Conservation
What Happens When Cattle Don't Spend Summer in the Cebolla Ron Loehman Conservation Chairman From the September 2014 Newsletter The New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse is a small rodent that lives along mountain meadow streams that are bordered by tall grasses, sedges, and shrubs such as willows and alders. Most of these areas lie in New Mexico's National Forests, such as in the Pecos and Jemez Districts of the Santa Fe National Forest. As reported in previous newsletters, the population of the Meadow Jumping Mouse has fallen to such a low level that the US Fish and Wildlife Service has ... Read More
by Jerry Burton, NMT President Ever wonder how many trout are in a stream? To a fisheries biologist that number is known as the standing crop that is measured in pounds per surface area of stream. So that the standing crop of trout in a stream has meaning, the America Fisheries Society developed a standard procedure on how the data should be gathered. While the techniques they developed can only be used on smaller streams, it will provide data that can be compared to data collected from many streams.To gather the data a reach of typical habitat on a stream ... Read More
An ongoing project of NMT is the installation of barriers along the Rio Guadalupe to prevent vehicles from driving too close to the streams. The US Forest Service arranged for help from about 20 inmates from the Los Lunas facilitywho were hard working, conscientious, had a good attitude, and were glad to be there. The extra help was welcome, as the digging along the road at Porter was very, very difficult. The old railroad bed was about 12 to 15 inches below the road surface and was heavily compacted with lots of big rocks. The auger was useful only for the first ... Read More
Ron Loehman, NMT Conservation Chair In the last newsletter I wrote that the Forest Service had cancelled our May 31st conservation project because the grazing permittees strongly objected to any structures that might keep their cattle from accessing the Rio Cebolla. The meadow sections of the Cebolla have been seriously degraded by many years of uncontrolled grazing. Our project would have fenced about two acres of the stream as an experimental plot to show the recovery that is possible if cattle were excluded. The alternative project would have replaced about a quarter mile of a deteriorating existing fence on the ... Read More
Text of the cover letter: Dear Friends and Neighbors: The Jemez Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest is proposing a project along the upper Rio Cebolla where it crosses Forest Road 376. The purpose of the project is to improve habitat for the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse. The enclosed attachment describes the project’s details. The responsible official for the project is the Jemez District Ranger, but Allan Setzer, Cuba District Ranger will take the lead on the project. We request your comments on this project. To be most helpful, please send your comments by August 10, 2014 ... Read More
Source: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/07/03/new-mexico-ranching-family-tells-feds-dont-fence-us-out/ This photo shows livestock drinking from a watering hole, June 20, 2014, near Crystal, N.M.AP For more than a century, the Lucero family has grazed livestock in the majestic landscape near Fenton Lake in the Santa Fe National Forest. They started with sheep and, in the 1920s, switched to cattle. But that may all come to an end because of an endangered mouse. “You’re taking a lot of heritage away,” said Mike Lucero, as he looks over the creek that cuts through the meadow. He was accompanied by his brother Manuel and cousin Orlando, who have brought their family’s ... Read More
A poacher in New Mexico has taken illegal harvest to new heights. Acting on an anonymous tip, Department of Game and Fish Officers found more than 1,600 rainbow trout in the home of Bounchanh Bounsombath, 62, of Clovis, New Mexico. The perpetrator was arrested and admitted to catching all the fish at Green Acres Lake and Denis Chaves Pond in northwest Clovis. Department hatchery workers released approximately 10,000 rainbow trout into Green Acres and Denis Chaves between November 2013 and March 2014. Licensed anglers may catch and keep up to five rainbow trout per day and may possess up to 10 ... Read More
Governor Susana Martinez is soliciting proposals for river restoration projects around the state. Under the New Mexico River Stewardship Program, the Legislature approved $2.3 million in capital outlay funds to spend on projects protecting the health of rivers and watersheds, which would include lowering riverbanks, replanting native vegetation, clearing out invasive plants and restoring wetlands. Municipalities, counties, irrigation districts and community groups can apply for the funds, and winning applicants will be announced in September. Link to website - http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/swqb/RiverStewards/ ... Read More
