not attempt to retrieve wood from the bosque, as this is dangerous and illegal.

Should you have any questions or comments about this request, please call (771-2429) or email (president@forros.org).

Sincerely,
Ann Bagley, President

Directions to North Beach Parking Lot. NM Route 528 to Riverside Dr. South entrance (across from Iris Rd.). East on Riverside Dr., past Rio Vista Park, turn right on dirt road leading into North Beach Parking Lot, next to Waste Treatment Plant #3.

August 16, 2003

What’s Happening? Friends of Rio Rancho Open Space, Inc. (FORROS), wants to notify you that there will be workers and equipment in the bosque during the next three months. A licensed and highly qualified contractor will be cutting, chipping and removing Salt Cedar and Russian Olive from the area. Permission to restore the bosque has been authorized by the City of Rio Rancho, and will be overseen by FORROS. The contractor will remove the invasive vegetation using chain saws and wood chippers. The work area will be off-limits to Everyone (except the contractor and our monitors) during work hours, as this equipment can be dangerous. We are aware that this equipment can be noisy, and we ask for your patience during this important endeavor. The main trail through the Open Space will remain open and accessible during the work.

When? Beginning August 19, workers will remove Salt Cedar and Russian Olive from the 20 acre bosque in River’s Edge II – III (near River’s Edge Dr. and Manzano Loop), along the river. The process should take about 3 months to complete. Workers and equipment will be in the bosque Monday through Friday, from about 7:30 am through 4:00 pm.

How Much Will It Cost? This project has been arranged through a grant with Ciudad Soil and Water Conservation District (a state agency) by FORROS. The City of Rio Rancho will pay nothing for the work.

Questions? If you have questions or comments about this operation, or the work being done in the bosque, please call our office at 771-2429, or email us at forros@forros.org. Please do not attempt to direct the contractor or tell him how to do the job. He is under contract with New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts to do this work. Should you see a true emergency, please notify DPS immediately by dialing 911.

We’re all looking forward to the completion of this project, as our bosque is a Treasure in our City that needs to be preserved and enhanced. There will be free firewood available periodically in the North Beach parking lot. (If you’d like to volunteer to help us, please call our office.)

Sincerely,
Ann Bagley, President

Updated March 24, 2008