Aldos Silver City • Entered by Marcia Stout on March 13, 2025
Riparian – Grazing Monitoring
February 1, 2025 – February 28, 2025
Participants and Hours
| Pre Planning hours | |
| Post Admin hours | 3.25 |
| Activity Hours | 10.25 |
| Participants | 5 |
| Total Hours | 54.5 |
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 (4 surveys)
Outcome 2: Hiked (16 miles)
Short Description of Activity
During our Feb. 4 monitoring of the San Francisco River off Cosmic Campground, we observed cow paddies going upstream. Because this cow sign was not really fresh we reported no current presence of livestock. Then going downstream we reported cattle presence based on fresh cow sign. We also reported a fence gate that needed improvement. This was followed up by monitoring this downstream stretch 5 days later while also searching for a run away water bottle. Success! Lost water bottle was found and we observed a cow in this area. District range staff indicated the owner would be contacted the next day, and the water bottle is happily reunited with it’s day pack. On Feb. 20, our monitoring team met for our annual planning meeting (see notes) followed by monitoring the Bar 6 small exclosure. On Feb. 27 we attended a training session offered by forest service staff which focused on the updated Survey 123 monitoring app.
Reflection/Evaluation
The recent training regarding the forest service Survey 123 for livestock monitoring was thorough and helpful, and some of us have already utilized it. During our recent meeting we decided to continue focusing primarily on monitoring the riparian exclosure areas associated with the previous lawsuits, in addition to some spring areas suggested by the forest service or a local conservation organization particularly when this makes logistical sense. Also some photo point monitoring of stream restoration projects. We were pleased that the response to our reported cow observation off Cosmic campground was prompt. We also monitored the Bar 6 exclosure within the Silver City District for the first time, based on info provided by Upper Gila Watershed Alliance (UGWA). They previously initiated this exclosure fencing infrastructure with the forest service, and this year we plan on being instrumental with monitoring several of the exclosures that they initiated, via communications with the UGWA Director.
Photos/Uploads
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Photo Captions
1. Feb. 9 monitoring San Francisco River exclosure downstream off Cosmic Campground – cow observed during this foray.
2. Feb. 4 monitoring San Francisco River exclosure off Cosmic Campground.
3. Feb. 20 monitoring Bar 6 exclosure for the first time, as follow-up with another local environmental org.