Treesearch

The middle Pecos River lies in the short-grass prairie ecotype and lacked a substantial woodland community prior to tamarisk (Tamarisk chinensis) invasion. Tamarisk control is a concern for land managers on the Pecos River and other Southwestern riparian systems. Our research is part of a long term study investigating hydrological and wildlife response to tamarisk removal on the Pecos river in Eddy County, New Mexico. Our objectives were to collect baseline data and describe avian-vegetation associations at the treatment site and two non-treatment (control) sites prior to herbicide...

Research concerning ancient Pueblo Indian farming, specifically the innovation of cobble-mulch gardens, suggests a manipulation of the local environment on a landscape level that helped create existing ecosystems. This agricultural technology, which consisted of a protective layer of gravel covering the productive soil, trapped seasonal runoff moisture in field areas, retained it, and guarded against evaporation. These water trapping features are usually found on terraces and slopes above riparian areas. The effect of this lithic-mulch technology on available water, drainage patterns, and...

The entrance of the Spanish into what is now New Mexico in the 1500s permanently altered aboriginal land use and subsistence patterns by the introduction of domesticated animals such as horses, cattle. sheep, goats, and pigs. During the Spanish Colonial and Mexican periods, both the Puebloan groups and the Hispanic settlers practiced mixed farming featuring small numbers of livestock pastured in communal grazing areas. After New Mexico became a United States Territory, large-scale ranching ventures also developed in the area. The rapid rise in stock numbers associated with the commercial...

Riparian ecosystems have been part of the culture of land use of native peoples in the Southwest United States for thousands of years. The experiences of tribal riparian initiatives to incorporate modern elements of environment and development with cultural needs are relatively few. This paper describes tribal case examples and approaches in riparian management which may advance discussions of cultural values in resource management for rural and developing communities such as those on tribal lands in the United States.

The Rio Grande Basin Consortium (RGBC) serves as a networking group and clearinghouse for scientific information pertaining to the Rio Grande Basin. Its membership consists of natural and social scientists from New Mexico’s three research universities, administrators, and resource managers from federal, state, and local governmental agencies, members of community and advocacy groups, and private citizens. Members share an interest in better understanding the physical, ecological, economic, social, and cultural dynamics of this drainage area. In this report, we briefly describe the history,...

Managing the Rio Grande Valley State Park as a valued riparian-wetland area is very important as it encourages conditions for the growth of vegetation. This growth supports a riparian community consisting of various insects, animals, birds, and fish, as well as other wildlife. Human activity in riparian areas has led to historic use patterns causing erosion, re-location of animals and birds, and a loss of some valued riparian ecosystems. Riparian areas on the urban edge present a unique management challenge and opportunity. All area residents benefit from a properly functioning riparian/wet...

This presentation will be a "reflective story" of a personal transformation that began at a dinner discussion in Antigua, Guatemala, with a BLM wildlife biologist, while on vacation. Classic literature cited in this evening conversations included Cadillac Desert and A Sand County Almanac. This introduction provided the door of awareness and opportunity for one person to become a "regular" volunteer with the BLM, USFS, and the New Mexico Department of Fish and Game.

Wetlands and riparian habitats constitute a small, but nonetheless vital component in the Chihuahuan Desert. Big Bend National Park, 801,000 acres, contains about 27,000 acres of wetland. The park has riparian or wetland habitat distributed around 315 water sources, some perennial streams, and along 118 miles of the Rio Grande. These areas contain unique vegetation components, which provide habitat for wildlife, including resident and migratory birds, and support other wildlife. The same habitats have become increasingly popular as overnight campsites for rafters and boaters on the Rio...

The paper describes streamflow, sediment movement and vegetation interactions within riparian systems of the southwestern United States. Riparian systems are found in a wide range of vegetation types, ranging from lower elevation desert environments to high elevation conifer forests. The climatic, vegetative and hydrologic processes operating in the southwestern environments provide a unique setting for discussing riparian ecosystem interactions with both water and sediment. Most streamflow at lower elevations is intermittent, and riparian vegetation frequently occupies channels that are...

Sediment and nutrient loss from headwater streams of sedimentary basins in the semi-arid Southwest have been attributed to both over-grazing by livestock and to climatic cycles that influence arroyo formation. Considerable effort has been directed toward the influence of livestock grazing on riparian species abundance and diversity. Less work has concentrated on the influence of livestock on in-stream processes and communities. In contrast, considerable research has described the importance of floods as ecological organizers of riparian and benthic communities in lotic ecosystems. Here, we...