Aldos Silver City • Entered by Marcia Stout on May 20, 2025
Riparian – Grazing Monitoring
April 1, 2025 – April 30, 2025
Participants and Hours
| Pre Planning hours | |
| Post Admin hours | 1.75 |
| Activity Hours | 7.25 |
| Participants | 5 |
| Total Hours | 38 |
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 (7.5 miles)
Short Description of Activity
On April 9, two GOBW members monitored the Saliz Creek/ Canyon exclosure on the northern edge of the Glenwood District. After walking less than 1 mile, we observed at least 9 cows (probably 10) close to the creek. Although we did not see cattle downstream from where the cows were observed, we did see some cow sign the whole way from our starting point to our ending point. On a brighter note, we watched a delightful band of about 12 coatimundi crossing the stream on a log before scrambling up the bank. Soon after receiving our report, the Range Specialist checked the entire exclosure all the way to the San Francisco River and found 6 head of cattle – and reportedly dealt with this situation. On April 21, 3 team members monitored part of the San Francisco River exclosure downstream from the Alma Bridge (Glenwood District). No cattle were present at that time, but tracks and old cow dung were visible starting from the fence line just N. of bridge to 1 ½ miles downstream. The stream bed was, sadly, completely dry.
Reflection/Evaluation
The timing for our monitoring trip to Saliz was good, given that the cows had probably not been within the exclosure for very long. It would be good to try monitoring every spring in this area because we also found cattle in the exclosure last spring, when drought conditions were not so bad. It might be good to do a follow-up monitoring foray given that we observed 9 or 10 cows and the Range Specialist only saw and dealt with 6. We wonder if there is an ongoing issue where cows wander into this exclosure from the nearby Reserve District and if so, what the solution would be.
Photos/Uploads
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Photo Captions
1. April 9 Monitoring Saliz Canyon
2. April 21 Monitoring San Francisco River off Alma Bridge
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