Activity Report Explorer

Aldos Silver City • Entered by Marcia Stout on April 4, 2024

Riparian – Grazing Monitoring

March 1, 2024 – March 31, 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 (4 surveys)
Outcome 2: Hiked (8 miles)

Short Description of Activity

On March 1, three members of our team monitored three small riparian exclosures within the Reserve and Quemado Districts of GNF. This included the Home Exclosure – (Govina Allotment), Apache Campground Riparian Exclosure (Alexander Allotment), and Gauging Station – West Sand Flat. We were pleased to not observe any recent sign of cattle, but noted one area of fencing that may need repair. On March 22 all seven of us monitored along the San Francisco River just east of Luna within the Laney allotment. We found plenty of cattle sign throughout the 4.5-mile walk. We also found an open gate and a barbed wire fence that had clearly been cut. These problems were reported to the District Ranger, who planned to check out the area right away. We also found a lot of elk sign, and an elk carcass near what may be wolf scat. We also saw what may be a wolf print, as well as two Canada geese. There was a herd of about 20 elk on the way out. On March 21, six members of our grazing monitoring team held a strategy meeting. Notes from this meeting are included in the attached report.

Reflection/Evaluation

March was an important month for our team. We added a new monitoring member and we held a strategy meeting about working with the Forest Service to find long-term solutions to our biggest problem areas, as well as investigating working in upland areas, and working to pass the Voluntary Grazing Retirement Act. All of us monitored in one of the areas of most severe concern, the Laney allotment in the Quemado District, and were able to report significant issues. We determined that we would visit the Bird Area in early April, and, based upon our monitoring for the last four years, would make some concrete suggestions for better management there.

Photos/Uploads

Upload 1

Upload 2

Upload 3

Upload 4

Photo Captions

Photo 1: Notes from our March strategy meeting
photo 2: Our entire monitoring team actually monitoring together at one time! (March 22, along San Francisco River)
Photo 3: Monitoring a small exclosure along the Tularosa River at Apache Creek Campground, March 1
Photo 4: Monitoring along the San Francisco River (Laney allotment) just east of Luna on March 22