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TUESDAY, F EB 26, 2013 • W W W . R U I D O S O F R E E P R E S S . C O M • V OL . 5 , N O. 8
What’s
happening March 3
Rhythm of the Dance, the Irish Dance Spectacular
The dance and music extravaganza staring the National Dance Company of Ireland, reliving the inspiring epic journey of the Irish Celts throughout history. Using modern art forms of dance and music, this richly costumed show marries the contemporary and the ancient and featuring a live band, three tenors and 22 dancers. Corned beef and cabbage buffet $20, 1 p.m. Performance $66 and $69, 3 p.m. 575-336-4800, www.spencertheater.com
Willie Nelson at Inn of the Mountain Gods
Legendary country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist known for his hit songs “Always on My Mind,” “Crazy” and “On the Road Again” performs in the small and up-close venue. Inn of the Mountain Gods, 8 p.m. 575-464-7777. Tickets start at $40.
Donkey basketball tournament
A hilarious performance of community members riding donkeys in a ‘standard’ game of basketball. Laugh and cheer as the riders attempt to score much to the annoyance of the donkeys. Proceeds benefit Lincoln County Crimestoppers. Ruidoso High School Gym, 2 p.m. 575-2481431. Advance tickets $6 at Lincoln County Farm Bureau Financial, $8 at the door.
4th Annual HEAL Heroes With Heart Gala
Water boils between VOR and Hondo Valley property owners Water rights owners protest special use permit proposal By Eugene Heathman Editor eugene@ruidosofreepress.com Municipalities throughout New Mexico are answering the call of severe drought conditions with more restrictive ordinances, proposals for expensive infrastructure improvements and desperate pleas for conservation at the individual level. The Village of Ruidoso has filed an Emergency Application No. 027S-A POD3 for permit to add an Additional Surface Wa-
A property of
‘Old Man Winter’ hangs on
ter Point of Division to supplement surface and underground waters in the Hondo Underground Water Basin. The request has been met with a series of letters from Hondo Valley property and water rights owners. Eugene Heathman/Ruidoso Free Press Gary C. Mitchell, Patricia The recent quick blasts of winter storms have breathed life into the A. Tully, Wynema Tully, snowpack at ski Apache with the most recent storm Monday dumpGerald M. Tully and Jane ing nine inches of fresh powder on the mountain, closing schools and M. Tully, are owners of providing moisture to the drought stricken area just in time for spring surface and ground water break revelers who will descend on Ruidoso in March. rights located on the Rio This “move-to” site only has apas the Village of Ruidoso already Ruidoso in the Rio Ruidoso in propriated water to the water right the Hondo Valley who provided a does not abide by the USGS owners downstream that have not gauge at Hollywood to not divert letter stating, “There is no unappropriated water at the ‘’move- when the flow is below 6cfs in the received enough water for several See WATER RIGHTS, pg. A3 to’’ sites to satisfy this application summer and 4cfs in the winter.
Weather prognostications bleak for spring, summer By Sue Hutchison Reporter suehutch@valornet.com Lincoln County volunteer firefighters recently met to prepare for what may be a very active fire season. Along with community firewise programs municipalities and the county are gearing up for an all-hands-on-deck season. According to a presentation made to county commissioners last week, the prognosis for the ongoing drought along with spring and summer’s predicted weather patterns could present challenges to local firefighters and forestry. A presentation which defined a La Nada weather pattern was introduced by David Warnack, Smokey Bear District Ranger. “I’ve never heard that term before I saw this presentation,” he said, referring to La Nada. The term was used in a PowerPoint program narrated by Chuck Maxwell, predictive services meteorologist. La Nada (The Nothing) indicates a departure from a more commonly known La Niña pattern. Bill Patzert, National Aeronautic and Space Administration climatologist explained
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the term to staff at Our Amazing Planet a couple years ago. “La Niña was strong in December 2010. But back in January (2011) it pulled a disappearing act and left us with nothing – La Nada – to constrain the jet stream. Like an unruly teenager, the jet stream took advantage of the newfound freedom and the results were disastrous,” he said. The phrase was coined to represent an El Niño/La Niña-Southern Oscillation, (ENSO) neutral signal, representing an occasional climate pattern that occurs across the tropical Pacific Ocean. When Pacific water surfaces warm up (El Niño) or cool down (La Niña) each pattern has its own effect on weather. La Nada is when neither is in effect, according to NASA’s Patzert. He says the jet stream is a high-speed air current that is essentially an atmospheric fence where cool, dry air meets up with warm, moist air – two of the main ingredients for severe storms or weather. Warnack told commissioners last week the drought outlook seems to be ongoing and indicated the southwest was in a severe, long term drought situation. Warnack explained Chuck Maxwell’s narration with the presen-
Grindstone Dam rehab project moves forward
To the floor
Through March 17
21st Annual Fall American Photography Competition exhibit
Final weeks of the remarkable and stunning exhibit of the 21st Annual Fall American Photography Competition at the Hubbard Museum of the American West. 575-3784142, www.hubbardmuseum. org, $6 adults. Todd Fuqua/Ruidoso Free Press
Hagerman’s Jessie Rodriguez, left, falls to the floor while Capitan’s Tim Dickinson prepares to pick up the ball during Friday’s District 7-1A game at Capitan. The Tigers host the winner between Cloudcroft and Mescalero this Wednesday in the second round of the district tournament.
OME AIN H T N U MO
REAL ESTATE TEAM SDC, REALTORS®
(575) 258-5008
(575) 257-5111 ext. 117 307 Mechem Dr, Ruidoso, NM
tation would give them a good overview of weather predictions. Maxwell’s recorded presentation to the commission delivered considerations and a look at Lincoln County’s coming fire season. Calling the southwest’s drought prognosis severe plus, he presented maps of the U.S. drought monitor and outlook which indicated the current situation will most likely persist or intensify. “The best we can hope for is temporary mitigation of drought impacts with any wetter periods,” Maxwell said. The upside of drought, according to Maxwell, means “not a lot of excessive, continuous fine fuels in general.” This could indicate below average springtime growth of range grasses across the Eastern plains and rangelands in the Southwest. Field reports and fresh information are continuing to come in, to validate or update the current prognosis. With a below-average snowpack at higher elevations, predicted cool west and windy east conditions there’s a chance for significant moisture into both the northwest and southeast portion of the country. See WEATHER, pg. A3
By Eugene Heathman Editor eugene@ruidosofreepress.com The much-needed Grindstone Canyon Dam Liner, with an estimated total cost of $6 million, made it through the Tier 1 and Tier II Review from the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer and has been recommended for Legislative Authorization. About $2 million for the project has been requested by the village through a state capital outlay appropriation and additional financial assistance through a USDA Rural Infrastructure development loan. The Office of the State Engineer Dam Safety Bureau was briefed on the Grindstone Canyon project for which the liner has been proposed to reduce leakage using the most recent calculations relative to dam stability. Installation of
the dam liner will dramatically increase dam stability due to reduction in hydraulic uplift caused by leakage. The village is also seeking funds as finals plans are wrapping up for an Alto-Grindstone Interconnect budgeted at $850,000 with a $41,632 encumbrance from Federal Emergency Management Agency and are working on an appeal for funding with final plans are due by the end of February. Project design has been modified to relocate service connections to modify the 12-inch diameter line in Mechem Drive to allow water from Alto so there are no high pressure small diameter pipes crossing Mechem. The village utility department is currently diverting water from the Rio Ruidoso into Grindstone Canyon See GRINDSTONE, pg. A3
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