Managers of the Valles Caldera National Preserve are taking the first steps toward reversing a century's worth of damage to prized trout waters brought on by high-intensity livestock operations.
For much of the past century, the former Baca Ranch in the Jemez Mountains was home to thousands of sheep and cattle, who trampled and grazed on stream banks, destroying vegetation and causing erosion. Streams became wider, shallower and warmer, to the detriment of trout.
Logging and road building also drastically reduced the property's historic wetlands, and today numerous meanders are at risk of being cut off.
But last month, preserve managers released a work plan for a series of small projects along San Antonio Creek, the preserve's primary trout stream, and within Alamos Canyon to restore and protect the riparian and wetland systems.
The plan would rely mostly on volunteers to decommission roads, erect livestock fencing and restore and protect stream flows, among other projects.
The plan is the result of an intensive effort by a volunteer group and the state Environment Department last summer to study the condition of the wetlands and riparian vegetation along San Antonio Creek, according to preserve natural resource coordinator Marie Rodriguez.
The study by Los Amigos del los Valles Caldera identified numerous past construction projects that had degraded wetlands, including poorly located roads, culverts and fences.
The work plan comes just two weeks after the Valles Caldera Trust announced a Las Vegas, N.M., man had been selected to graze his cattle on the preserve this summer.
Rancher Gary Morton will bring 2,000 yearlings into the preserve in early June— quadruple the number that a Dexter couple brought last year. The increase in cattle this year is due to the ideal condition of the range.
But the environmental group WildEarth Guardians argues that the preserve's "sustainable" grazing practices only further deteriorate the land and water. The group submitted its own bid for the preserve's livestock program "for the privilege not to graze the preserve."
Managers say conditions have improved since Congress purchased the 89,000-acre preserve from ranching interests in 2000.
With fewer cattle and a grazing season shortened from six to four months, watershed conditions have significantly improved, according to the trust's 2007 State of the Preserve report.
The public can comment on the wetlands restoration plan until April 30 at www.vallescaldera.gov.
