General Awareness:  Another highest 2025 YTD daily catch record was achieved this week, with 0.84 inch being received over the obs period ending at 0700 MDT 08 July 25.  Total catch for the week was 0.94 inch, for a YTD total of 3.97 inches; 2.20 inches and 36% below the NOAA YTD normal of 6.17 inches.  The soil exhibited some moisture retention after  the July 8th rains. I believe our condition monitoring can continue to be considered MODERATELY DRY based on this and the nearly 100% greening noted below.   Aside from the July 8 catch, the heaviest rain continues to skirt my location.  The  maximum catch for the remainder of the week was 0.07 inch.  The widely reported Ruidoso area flooding is approx 10 miles south and approx 300 feet below my location.  This tragic event did not impact my location.
 
Plants & Wildlife:   Greening of surviving indigenous grasses is around 100%. We do have areas of bare soil due to the drought. As previously reported:  Pinon trees continue to show stress from lack of moisture, with slight stress apparent in some junipers.  Deer, elk, rabbit, squirrel and birdlife health continue to appear normal.  

Fire/Restrictions:  As previously reported: Fire hazard continues to be posted as MODERATE at the BLM Fort Stanton Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area (nearest border approx 2.6 miles ENE of my location).  No nearby fire activity was reported this week.  An open flame burn ban remains in effect across Lincoln County. 

Water Supply & Quality:  As observed yesterday, Rio Bonito (observation point approx 1.25 mi NNE of my station) is DRY with no discernable flow.  Spot ponding was noted on the morning of 08 July, after the substantial rains in the previous 24 hrs obs period.  No ponding was seen when Rio Bonito was observed at the same location on Saturday morning 12 July. (Note that Rio Bonito is a primary watershed tributary from the Sierra Blanca, Lookout and Buck Mountains, approximately 12 miles SW-WSW of my location).