Ecological condition of the East Fork of the Gila River and selected tributaries: Gila National Forest, New Mexico

Abstract

Ecological condition of riparian habitats along the East Fork of the Gila River, Main Diamond Creek, lower South Diamond Creek, and Black Canyon Creek are all in very heavily degraded condition. Channel cross-sections show extensive entrenchment, high width-to-depth ratios, and numerous reaches where banks are sloughing into the stream, especially on the East Fork of the Gila River. Species of floodplain vegetation typifies degraded channel conditions. Absence of woody species disallows bank stabilization except where entrenched to large cobble. Data from channel cross-sections and vegetation sampling validate these conditions.

Parent Publication

• Desired future conditions for Southwestern riparian ecosystems: Bringing interests and concerns together

Citation

Ohmart, Robert D. 1996. Ecological condition of the East Fork of the Gila River and selected tributaries: Gila National Forest, New Mexico. In: Shaw, Douglas W.; Finch, Deborah M., tech coords. Desired future conditions for Southwestern riparian ecosystems: Bringing interests and concerns together. 1995 Sept. 18-22, 1995; Albuquerque, NM. General Technical Report RM-GTR-272. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. p. 312-317.