The Southwest New Mexico Community Forestry Network (SWNMCFN) is hard at work this spring installing drip irrigation systems, carrying out tree maintenance tasks, and preparing for spring tree planting.

SWNMCFN partner Southwest Tree Solutions is safety pruning and removing dead trees in parks and in street medians and buffer strips in Lordsburg, Deming, and the Mining District.  Dead tree removal and and safety pruning has already been completed in Silver City’s Penny Park and the Murray Ryan Visitor Center. This work will help protect the public from falling dead limbs and contribute to the overall health of the community forest.

SWNMCFN partner Green Energy Now is gearing up for installation of irrigation systems at Santa Clara’s Bradley Hotel, Lordsburg’s Veterans Park, and Hurley’s E St. Park.  Irrigation is a necessary first step to tree planting projects. We are finalizing an irrigation standard for partner communities and will be training municipal staff in irrigation system installation and maintenance.

SWNMCFN partner Stream Dynamics will be building Green Stormwater Infrastructure in Lordsburg’s Veterans Park, Deming’s Trees Lake Park and the Bayard Community Garden. This work will capture stormwater and direct it into tree plantings, providing supplemental water to trees and understory plantings.

Once the preparatory work is complete, we’ll be planting trees with Aldo Leopold Charter School Youth Conservation Corps and SWNMACT at the Bradley Hotel in Santa Clara. Other tree planting projects include: Lordsburg’s Veterans Park, Deming’s Silver St. median and Trees Lake Park, and Silver City’s Penny Park.

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