ABQ Bosque could open soon

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The Bosque could be completely open again soon.

The Albuquerque and Bernalillo County fire departments are meeting Wednesday to talk about the Bosque closure and they are going to make an announcement Thursday morning.

It is been almost two weeks since parts of the Bosque were closed here in Albuquerque.

Well some of that might change as early as this week.

New Mexico has had some rain, but the middle Rio Grande conservancy district says to this point, it hasn't been enough to lift the closures.

When the weather clears up, the Bosque floor dries up very quickly.

As of now in Albuquerque, it is illegal to enter the Bosque floor.

The only areas open are bike trails.

The city has been in close contact with the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District about the conditions.

Its spokesperson Tom Thorpe said he was asked by the city about the possibility of reopening.

“They do their own moisture measuring, their own calculations and my guesstimate at it for you, would be they believe there's enough moisture in there to let people back in,” Thrope said.

Thorpe says the conservancy district could decide on their own to reopen the Bosque, but this year the are relying on the individual counties and cities to make the decision.

The announcement will be made right here at Tingley Thursday morning.

Charcoal fires and open fires are not allowed in Albuquerque right now, even in picnic areas.

The Bosque is completely closed in Socorro, Valencia and Sandoval Counties.

Firefighters there say they have no plans to open it back up anytime soon.

Fire restrictions expired in the Lincoln National Forest Wednesday, where the Little Bear Fire has burned almost 45,000 acres along with nearly 250 homes and buildings.

Later this week the restrictions will go away for the Cibola, Santa Fe, Carson and Gila National forests, the latter where the whitewater-baldy complex fire has burned about 300,000 acres.

Earlier this week the state lifted the restrictions on Bureau of Land Management land and in state forests.

Fireworks are never allowed in the forests.