Aldos Silver City • Entered by Marcia Stout on December 11, 2021
Riparian – Grazing Monitoring
November 1, 2021 – November 30, 2021
Participants and Hours
| Pre Planning hours | 3 |
| Post Admin hours | 1.5 |
| Activity Hours | 13.75 |
| Participants | 3 |
| Total Hours | 45.75 |
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 GOB Riparian Monitoring Team conducted two monitoring field trips in November. On November 2, three members surveyed the Black Canyon from the Lower Black Canyon Campground downstream about three miles. This was an area that the district range conservationist asked us to look at. No cow sign was found. On November 22, two members surveyed the San Francisco River downstream from the Alma Bridge. USFS personnel had told us that they had seen cow sign near this area, but didn’t know where the cows were entering. We also found considerable sign, and we also found a downed fence crossing the river just upstream from the bridge, with a numerous tracks and dung nearby. All of this was reported to the appropriate Gila NF personnel.
We also met with Gila NF personnel to discuss technical problems with the survey. These have recently been resolved in subsequent communications. Edgar Martinez told us that he would create a survey specifically for our use, as USFS are now using a different one, and he asked for our input about what would be useful.
Reflection/Evaluation
Aldo’s GOB team continues to monitor areas that were a part of the lawsuit settlement with the Center for Biological Diversity and the FS. During one of our monitoring hikes this month we found the likely way that cattle were recently using to reach a stretch of the San Francisco River near the Alma Bridge, and reported this to the relevant Gila National Forest staff. There has been follow-up emails regarding this downed fence.
Photos/Uploads
Upload 1 |
Upload 2 |
Photo Captions
1. Monitoring along Black Canyon downstream to the East Fork of the Gila River in the Wilderness District on Nov. 2, 2021.
2. Monitoring along the San Francisco River beginning at the Alma Bridge and headed downstream on Nov. 22, 2021. Found a downed fence near the beginning point.