Little Bear Fire aftermath leaves Ruidoso relying solely on groundwater wells

Because surface water is running thick with sediment and ash after the Little Bear Fire, the village of Ruidoso is forced to depend solely on its groundwater supply wells for the foreseeable future, Ruidoso officials contend. The annual operating plan approved by village councilors last week for the village's North Fork wellfield on Eagle Creek in the Lincoln National Forest reflects that dependency. Wording states that the wells will be pumped as necessary to provide for the village water supply and for the protection of public safety and welfare. The village will continue to operate the wellfield within constraints imposed by the Forest Service based on pumping limitations identified in a geohydrological study. The village also implemented Stage 5 water restrictions, which severely cut back outdoor use of water by residents. An environmental impact study required before the issuance of a new pumping permit recently completed by the USFS proposed to cut by more than half the amount of water that could be pumped from the wells, but that study is under review and revision because of the changed conditions in the watershed. The annual plan approved by village councilors also contains modifications because the fire burned the majority of the watershed around the wells and that will change how water flows and recharges. The new operating plan notes that the Little Bear Fire impacted about 98 percent of the watershed upstream of Alto Dam and reservoir...more