Aldos Silver City • Entered by Marcia Stout on February 7, 2022
Riparian – Grazing Monitoring
January 1, 2022 – January 31, 2022
Participants and Hours
| Pre Planning hours | 1.25 |
| Post Admin hours | 2 |
| Activity Hours | 14.5 |
| Participants | 4 |
| Total Hours | 61.25 |
Key Issue: Livestock Grazing Management
Activity Type: Stewardship (monitoring, sampling, planting, etc.)
Key Partners: Gila National Forest
Landscape/area: Gila National Forest (2658321 acres)
Measurable Outcomes
Outcome 1: Trail/land monitored (2 surveys)
Outcome 2: Hiked (10.25 miles)
Short Description of Activity
On Jan. 11 four of the team members monitored the Gila River Birding cattle exclusion area. We found recent cattle sign along most of the route. Two cattle were observed within that exclusion area. This was reported to the district grazing staff. (A coatimundi “hiked” parallel to us for a spell and showed off her / his skills in climbing a tree in undeterred fashion as we oohed and aahed.) On Jan. 10 one of our volunteers took an exploratory trip to the Alma Bridge (San Francisco River), to Cienega Creek, and the Tularosa River, to check on river levels for our winter monitoring trips. On Jan. 25 three team members monitored a section of the San Francisco River downstream off the Cosmic Campground area. Although we saw no cattle, we observed fresh cattle sign along most of this route including several cattle trails crossing the river. We found a gate that was down, and this plus the cattle sign was reported, indicating follow-up needed. (An owl rather placidly monitored us as we monitored the stream.)
Reflection/Evaluation
We observed that the downed fence across part of Ira Canyon which cattle would have used to enter the excluded stream-side areas in the Gila Birding area in January had been repaired, presumably in response to our January report. GNF staff forwarded us the email that the corresponding GNF staff on the districts receive when we submit a survey that requires attention. This ensured us that every survey we submit is being looked at by the corresponding district staff.
Photos/Uploads
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Photo Captions
1: Monitoring along the San Francisco River off the Cosmic Campground area.
2. There’s the cattle – Monitoring the Gila River near the Gila River Birding Area
3. Owl monitoring us along the San Francisco River.
4. Coatimundi antics in the Gila River Birding Area.