Daniel Denipah has worked in forestry and wildland fire operations for over 30 years. He has been involved with numerous collaborations with various agencies. Prior to working for Santa Clara Mr. Denipah was employed with the Bureau of Indian affairs for 11 years involved with timber stand improvement (TSI) and on their Wildland fire crew. Currently, serves as the Forestry Department Director overseas operations related to fire management, reforestation, watershed restoration, and co-stewardship of cross-boundary landscapes.
Santa Clara Pueblo Forestry program employs a Type 2 Initial Attack Hand crew. Santa Clara Pueblo Regulars wildfire crew meet minimum National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) qualifications standards. Santa Clara Pueblo Forestry is equipped with various wildland firefighting equipment. Which includes: Chainsaws, fire tools, tribally owned vehicles, and Heavy Equipment. Santa Clara Pueblo has experienced several devastating wildfires in the past 22, years since, the most recent and largest wildfire of its time the Las Concha’s fire. As a result of Forest conditions like overstocked trees, disease, insects, prolonged drought, and invasive species have led to unhealthy stands within our Forest, Woodlands, and Bosque environments. This along with a warming climate have led to conditions which resulted in stand replacement forest fires, consuming 90 % of the Santa Clara Creek watershed. Currently, Santa Clara Pueblo Forestry has a Hazardous Fuels Reduction program which implements thinning, logging, and prescribed fire projects to reduce fuel loading on the remaining Forested, Woodland, and Bosque properties. The gradual re-introduction of fire back into the Santa Clara Pueblo ecosystems will provide for restored function, healthier environment and build resiliency within tribal lands.
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