Ruidoso declares water emergency

RUIDOSO (AP) - Residents of the village of Ruidoso face emergency water restrictions because of the ongoing drought and the effects of a forest fire that prevented reservoirs from being refilled.

The Ruidoso Village Council voted to impose "Phase 5" restrictions on Thursday afternoon.

The restrictions mean residents and business can't use sprinkler systems or hoses to water lawns or foliage. They can use them on vegetable gardens or fruit trees, but other trees or shrubs must be watered with a bucket.

Utilities director Randall Camp says the Little Bear Fire damaged the watershed and made it impossible to use monsoon storm runoff to fill reservoirs. The Rio Ruidoso is carrying so much ash the water can't be treated.