Full interview: Tom Swetnam, Professor Emeritus of Dedrochronology, Univ. of Arizona

In Episode 2 of the Lesser Known New Mexico Podcast, you heard Tom Swetnam, Professor Emeritus of Dedrochronology at the University of Arizona, talk about wildfire and his hope for the future. In the full conversation, he talks about the history of fire in the Jemez Mountains and his new book, The Jemez Mountains: A Cultural and Natural History. And, he reveals the amazingness that is Soda Dam. If you live in New Mexico, there’s a good chance you’ve driven past Soda Dam on Highway 4 north of Jemez Springs. And if you’re like me, you had no idea how it formed — or that in the 1960s, the Department of Transportation cut it in two to improve the highway.For more information:The Jemez Mountains: A Cultural and Natural History, by Thomas W. SwetnamEpisode 2 of the Lesser Known New Mexico PodcastThanks for listening to the Lesser Known New Mexico Podcast! You can also find us on Spotify or Apple and follow us on Instagram. And if you really want to, you can drop us a note at [email protected]. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lesserknownnmpod.substack.com