Aldos Silver City • Entered by Marcia Stout on June 19, 2025
Riparian – Grazing Monitoring
May 1, 2025 – May 31, 2025
Participants and Hours
| Pre Planning hours | 0.75 |
| Post Admin hours | 0.75 |
| Activity Hours | 11.5 |
| Participants | 3 |
| Total Hours | 36 |
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 (3 surveys)
Outcome 2: Hiked (7.75 miles)
Short Description of Activity
On May 8, two team members monitored the San Francisco River exclosure starting near Cienega Canyon confluence (Reserve District). We observed no recent cow sign. We did, however, observe cow sign along the entire way that might have been from this winter or early spring. We observed a lot of elk sign the entire way including some bank trampling at certain stream crossings. On May 27, two team members monitored part of the San Francisco River exclosure within the Laney allotment close to Luna (Quemado District). As we approached the river a herd about 20-30 female elk left the river and headed up the hillside. We observed no recent sign of cattle. On May 27 we also went to Adair Springs. Again, no sign of cattle but quite a bit of elk sign. On our return trip home, we stopped by the Reserve ranger station and introduced ourselves to the new Reserve District Ranger. We talked about setting up a meeting with her to discuss monitoring priorities, etc.
Reflection/Evaluation
Given the “exceptional” drought, it was encouraging that we observed no cattle within the river exclosures that we monitored this month. A plethora of elk sign was observed along the stream stretches that we monitored during this period of drought. We were glad that the forest service was able to fill the vacant Reserve District Ranger position.
Photos/Uploads
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Photo Captions
1. Monitoring along San Francisco River exclosure near Cienega Canyon, May 8
2. Monitoring along San Francisco River exclosure near Cienega Canyon, May 8
3. Monitoring within Adair Springs Exclosure, May 27