USDA investment includes supporting New Mexico forest projects

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The United States Department of Agriculture is investing nearly $17 million to support projects across nine forests in two states for Fiscal year 2024. Funding for the projects comes from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA).

The investments are made possible by the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF). The 21 projects being funded support the recent announcement by both the Departments of Agriculture and Interior proposing a combined $2.8 billion in funding for Fiscal Year 2025 to improve infrastructure, recreation facilities, public lands access, and land and water conservation as the legislation enters its fourth out of fifth year.

Officials say including the authorized and funded deferred maintenance projects for Fiscal year 2024, the Southwest Region currently has 80 LRF projects in various stages of development. Eighteen have been completed.

Since 2021, the Forest Service has completed more than 267 deferred maintenance projects across 41 states and Puerto Rico with more than 880 additional projects currently funded and in various stages of completion. Among the projects, New Mexico-based contractors are amid the second phase of improvements at Echo Amphitheater on the Carson National Forest, benefiting recreation infrastructure and addressing critical environmental needs.

More information about the Forest Service’s implementation of the Great American Outdoors Act can be found on the USDA website .

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