SER Southwest Chapter
The SER Southwest (SW) Chapter was formed in 2011 to facilitate communication
and encourage coordination among land managers, researchers, and restorationists
working in the southwestern United States, where minimal and variable
precipitation presents unique challenges for the restoration of degraded
ecosystems. The SW Chapter’s mission is to foster a network of resource specialists
with interest and expertise in restoring desert and other arid ecosystems and to
promote the exchange of knowledge, awareness, and collaborative opportunities as
a means of sustaining the diversity of life on Earth and reestablishing an ecologically
healthy relationship between nature and culture.
Are YOU a member yet?
1
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
Friday, November 20th, 2015
Featured Plenary Presentation:
Don Falk is Associate Professor in the University of Arizona
School of Natural Resources and the Environment, with joint
appointments in the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research and the
Institute of the Environment. He holds degrees from Oberlin
College, Tufts University, and the University of Arizona, where he
received his PhD in 2004.
Don’s research focuses on fire history, fire ecology, and
restoration ecology in a changing world. Falk is an AAAS Fellow,
and has received the Fulbright Short-Term Scholar award, the
Ecological Society of America’s Deevey Award for outstanding
graduate work in paleoecology, and awards from his School for both Outstanding Scholarly
Contributions and Outstanding Teaching. He was awarded the Udall Fellowship in Public
Policy during the academic year 2014-15 for studies in post-fire ecological resilience.
Don Falk was co-founder and Executive Director of the Center for Plant Conservation at the
Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, now at Missouri Botanic Garden. He served
subsequently as the first Executive Director of the Society for Ecological Restoration
International (SER), of which he was also a founding Board member.
He is the author of more than more than 70 peer reviewed technical publications and four
books, including Genetics and Conservation of Rare Plants (1991, Oxford University Press,
with Kent Holsinger,), Restoring Diversity: Strategies for Reintroduction of Endangered
Plants (1996, Island Press, with Connie Millar and Peggy Olwell), Foundations of
Restoration Ecology (2006, Island Press, with Margaret Palmer and Joy Zedler), and most
recently The Landscape Ecology of Fire (2011, Springer, with Don McKenzie and Carol
Miller). He is a member of the Editorial Board for the Island Press series in restoration
ecology, the Executive Board of the Southwest Fire Science Consortium, and the science
lead for the FireScape initiative in the Arizona Sky Islands. Don teaches regularly at the
National Advanced Fire and Resource Institute (NAFRI) and at national and international
conferences. He serves currently as Chair of the Global Change Ecology and Management
degree option in the UA School of Natural Resources and the Environment.
2
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
From Restoration to Resilience Ecology: Do We Need a New Paradigm?
Donald A. Falk
University of Arizona, Associate Professor, School of Natural Resources and the Environment; Associate
Professor of Dendrochronology, Laboratory of Tree Ring Research, Tucson, AZ
Restoration ecology has always dealt with disturbed, non-equilibrial landscapes. However,
current and emerging conditions of climate, land use, non-native species, and altered
geochemical cycles may challenge traditional approaches. Some authors have argued that
the original form of ecological restoration grounded in historical authenticity may become
less viable in coming decades, because environments have changed so dramatically that
literally restoring past configurations is no longer possible or relevant to the goals of
conservation. These forces may make restoring key processes like species migration and
natural fire regimes socially and economically difficult or unattainable.
In the face of these challenges, a new paradigm is emerging that emphasizes ecological
resilience rather than restoration sensu stricto. In this model, a degree of change from past
(reference) conditions is accepted not only as pragmatically inevitable, but also potentially
adaptive. The goal of a “resilience ecology” approach is to facilitate the adaptation of
ecosystems to emerging conditions, even when the specific form (e.g., the species that
comprise a community, or the local distribution of a population) is different from what may
have existed in the past. A resilience approach emphasizes combined strategies of
enhancing resistance (e.g. survival and persistence), recovery (re-establishing the prior
community where possible), and reorganization (allowing new suites of species to colonize
an area that may be more adaptive under new conditions). We explore the implications of
potentially irreversible ecosystem responses for land management in the coming century,
and the emergence of resilience ecology as a new paradigm in the evolution of restoration
ecology.
Contact Information: University of Arizona, School of Natural Resources and the
Environment 1311 E 4th St., Tucson, AZ 85719; dafalk@email.arizona.edu
3
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
Friday Morning Sessions
Invasives
Session Moderator: Steve Plath, Signature Botanica
Tamarisk Beetle Expert Panel Report
Ben Bloodworth1, Pat Shafroth2, Anna Sher3, Rebecca Manners4, Dan Bean5, Matt
Johnson6, and Osvel Hinojosa-Huerta7
1Tamarisk
Coalition, Grand Junction, CO
Geological Survey, Fort Collins, CO
3 University of Denver, Denver, CO
4 University of Montana, Bozeman, MT
5 Colorado Department of Agriculture, Palisade, CO
6 Colorado Plateau Research Station at Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ
7 Pronatura Noroeste, Ensenada, Baja California, México
2 U.S.
In 2001, the tamarisk beetle (Diorhabda spp.) was approved for limited release by USDAAPHIS as a biological control agent for the invasive shrub/tree Tamarix. Since that time,
four separate beetle species have spread across much of the western U.S. and northern
Mexico. As the beetles have dispersed throughout the Colorado and Rio Grande
watersheds, increasing concern has arisen over potential impacts to wildlife. This concern
focuses on the endangered southwestern willow flycatcher, whose critical habitat includes
thousands of tamarisk-dominated riparian acres yet to be impacted by the arrival of the
beetle. In an effort to provide land managers with up-to-date information on the potential
impacts of the beetles’ presence in the Lower Colorado River Basin, as well as solutions for
restoration and the mitigation of any possible negative effects, Tamarisk Coalition
convened an Expert Panel to discuss the impending ecosystem changes. A report from this
panel discussion was recently published and information presented within it will be the
focus of this presentation.
