Lincoln County to spend millions in state, federal funds to buy Ruidoso homes at risk of flooding

The Rio Safe Program in the Ruidoso area will mark the nation's first-ever home buyout program due to post-fire flooding.

By: Patrick Lohmann

Outlets: Source New Mexico

Published: March 2, 2026

Words: 654

Last Updated: 1 week, 2 days ago

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Lincoln County and federal officials are finalizing a program that will enable the county to buy hundreds of Ruidoso-area homes at acute risk of floods stemming from New Mexico’s 2024 South Fork and Salt fires.

The buyout operation, which Lincoln County officials have dubbed the “Rio Safe Program,” represents a collaboration between the county and the federal Agriculture Department’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. The NRCS will pay $3 for the buyout program for every …

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