The Hunt for a Million-Gallon Leak, Bluff Springs Closures Extended, and More
Water woes continue to confound the village. Follow the story with the Reader, the Voice of the Mountain.
What We’re Reading: Stephanie Nakhleh on Substack
What does the Reader read? Stephanie Nakhleh’s Substack, We Can Have Nice Things.
Nakhleh is a Los Alamos-based journalist who covers housing, local government, and the systems that determine whether communities work for the people who live in them.
Your Wednesday Review continues after this brief message. Thank you to our sponsor, The Lodge:
Forest Service Extends Bluff Springs Closure
The Lincoln National Forest (LNF) has issued an extended closure order for the Bluff Springs Recreation Area located on the Sacramento Ranger District.
Illegal off-highway vehicle use and damage to sensitive riparian areas led the LNF to close large sections in August of 2025. The Forest Service announced the closures would protect natural resources while crews work on restoration and maintenance projects through 2026.
The broader closure took effect August 12, 2025, shutting down Rio Penasco, Bluff Springs, Wills Canyon, and Agua Chiquita to dispersed camping, off-road motor vehicle use, and campfires. That order runs through August 31, 2026.
Within that larger closure sits Bluff Springs Recreation Area, which faces its own extended shutdown until December 31, 2026, or until rescinded. Forest Service engineering crews will use that time to complete annual maintenance, restoration work, and infrastructure updates. The closure affects the recreation area’s parking lot, vault toilets, and the Trail 112 bridge.
Despite the restrictions, visitors can still reach Bluff Springs for day use by taking the Willie White Trail (T113), which remains open. The trail connects to Willie White Spur and leads directly to the springs. Dispersed camping, however, remains off-limits throughout the area.
For the full closure order, please visit the USFS website’s Alerts and Closures page.
Your Wednesday Review continues after this brief message. Thank you to our sponsor, Noisy Water Winery:
Listen Up: Mountain Talk Podcast with Jonny Coker Interviews Mayor Dusty Wiley
This week, local reporter and producer Jonny Coker hosts the inaugural Mountain Talk audio/video podcast, taped at his studio in Cloudcroft.
His first guest: Mayor Dusty Wiley, Cloudcroft’s newly elected leader.
Hannah Dean joins Jonny in the mayor’s first post-election interview. Stay tuned for information on how you can catch the first episode.
The Reader is proud to be sponsored in part by PVT:
Promote Your Business
Learn about sponsorship opportunities for your business in support of the Reader. Contact us for more information at sponsorship-info@cloudcroftreader.com
Cloudcroft Reader is proud to be sponsored in part by great companies like:
Noisy Water Winery
Family-owned winery crafting thoughtfully made wines from New Mexico grapes, inspired by mountain living.Be in the Mountains Yoga & Massage
A cozy space for yoga and massage therapy at the Village PlazaOsha Trail Depot
Your destination for unique, hand-crafted treasuresJohn R. Battle, CPA, CVA, MAFF, CMAA
Personal & Business Taxes, Tax Planning & ConsultingThe Stove and Spa Store
We offer a variety of services to ensure your hearth and spa dreams are met!The Lodge at Cloudcroft
Landmark Choice Among New Mexico ResortsSacramento Camp & Conference Center
Come to the Mountain — Let God Refresh Your SoulLaughing Leaf Dispensary
Discover a world of wellness at Laughing LeafInstant Karma
Adventure Within: Transformative Yoga, Ayurvedic Wisdom, Nourishing Organics, Fair Trade BoutiqueOff the Beaten Path
Eclectic gifts & original artworkFuture Real Estate
Raise your expectations.Ski Cloudcroft
The Southern southernmost in New MexicoCloudcroft Therapeutic Massage
Maximizing Movement, Quality of Life ImprovementHigh Altitude
Your favorite little outdoor outfitter on Burro AvenueBlushing Yucca Esthetics
✨ Book your glow-up today✨The Elk Shed
Purveyors of Southwest Mountain Goods & FineryThe PAC
Pickleball Addicts of Cloudcroft—Pickleball in the CloudsPeñasco Valley Telephone Cooperative
For all the ways you love to connectBre Hope Media
Professional photo and video services
Now, we can put the power of the Mountain Monthly newspaper to work for you.
Advertise in Mountain Monthly and Cloudcroft Reader for total market coverage.
Cloudcroft Reader serves more than 3,200 active email subscribers and more than 14,000 social media followers. With the Mountain Monthly, widely available across the village for free, circulation is higher than ever, and the Monthly informs more than 4,000 followers on Facebook.
Together, our platforms provide comprehensive market coverage: locals, seasonal residents, and visitors who want to stay informed about the Cloudcroft community.
Reach the people engaged with Cloudcroft — locals, seasonals, and visitors. Let us help you reach your best customer prospects with your compelling message. What are you waiting for?
Thank you for the shoutout, CR!
Solid coverage of the water situation. The million-gallon-per-month leak in frozen conditions is a tough diagnostic challenge, especialy with the infrastructure spread across varied terrain. Carrizal's approach of systematic sectioning makes sense but winter timing complicates everything. The Bluff Springs OHV damage adds another layer to forest management stressors thatoften go underreported in small mountain communities.