Aldos Silver City • Entered by Marcia Stout on December 23, 2024
Riparian – Grazing Monitoring
November 1, 2024 – November 30, 2024
Participants and Hours
| Pre Planning hours | |
| Post Admin hours | 1 |
| Activity Hours | 7.5 |
| Participants | 5 |
| Total Hours | 38.5 |
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 (2 surveys)
Outcome 2: Hiked (13.5 miles)
Short Description of Activity
During November, given the warm weather this year, we enjoyed peak autumn colors during our two riparian monitoring hikes in the Gila Natl. Forest. On Nov 15, four members monitored the Goat Canyon exclosure in the Silver City District. We observed no cattle and no fresh sign. However, the gate at the end of the Saddle Rock Road that leads into both riparian areas was missing warning/ info signs, which we know had been there earlier. On Nov. 20, two team members monitored the San Francisco River starting via the Hot Springs Trail, hiking downstream to the junction with Big Dry Creek. We saw old sign of cattle and no recent sign. Also, there were no fresh four-wheeler tracks. We also reported an Ailanthus tree sapling on the banks of the river which needs to be removed before it spreads.
Reflection/Evaluation
The missing info/ warning signs on the Goat Canyon gate was reported to the FS, in addition to vehicle tracks. In our email report we suggested that signs be re-installed at the main gate, and that it should be made inaccessible to vehicles, in whatever way is practical. We were glad that a new member was able to join us during this trip to learn our monitoring techniques. Regarding the San Francisco River monitoring from the Hot Springs trail: Conditions are markedly improved relative to our previous monitoring trips. We were encouraged to see no recent cattle sign, and to see the recent work (using natural materials from that niche) to keep out off-road vehicles entering via Big Dry. Not to mention the fall colors and lighting were outstanding in the narrow river gorge
Photos/Uploads
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Photo Captions
1. Observing animal and vehicle tracks in the Goat Canyon exclosure area on Nov. 15, for our report.
2. Monitoring the San Francisco River from Hot Springs Trail, headed downstream past golden leaves.
3. Checking out the solo Ailanthus sapling along the bank, to get a GPS coordinate for report.
4. Headed down to the San Francisco River via the Hot Springs trail for monitoring on Nov. 20.