Grants is named after the Grant brothers, which were contracted to build the railroad in this area. Initially the settlers were forced to look for another means of livelihood. As the livestock industry declined, the logging and timber business went full speed ahead. Camps sprang up throughout the Zuni Mountains, as logging railroads extended into the mountains from the transcontinental railroad. Grants and the surrounding area began to grow. In 1931 the lumber business slowed down, as did the nation's economy. By World War II railroad logging had ended. Uranium mining was the next industry to flourish, starting in the early 1950's and ending around 1983. The population has dropped considerably since that time (to a current population of about 15,600) but Grants is a happy, healthy community that will continue to thrive and will be ready to meet the challenges of the future - whatever they might be.
The Mt. Taylor Ranger District has played an important part in the areas' history. The District evolved from additions to the small forest reserves first set aside in 1906. The consolidation of the Grants Ranger District (headquartered in Grants) and the Gallup Ranger District (Ft. Wingate) resulted in the Mt. Taylor Ranger District in July 1974. Forest work has emphasized rehabilitating areas that were heavily logged and grazed in the early 1900's.
Developed recreation areas are located on both the Mt. Taylor and Zuni Mountains of the District. Lobo Canyon and Ojo Redondo Campgrounds and Bluewater Parking Area can be visited free of charge. Quaking Aspen, McGaffey, and Coal Mine Campgrounds are fee areas.
Following are two examples of Forest Health projects on the Mt. Taylor District:
Bluewater Creek Riparian Area:
Over the past 10-15 years, the District has restored the vitality of the Bluewater Creek drainage and restored the quality of its riparian habitat.
Intense, historical grazing (upwards to 550 year-around cattle in the late 1940's), logging and road building impacts had severely degraded this perennial stream through the 1970's. As a result, its associated riparian qualities had been all but lost.
In the mid-1980's, the District implemented a comprehensive management effort to allow the area to heal. This included efforts to reduce cattle grazing impacts (current levels are now approximately 127 head between May-October), reduce high road densities, reduce impacts of timber sales on water quality and quantity and reduce public impacts to the fragile riparian zone. Two riparian pastures covering 740 acres were established. In addition, a 400-acre Southwestern Willow Flycatcher enclosure was developed.
As a result, the area once again supports perennial water flow, is considered a fishery, has vigorous and continuous vegetative cover, (it is even now considered quality Southwest Willow Flycatcher habitat), supports a beaver population and is a destination for recreationists.
 San Mateo Elk/Deer Winter Habitat:
For several decades, San Mateo has experienced increasing tree densities and reduced vigor/diversity of grasses, herbs and shrubs important to these wildlife species. In addition, disturbance associated with roads and vehicle use have compromised the quality of this habitat.
In 1992, the District initiated a program to reduce tree densities in this Pinyon-Juniper woodland type. Tree densities were reduced and seeding with native grasses and forbs has been accomplished on over 600 acres. In addition, a seasonal closure was enacted to reduce disturbance during the critical wintering period.
With the exception of the grass/forbs seeding, all of the work was accomplished through fuelwood sales to the public.A significant increase in the quality of the deer/elk habitat has been documented as well as increased.
Zuni Mountains Forest Highway Project:
This is a 57.7-mile long road reconstruction funded through the Federal Lands Highway Program. The project is a cooperative venture between the State of New Mexico, Cibola and McKinley Counties, the Federal Highway Administration, and the Forest Service. The road is being designed to help improve the watershed as well as to provide a safe and dependable access for forest visitors. The objective of the design is to make the road as "invisible" to the natural drainage patterns as possible. The estimated expenditure for the road construction and associated watershed improvements is $17-20 million funded by the Federal Lands Highway Trust Fund.
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