Restoration Accomplishments

2012 Accomplishments:

In 2012, WildEarth Guardians Restoration Staff and Volunteers planted more than 170,000 native plantings in New Mexico at the following sites:

•  Santa Fe River:

In partnership with the City of Santa Fe, WildEarth Guardians and volunteers planted more than 90,000 willow, 1,000 cottonwoods, and 100 New Mexico Olive and skunkbush sumac along a 1.3 mile stretch of the Santa Fe River within the City of Santa Fe. This portion of the river had recently undergone modification to redevelop its’ floodplain. These planting efforts re-established native riparian vegetation to the ecosystem, stabilized streambanks, and have provided green corridor along this portion of the Santa Fe River, which had been missing for decades. Partners and funding included the City of Santa Fe,  New Mexico Environment Department, State of New Mexico RERI Program, and American Forests.

•  Rio Ojo Caliente:

WildEarth Guardians and volunteers planted over 10,000 willow, 500 cottonwood, and 100 riparian forages shrubs, including New Mexico olive, skunkbush sumac, chokecherry, and false indigo. The projects focused on restoration of river and riparian habitat and wetland pond adjacent to the Rio Ojo Caliente. Partners and funding included State of New Mexico Riparian Ecosystem Restoration Initiative (RERI), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Partners Programs, New Mexico Community Foundation. New Mexico Environment Department and the Bureau of Land Management.

• Redondo Creek:

In 2012, WildEarth Guardians and volunteers planted more than 15,000 willow, 400 thinleaf alder, 300 narrowleaf cottonwood, 100 aspen, and 200 riparian forage species including chokecherry, serviceberry, golden currant, skunkbush sumac, woods rose, American plum, and red osier dogwood along a two mile stretch of Redondo Creek within the Valles Caldera National Preserve and Santa Fe National Forest. Seven new riparian exclosures were constructed to protect riparian vegetation from ungulate damage. Funding and partners include New Mexico Environment Department, The State of New Mexico RERI program, Santa Fe National Forest, the Valles Caldera National Preserve, and the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service.

• Rito de los Indios:

Riparian exclosures damaged by the 2011 Los Conchas fire were rebuilt this year in preparation for watershed and riparian planting work in 2013, which will be conducted by WildEarth Guardians, volunteers, and YCC Corp members. The Rito de los Indios is a tributary of San Antonio Creek located within the Valles National Preserve. Partners and funding include State of New Mexico RERI program, New Mexico Environment Department, American Forests, the New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resource YCC Program, and the Valles Caldera National Preserve.

• San Antonio Creek:

WildEarth Guardians' staff and volunteers planted more than 20,000 willow, 300 cottonwood, 500 aspens, 400 thinleaf alder, and 400 riparian forage shrubs along a .7 mile stretch of San Antonio Creek within the Valles Caldera National Preserve. Additionally, a riparian exclosure was constructed along San Antonio Creek on the Santa Fe National Forest in preparation for native riparian plantings in 2013. Partners and funding include the New Mexico Environment Department, State of New Mexico RERI program, American Forests, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Santa Fe National Forest, and the Valles Caldera National Preserve.

• Rito Penas Negras:

In 2012, WildEarth Guardians and volunteers planted more than 30,000 willow, 600 aspen, 400 thinleaf alder, 300 cottonwood, and 400 native riparian forage species along the Rito Penas Negras located on the Santa Fe National Forest. Riparian forage species included wax currant, chokecherry, American plum, serviceberry, skunkbush sumac, golden currant, and woods rose. Seven additional riparian exclosures were constructed to protect plantings, which now totals more than two miles. Partners and funding includes the New Mexico Environment Department, State of New Mexico RERI program, American Forests, National Forest Foundation, and the Santa Fe National Forest.

• Valles Caldera National Preserve:

During the past year, WildEarth Guardians and volunteers removed from than 2.5 miles of barbwire and sheep fencing within the Valles Grande portion of the Valles Caldera National Preserve. Thanks to the volunteers who helped WildEarth Guardians restore these important habitats.

