Open house on May 1 to discuss options and accept public comments
MIMBRES, NM, April 18, 2023 – The Gila National Forest, Wilderness Ranger District will host an open house on May 1st to discuss options for the future of the Grapevine Campground. Grapevine Campground is located within the East Fork Gila River’s floodplain, near Gila Hot Springs, New Mexico.
The site was closed last year due to post-fire flooding from the Black Fire. The entry gate remains closed to prevent resource damage from vehicle use in the flood plain. During peak flows last year, up to two-thirds of the existing campground was under water. Experience has shown that post-fire flooding impacts may be expected for at least 2 years following a wildfire.
“I met last month with a group of concerned citizens and heard strong support for continued camping at Grapevine,” said Wilderness District Ranger, Henry Provencio. “Based on that and other community discussions, my staff have developed five options for future use at Grapevine. I hope to have a short-term solution in place before the end of the summer, while we continue to seek and develop long term opportunities.”
Agency policy limits options for operating and maintaining the site, or portions of it that exist in the floodplain, as a campground. Options will be presented at an open house-style public meeting from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday, May 1, 2023, at the Grant County Business and Conference Center, located at 3031 New Mexico Highway 180 E. in Silver City. Staff will be available to discuss possible options, answer questions, and accept comments on the proposal. Guests may enter and leave at any time during the 3-hour open house, and advance registration is not necessary.
The public is encouraged to submit issues, ideas, or other options that should be considered in developing a final proposal. Please include: 1) name, address, phone number, and organization represented, if any; 2) title of the project “Grapevine Campground proposal” on which the comment is being submitted; and 3) specific facts and supporting information for the responsible official to consider. Commenter names, addresses, and email addresses will become part of the public record. Comments are most helpful if submitted by May 15, 2023.
Written comments may be delivered in person or by mail to: Gila National Forest, Attn: Grapevine Campground, 3697 New Mexico Highway 35 N, HC 68 Box 50, Mimbres, NM 88049. Comments may also be submitted by email to: comments-southwestern-gila@usda.gov. For additional information contact Maribeth Pecotte at 575-388-8211 or Maribeth.Pecotte@usda.gov.