Aldos Silver City • Entered by Marcia Stout on April 22, 2023
Riparian – Grazing Monitoring
March 1, 2023 – March 31, 2023
Participants and Hours
| Pre Planning hours | 2 |
| Post Admin hours | 2.5 |
| Activity Hours | 13 |
| Participants | 6 |
| Total Hours | 82.5 |
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 (3 surveys)
Outcome 2: Hiked (8 miles)
Short Description of Activity
On March 15 three team members met with the GNF Reserve District Ranger. She brought out maps and went over all the priority riparian areas she would like us to monitor. Afterwards, we successfully scouted out access to a high priority section of the San Francisco River near Luna where we would like to target in the future. On March 23, five of us met GNF Silver City District Range staff person at the Gila Birding Area along the Gila River. She explained the function of the several “trap” areas and went over many of our questions to maximize our monitoring of this area. Following that, we surveyed along one side of the Upper Bird trap area while checking fence condition. We immediately found a breach in this fence which would allow cattle easy access to the adjacent exclusion area and river. On March 30, three team members monitored Goat Canyon plus the nearby natural area canyon. No fresh cattle sign was observed, however ATV and dirt bike tracks all the way up Goat Canyon were reported.
Reflection/Evaluation
Went very well. We obtained detailed information on how to access priority areas within the Reserve District and felt that the District Ranger would genuinely appreciate our monitoring efforts. Likewise our monitoring field trip with the Silver District Range staff went very well. It is a confusing area to monitor so her input helped a lot. This helped build improved rapport and communication regarding our monitoring of this area. She would like us to monitor this priority area monthly and we agreed, particularly since it is a problem area. Regarding our survey report indicating recent ATV tracks, we received the following message from the District Ranger: “We followed up with your concerns regarding ATV usage in the Goat Canyon riparian area and the lack of signage stating it is closed to all motorized vehicles. I have attached some pictures of newly placed “Riparian Restoration Area” signs that state motorized restrictions in the area are intended to limit the disturbance to wildlife and vegetation. Thank you for your continued monitoring of vital areas within the Gila National Forest…”
Photos/Uploads
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Photo Captions
1. Meeting with Silver District Range Staff (Naomi Gomez) at Gila River Birding Area. March 23, 2023
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3. Monitoring with Silver District Staff at Gila River Birding Area.