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Information provided by DRMP Director, Thora Padilla

The DRMP Thinning Crew has been working hard to remove the non-native Siberian elms from areas in Mescalero where we have source water that needs to be protected.  This is the reason we are removing the elms near the new community well at the Gravel Pit and around the various springs that feed the North Springs area.  As mentioned in our previous article, the elms grow very aggressively and spread primarily through underground sprouting.  The roots can get into the drinking water distribution lines and damage the pipelines.  

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Once the elm trees are cut, DRMP staff follows up with a small squirt of an herbicide EPA-approved for use around water sources.  Prior to the start of the project, 4 of our Crew Members got Federal and State Applicator certification through USEPA to properly apply the herbicide using all appropriate safety protocols.  The herbicide will help to prevent re-sprouting of the elms treated, but it will not completely eliminate the elms.  This will require several phases of work to keep the re-sprouting of elms at bay.

In the coming days, we will be working our way back down the highway, removing the large elms along the right-of-way, and then going back over to the south side of the highway and around St. Joseph’s Mission.  There are numerous springs and seeps in this area, and we want to reduce the damage being done to these springs. It is hoped that we can also increase the amount of water going into the springs that feed the Tribal Fish Hatchery.

Since the work has started, we have applied for additional funding to treat another 50 acres along the river corridor going through Mescalero.  Our primary focus with these first phases of the elm removal will be to open up areas along the creek and around springs.  As we are seeing the changes in weather being brought on by climate change, we are proactively working to maintain and restore groundwater levels.  In future phases of the elm removal, we will work within the community to remove elms in the Agency area and within the residential areas of Mescalero.

Following is a photograph from approximately 1900, showing how this valley looked before all the development.  St. Joseph’s Mission was not yet built; see the red arrow.  As you can see, this was a wide-open valley with very few trees in the bottom areas.  But I bet that some of the small trees you see near the original Agency buildings are the original elm trees planted here over 100 years ago.  Some of those little trees are also the original apple trees that were planted in this area, that are still growing by the Head Start building.

As you are driving through Mescalero, please be sure to slow down and watch out for our Crew Members.  They are loading trailers with the brush and hauling it to the C-Side Transfer Station.  We are also stacking the elm rounds separately over there.

If you have any questions about the work being done, please call DRMP at (575) 464-4711.

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Mescalero Housing Department has been quite busy starting the new year with home renovations.

See below – they are looking nice!

Good job to all involved!

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Food box distribution to include meat, dairy and vegetables

Monday, February 8th at 11AM

Activity Hall parking lot

Don’t forget to wear your mask!

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As of February 3, 2021:

*Includes testing by IHS & NMDOH

**New cases: 7 (average of 3.5 new cases per day since 02/01/21)

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Please be aware that Mescalero Utilities is doing everything they can to keep up with trash pick-up.

The Greentree Solid Waste mentioned below is currently closed which leaves Mescalero Utilities in a complicated situation.

Instead of dropping off trash at Greentree, they will be unloading trash at C-side into a roll-off container and transferring the trash to Oro Grande.

Greentree is fixing to open soon however, in the meantime, Mescalero Utilities asks everyone to be please be patient.

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As of February 1, 2021:

*Includes testing by IHS & NMDOH

**New cases: 8 (since 01/27/21) (average of 1.6 new cases per day)

***New deaths: 1 (since 01/27/21)

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Information provided by Mescalero Violence Against Women

The month of February is nationally recognized as Teen Dating Awareness Month.

Dating/domestic violence occurs when one person uses physical, psychological, emotional, sexual or financial abuse to achieve power and control over another person.

Results of a recent national survey indicate that approximately 12 percent of high school students have experienced physical dating violence.

Research into the dynamics of dating violence has exposed the difference between teen dating violence and adult abusive relationships.

Most importantly, findings have suggested that non-sexual violence in dating relationships is equally perpetrated by both males and females.

However, research also shows that females suffer more negative consequences of violence directed at them, especially in terms of physical harm.

Risk factors for both inflicting and sustaining dating violence that have been identified in the research literature are discussed and include prior exposure to violence, attitudes that violence is acceptable, peer influence, and the presence of other problem behaviors such as drug use and engagement in risky sexual behaviors.

Facts About Teen Dating Violence

• Roughly 1.5 million high school boys and girls in the U.S. admit to being intentionally hit or physically harmed in the last year by someone they are romantically involved with.
• Teens who suffer dating abuse are subject to long-term consequences like alcoholism, eating disorders, promiscuity, thoughts of suicide and violent behavior.
• 1 in 3 young people will be in an abusive or unhealthy relationship.
• 33% of adolescents in America are victim to sexual, physical, verbal or emotional dating abuse.
• In the U.S., 25% of high school girls have been abused physically or sexually. Teen girls who are abused this way are 6 times more likely to become pregnant or contract a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
• Females between the ages of 16 and 24 are roughly 3 times more likely than the rest of the population to be abused by an intimate partner.
• 8 states in the U.S. do not consider a violent dating relationship domestic abuse. Therefore, adolescents, teens and 20+ year-olds are unable to apply for a restraining order for protection from abuser.
• Violent behavior often begins between 6^th and 12^th grade, as 72% of 13 and 14-year-olds are dating.
• 50% of young people who experience rape, sexual assault or physical violence will attempt to commit suicide.
• Only 1/3 of the teens who were involved in an abusive relationship confided in someone about the violence.
• Teens who have been abused hesitate to seek help because they do not want to expose themselves or are unaware of the laws surrounding domestic violence.
• Teen dating violence is extremely common in LGBTQ relationships. Up to 50% of LGBTQ individuals will be abused by a dating partner.

Healthy Relationships

A healthy relationship means that both you and your partner demonstrate:

Respect

Treating one another as an equal and whole human being. Valuing each other’s thoughts, feelings and opinions.

Communication

Talk openly about problems and listen in a non-judgmental way. Affirm and understand each other’s thoughts, feelings and opinions.

Trust and Support

Believing what one another says. Supporting each other’s choice of friends, activities, goals and opinions.

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