HTCRP Weekly Update

Emergency Crews will be out in Rio de la Casa Today July 28, 2025 thru Wednesday July 30, 2025

HTCRP Project Summary

To date, over 172 miles of powerlines damaged by the fire are nearing full reconstruction. However, unless the thousands of remaining hazard trees are proactively removed, MSMEC will continue facing preventable outages and infrastructure damage. MSMEC and its partner, Transmission & Distribution Services (T&D), have mobilized professional arborists and foresters who have already assessed and identified over 29,000 hazard trees that pose imminent risk. It is estimated that more than 126,000 hazard trees require removal. MSMEC has already spent millions on outage restoration and emergency tree cutting efforts caused by the wildfire. MSMEC is awaiting funding obligation from federal and state funding for cutting and removal of hazard trees resulting from the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon (HPCC) Fire.

The primary goal of this project is to identify and remove trees created by the HPCC Fire that pose a risk to the integrity and safety of powerlines on public and private properties. These include trees within the 30’ powerline easement as well as trees that may impact the easement or powerline, up to one and one half tree lengths outside of that easement. Our team of professional arborists and foresters are carefully assessing each tree’s ensure long term safety and reliability. The project is structured into three key phases:

Phase 1: Identify hazard trees resulting from the HPCC Fire (currently underway).
Phase 2: Cutting of the identified trees.
Phase 3: Removal and processing the cut trees based on landowner preference. Landowners may choose to keep the wood, in which case we will delimb and stack it in a location mutually agreeable to MSMEC and the landowner. Alternatively, if the wood is not retained by the landowner, we will dispose of it.

MSMEC and T&D need your cooperation to access and remove these hazard trees as soon as possible. Your feedback is welcomed and appreciated. See commonly asked questions and answers below or contact Maria Sanchez at T&D to discuss further.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will Hazard Tree cutting start?

The Hazard Tree Cutting and Removal Project started in the Spring of 2004 and will be an ongoing project until there are no further hazards to any of the power lines in the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon burn scar.

Will this work impact landowner claims with FEMA?

No, this FEMA-funded project is a partnership between MSMEC and T&D. Individual claims with FEMA will not be affected by this work.

What will happen to the trees once cut?

Once the trees are cut, the landowner has two options. Option one, the landowner keeps the wood. All trees cut on the property will be delimbed and decked in an agreeable, accessible location. Option two, the landowner allows the wood to be removed and disposed of by MSMEC and T&D.

Can landowners cut their own trees?

This project is under legal obligation to enter all properties for the protection of the MSMEC power lines. We strictly advise that landowners refrain from cutting trees within a detrimental distance to the power lines to avoid legal damages.

Can Project crews access private property outside the MSMEC easement without permission?

Yes, the Hazard Tree Cutting and Removal Project is under legal obligation to access the entire power line and to address hazard trees that pose an immediate and future threat to the critical infrastructure of the power line. Therefore, Hazard Tree Cutting and Removal Project crews have been granted access through New Mexico Statute § 62-15-3.

Do landowners have a say as to which trees will be cut, including living trees and tall, large diameter trees, dead or alive?

No, professional arborists and foresters are evaluating each tree in proximity to power lines and critical infrastructure for its health and structural integrity now and in the next few years.

Who will remove debris from the emergency cutting and when?

When emergency cutting has ceased, our forestry contractor will return to remove any trash, equipment or other tree debris.

Who will repair roads?

If any damage is caused during the use of MSMEC's easement or private roads, the Hazard Tree Cutting and Removal Project will repair the damage.

How is legal liability handeled? Are landowners responsible if something happens to someone on the property?

No, landowners are not liable if a Project crew member is injured while performing the Project's scope of work.