Activity Report Explorer

Aldos Silver City • Entered by Marcia Stout on March 9, 2024

Riparian – Grazing Monitoring

February 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024

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 (9 miles)

Short Description of Activity

The Aldo’s Broadband Riparian Grazing Monitoring Team conducted two monitoring trips in Feb. 2024. On Feb. 16, four members monitored along the Gila River Bird Conservation Area exclosure. This has been an ongoing problem area. This month we observed 6 cattle near the river vista bluff and extensive recent cattle sign throughout our monitoring hike. We noticed some repairs to the low areas of the fence that were reported last month. On Feb. 21, four members monitored within the Vigil Spring exclosure, an important watershed area not far from the San Francisco River. This was a follow-up trip based on the cattle damage within the exclosure observed by us several months earlier. This time we observed one cow within the exclosure, but not much other recent cattle sign inside. The salt blocks had been removed and some fence repairs had been made since our last trip. The gates that were previously found open had been shut and locked. GNF grazing specialist contacted the permittee to tell them to remove the cow. The east side of the exclosure looked good.

Reflection/Evaluation

The Gila River Bird Conservation exclosure continues to be a problem area regarding cattle access and we continue to discuss this with GNF staff. This month some of the confusing information regarding where the cattle were accessing the exclosure was answered through ongoing communication, so that is good. Silver City District grazing staff reported back that they aimed to do additional repairs of the fence line where access was a problem, so it will be timely to check for that during our next monitoring trip. They also told us that they would have the permittee do a sweep of the entire river afterward to remove all cattle. Regarding Vigil Spring exclosure, although we observed a cow inside and there is obviously more work to be done in that area, it was clear that in response to our previous report documenting cattle impact some actions were taken. For example, most cattle and all the salt blocks had been removed, gate locked, and some fence portions repaired. So while it was very disconcerting to see the cattle impact, it was good to know that our monitoring, survey, and email reports made a difference. District staff thanked us for our ongoing efforts

Photos/Uploads

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Photo Captions

1. Observing cattle within the exclosure across the river at the Gila River Bird Conservation area, Feb. 16.
2. Looking back toward where the cow was observed in the Vigil Springs exclosure, while picking up litter, Feb. 21