Conservation
Ron Loehman, Conservation Chairman Our conservation projects on public lands require permission from and collaboration with the responsible land management agency. Consequently, project schedules and locations sometimes change because of changing agency priorities or other constraints. Most of our projects are on the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF). Typically, we work with them early in the year to decide on a list of mutually-acceptable projects and dates. Most of the time the projects are held as scheduled. When there are changes we will notify the membership through Constant Contact e-mailings and with notices posted on our website. There are ... Read More
Ron Loehman, Conservation Chair In January 2016, the Santa Fe National Forest issued a draft Environmental Analysis for the New Mexico Jumping Mouse Critical Habitat Protection Project. The closure addresses the endangered species listing for the NM Meadow Jumping Mouse (NMMJM). This closure applies to all users, including anglers and birdwatchers. Critical habitat for the jumping mouse includes what once was the best brown trout fishery in the state. The stream has made a remarkable recovery since cattle were excluded in mid-2014. Complete closure penalizes anglers and other non-consumptive users for damage caused by cattle New Mexico Trout's analysis of ... Read More
Ron Loehman, Conservation Chairman Last May, NMT volunteers participated in a riparian restoration workshop conducted by Bill Zeedyk on private land along the Rio Cebolla about two miles downstream from Fenton Lake. Bill is famous for his Induced Meandering technique that has been successfully applied on many stream restoration projects. Bill identified two degraded sections along the stream that were candidates for demonstrating several of his restoration techniques. One spot was a meander that had a high bank being eroded into the stream, accompanied by the deposit of a large amount of sediment. Bill and the team installed a ... Read More
On February 10, 2016, New Mexico Trout submitted a comment on the Santa Fe National Forest's proposal to protect endangered New Mexico Jumping Mouse habitat on the Rio Cebolla in the Jemez mountains. While agreeing with most of the findings and plans, the comments address two areas of disaccord:
- There is no science-based reason to exclude non-consumptive, dispersed recreational users from the site, when cattle are responsible for the habitat degradation.
- The proposed quarter-mile gap between two exclosures (to allow cattle access to the Rio Cebolla) will result in habitat fragmentation and adversely affect stream quality and downstream recreation uses.
In January 2016, the Santa Fe National Forest issued Environmental Analysis for the New Mexico Jumping Mouse Critical Habitat Protection Project. The closure addresses the endangered species listing for the NM Meadow Jumping Mouse (NMMJM). This closure applies to all uses – grazing, fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, birdwatching. New Mexico Trout's analysis of the plan is summarized below:
- The NMMJM is endangered because cattle grazing in riparian areas has destroyed its habitat.
- Recreational uses – such as angling, birdwatching and nature photography – have not caused this habitat loss.
- The is no scientific justification for locking out non-consumptive recreational users.
The Gila River is New Mexico's last free flowing river, let's keep it that way! Here is a video of Dutch Salmon from the New Mexico Wildlife Federation ... Read More
From the January 2016 newsletter New Mexico is on the verge of an invasion of nonnative plant and animal species that threaten the health and quality of our waters. Although New Mexico is only one of 6 states in the Continental US with no evidence of infestation, Zebra and Quagga Mussels have been found in lakes and streams of all our neighboring states, most recently the Quagga mussel has been found in the Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam at Lee's Ferry. We all will need to play our part in helping to avoid their spread. If you visit any ... Read More
From the January 2016 newsletter A warming trend in the Pacific has spawned a wet season for the Southwest, including New Mexico. Every one of the state's river basins have an above-average snowpack, according to the initial water supply forecast by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Last year, the snowpack was well below 100 percent in most of New Mexico's mountain ranges. December's snowfall pushed precipitation totals for the month to 137 percent of the 30-year average. December marked the first time that New Mexico was reported as drought-free on the drought monitor map compiled by agencies that keep track ... Read More