2011 Accomplishments:

•  Rio Ojo Caliente:

In 2011 WildEarth Guardians planted over 25,000 willow, 1,500 cottonwood, and 400 riparian forages shrubs, including New Mexico olive, skunkbush sumac, chokecherry, and false indigo. Projects covered close to a mile of river and riparian habitat located on Bureau of Land Management and Private lands. Partners and funding included the State of New Mexico Riparian Ecosystem Restoration Initiative (RERI), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Partners Programs, American Forests Global ReLeaf Initiative, New Mexico Environment Department and the Bureau of Land Management.

• Redondo Creek:

WildEarth Guardians planted more than 16,000 willow, 600 narrowleaf cottonwood, 200 aspen, and 600 riparian forage species including chokecherry, serviceberry, golden currant, skunkbush sumac, woods rose, American plum, and red osier dogwood — all planted along a mile stretch of Redondo Creek within the Valles Caldera National Preserve. More than a dozen elk exclosure were constructed to protect riparian vegetation from ungulate damage. Funding and partners included the New Mexico Environment Department, the State of New Mexico (RERI) program, Santa Fe National Forest and the Valles Caldera National Preserve.

Additionally, in 2011, work began on restoring an important wetland in Redondo Meadow located in the Valles Caldera National Preserve. This wetland suffered significant water loss in the early 1900’s when Redondo Creek was diverted away from the wetland. In 2012, with support from the Valles Caldera National Preserve, Redondo Creek will be directed back into its historic channel and help recharge the wetland. Funding for this project is being provided by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services North American Wetland Conservation Act.

• Rito de los Indios:

WildEarth Guardians planted 6,000 willow, 500 aspen, 50 narrowleaf cottonwood, and 500 riparian shrubs including wax currant, serviceberry, woods rose, and snowberry. The planting project involved approximately ½ mile of the Rito de los Indios within the Valles Caldera National Preserve. Numerous elk exclosures were built to protect riparian plantings from native and domestic ungulates.

In late June 2011, New Mexico's largest documented wildfire, the Los Conchas fire, swept through the Santa Fe National Forest, Santa Clara Pueblo, and Valles Caldera National Preserve, and the watershed of the Rito de los Indios. Remarkably, most of the riparian plantings survived the initial impacts of the wildfire. Subsequent flooding dramatically impacted Rito de los Indios and its floodplain, but the majority of vegetation has survived these events. Partners and funding include the State of New Mexico (RERI) program, the New Mexico Environment Department, the Santa Clara Pueblo, and the Valles Caldera National Preserve.

• San Antonio Creek:

WildEarth Guardians constructed elk exclosures on one mile of San Antonio Creek in preparation for future plantings. Several thousand willow were planted on San Antonio Creek with the help of more than a dozen volunteers to provide forage for a beaver who took up residence along the portion of San Antonio Creek.

• Rito Penas Negras:

WildEarth Guardians began a multi-year riparian restoration project on the Rito Penas Negras located on the Santa Fe National Forest. In 2011, more than 25,000 willow, 600 narrowleaf cottonwoods, 400 aspen, and 400 riparian forage species including wax currant, chokecherry, American plum, serviceberry, skunkbush sumac, golden currant, and woods rose, were planted over a 1.3 mile section of stream. Partners and funding included the New Mexico Environment Department, State of New Mexico (RERI) program, and the Santa Fe National Forest.

• Valles Caldera National Preserve:

In 2011, WildEarth Guardians and volunteers removed approximately 2 miles of barbwire and sheep fencing within the Valles Grande portion of the Valles Caldera National Preserve. This work will continue in 2012.

2010 Accomplishments:

• WildEarth Guardians planted over 120,000 cottonwoods, willows, and other native riparian forage shrubs along three miles of stream (Bluewater Creek, La Jencia Creek, Rio Puerco, Santa Fe River, and Rio Ojo Caliente) in New Mexico.
• We removed 3 miles of barbed wire and sheep fencing within the Valles Caldera National Preserve to improve wildlife migration corridors.
• Completed an additional 8 miles of road closure and road decommissions within the Santa Fe National Forest for a total of 40 miles from 2008 to 2010 to improve watershed health and wildlife habitat and reduce fragmentation.
• Created burrows for more than 200 relocated Gunnison's prairie dogs in Santa Fe county in cooperation with a local ranch, PDAWG Task Force, and wildlife biologist Paula Martin.
• Completed significant portions of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) works to restore 6.6 miles of the Santa Fe River on BLM and Forest Service lands within Santa Fe River Canyon.