Tim Keithley | Ruidoso News
Lincoln County officials said they have set aside $230 million in federal funds to buy properties from local landowners in the Ruidoso area threatened by floods.
More than 200 residents from around the area gathered on Wednesday, March 25 at ENMU Ruidoso to hear a presentation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on its Watershed Protection Plan.
The plan will see the federal agency pay local landowners for their properties if they are proven to be in danger of future flood damage.
The announcement comes after the Ruidoso area was decimated by first the South Fork and Salt fires, which burned about 20,000 acres in Ruidoso and Ruidoso Downs, and caused at least three deaths in the summer of 2024. The fires were followed by heavy flooding that summer and in 2025, which destroyed hundreds more homes, caused another three deaths and led to closure of the Ruidoso Downs Race Track.
Lincoln County Manager Jason Burns said the federal program was a step toward relief for Ruidoso’s property owners struggling in the wake of the fires and floods.
“We have about $230 million in this federal program to purchase properties,” said Lincoln County Manager Jason Burns.
The crowd consisted of many residential and commercial property owners that suffered extreme damage over the past two years during the spring and summer monsoons.
“The process begins now, and we will be working with each property owner individually on a first come, first served basis,” Burns said.
The federal funding comes to Lincoln County through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). It is an attempt to clear structures and obstacles from property along newly drawn flood maps by purchasing the properties, demolishing blighted structures and turning the land into green space, officials said.
Property owners at the meeting immediately began completing applications known as “expressions of interest” that allow representatives from the county and the NRCS to visit the property in order to start their initial evaluation.
Burns said the process ends with the county making an offer on eligible properties and closing on them just like an ordinary real estate transaction. He said the federal program is completely voluntary. Once the officer is made, property owners can decide to accept or reject it.
“This seems like a complicated process, but it is basically straight forward,” Burns told the audience. “Each property will be evaluated by an independent appraisal firm using pre-fire and flood values dating back to 2024.”
Burns said the county has not yet hired an independent appraisal team to date but is searching for a New Mexico firm willing to do the work. He said property owners who have signed the initial application to participate in the federal program could expect to be contacted quickly.
“The timeline is as soon as we can,” Burns said. “There are other programs with existing deadlines and I commit that we will try to reach an agreement with individual property owners in advance of those deadlines.”
Kenneth Branch, NRCS assistant state conservationist for programs, said the program was intended to mitigate ongoing danger, not to restore all losses suffered in the floods.
“This program is not intended to make people whole,” Branch said. “We are providing funding to the county for the purpose of purchasing properties where danger to life and property still exists.”
“Our goal is to make this program beneficial for all of you,” Burns concluded. “This is our
solution.”
Here’s what to know and how to apply to the program:
Eligibility: Properties must be owned by “willing, voluntary sellers” and meet specific criteria. The list of eligibility requirements can be found on the USDA website
Process: After a qualifying disaster event, eligible sponsors must submit a request in writing to their local NRCS State Conservationist within 60 days. If approved, NRCS will work with the project sponsor to define the terms of a cooperative agreement.
Acquisition: The acquisition is handled by the sponsor, who then purchases the property and becomes the owner. A deed restriction is placed on the title limiting land use to open space and natural resource conservation. Structures will either be demolished or relocated outside of the flood zone.
Funding: NRCS provides financial assistance to purchase and preserve the land for the purpose of restoring the natural environment, covering up to 75% percent of site restoration costs.
How to apply: Anyone interested was asked to visit ewpbuyout@lincolncountynm.gov to view a recording of Wednesday’s presentation and download an application. A dedicated phone line, 575-973-0523, has been set up by the county so that individuals and ask specific questions about their individual properties. A second public hearing is scheduled April 15 at ENMU Ruidoso, 709 Mechem Drive, at 5 p.m.
