Rio Grande Valley Broadband • Entered by Susan Ostlie on September 30, 2019
Field trip to Little Water Canyon
May 24, 2019
Participants and Hours
| Pre Planning hours | 1 |
| Post Admin hours | 1 |
| Activity Hours | 12 |
| Participants | 11 |
| Total Hours | 134 |
Key Issue: Water-related Conservation
Activity Type: Stewardship (monitoring, sampling, planting, etc.)
Key Partners: NMNPS, field naturalist, ornithology professor, NM state representative, field representative of NM Senator Heinrich,
Landscape/area: Cibola National Forest (1616435 acres)
Short Description of Activity
Field trip to monitor research natural area for evidence of grazing depredations to the only remaining spring on the south side of Oso Ridge, for unusual plants, birds, old growth forest characteristics, etc. The purpose was to be able to make a case for more than Wild and Scenic protection in the plan revision. We want to make a case for recommended wilderness, or at least a Special Management Area designation.
Reflection/Evaluation
The goal was to establish a monitoring protocol and to educate important political figures on the importance of the protection of such a ecologically rich area. We do feel that a great deal was accomplished on this field trip. The Senator’s field rep has since returned to the area, and he and I also discussed it and other areas at a plan revision public meeting in Mountainair this last month.