Contact Information: Tamarisk Coalition, 244 N 7th St. Grand Junction, CO 81501;
bbloodworth@tamariskcoalition.org
Case Study: Ravenna Grass Management on the Rio Grande
Chad Mckenna and Todd Caplan
GeoSystems Analysis, Inc., Albuquerque, NM
Ravenna grass (Saccharum ravennae) is a large, perennial, rhizomatous grass native to
western Asia and southern Europe that was first reported in New Mexico during the
1980’s. Since then, it has spread aggressively through riparian and wetland habitats along
the Middle Rio Grande, including robust willow-dominated wetlands which support
federally-listed species that are a focus of habitat restoration efforts. Millions of dollars
have been invested in willow swale construction over the past decade and during that time,
Ravenna grass has spread throughout the valley and invaded many of the restoration
4
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
projects. To some land managers it was a welcomed addition to the riparian forest as a
large, exotic-looking, attractive grass while other agency staff was concerned that the
species could compromise the performance of their restoration project. Its status as a
management priority was unclear because little was known about Ravenna grass at that
time and it was not formally listed as a noxious weed. In 2007, we coordinated with
various agencies to build support for listing the species and in 2008, we successfully added
the species to the New Mexico noxious weed list. Very little information was available for
the species back in 2008 and since then we have documented the current extent through
the Albuquerque Reach, monitored its expansion, educated agencies and land managers on
identification and control, experimented with various treatment techniques, began
formalizing a Cooperative Weed Management Area for the Rio Grande basin, and learned
several important lessons. The lessons learned through this experience have broader
adaptive management implications for other species and other regions.
Contact Information: GeoSystems Analysis, Inc., 3150 Carlisle Blvd. NE #107, Albuquerque,
NM 87110; chad@gsanalysis.com
Implementation of a Multi-Benefit, Multi-Jurisdictional Salt Cedar
Management Plan for the El Rio Reach of the Gila River, Maricopa
County, AZ
Jennifer Pokorski and Pat Ellison
Flood Control District of Maricopa County, Phoenix, AZ
Over 60% of the Gila River as it runs through the cities of Avondale, Buckeye and Goodyear
in southwestern Maricopa County is covered by saltcedar. The dense saltcedar growth has
increased the size of the floodplain by seven square miles and contributed to major
wildfires in the river. Residents who own land in the floodplain, and local jurisdictions who
manage infrastructure near the river channel, are calling for the saltcedar to be removed.
Several factors complicate the removal of salt cedar: 1) Approximately 50% of the land in
the river channel is privately owned; the remaining ownership is split between local, state
and federal governments; 2) The saltcedar provides cover for three endangered or
threatened species; and 3) Initial cost estimates for removal and replacement of salt cedar
with native species range from $300-500 million, including long-term maintenance.
Despite these challenges, Maricopa County, the three cities, and state and federal
government agencies, are collaborating on several studies and projects. Notably, the Flood
Control District of Maricopa County is leading the development of a vegetation
management plan that will identify effective salt cedar removal methods and recommend a
planting schematic for native species based on future climate conditions, land use and
water availability. This presentation will: 1) Provide an overview of the ongoing and
completed projects in the El Rio area, 2) Describe the formation and maintenance of the
coalition of landowners, special interests, and government agencies, and 3) Discuss the
planned funding and joint permitting approach.
Contact Information: Flood Control District of Maricopa County, 2801 W Durango St.,
Phoenix, AZ 85009; jmp@mail.maricopa.gov
5
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
From Buffelgrass Monoculture to Upland Saguaro/Ironwood/Palo Verde
Landscape: The Waterman Restoration Project
John Scheuring and Ries Lindley
Arizona Native Plant Society: Tucson Chapter, Tucson, AZ
Starting in 2010, eighteen acres of severely disturbed, buffelgrass infested BLM land has
been the focus of the Arizona Native Plant Society led efforts to eradicate the buffelgrass,
seed native woody species, rehabilitate bare areas, install one rock dam water harvesting,
and spread tons of brush mulch. Results include near eradication of the buffelgrass., 850
native trees planted from seed and never given supplemental water, over 200 one rock
dams resulting in extensive on-site rainwater capture, and vegetative coverage of 2.5 acres
of previously bare and highly eroded areas. 123 native plant species from blow in seed
from adjacent desert have been inventoried. About 1000 volunteer hours per year have
resulted in a landscape rich in native plant species, nesting black throated sparrows, and a
broad array of rodent and reptile species.
Contact Information: Arizona Native Plant Society, PO Box 41206, Sun Station, Tucson, AZ
85717; jfscheuring@hotmail.com
Buffelgrass Excludes Native Plants through Resource Competition rather
than Allelopathy or Intensifying Consumption by Animals
Pacifica Sommers and Peter Chesson
University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Buffelgrass (Pennisetum ciliare) has become an invasive species of concern in arid and
semi-arid environments worldwide. Many studies have suggested that the species richness
and abundance of native plants declines following invasion by buffelgrass. However, these
studies have been correlational and unable to distinguish between mechanisms.
Understanding the mechanism by which invasive plants affect native competitors is
important for forecasting the time scale of expected impacts, and designing and evaluating
effective management strategies, but is rarely done. Using a combination of manipulative
field and greenhouse experiments, we tested to what degree buffelgrass inhibits
recruitment of perennial plants native to the Sonoran Desert through resource competition,
consumer-mediated apparent competition, and direct allelopathic effects. We found no
evidence of increased foraging pressure by the primary granivores and herbivores in
invaded areas limiting the recruitment of native plants. We also did not find any evidence
of leachate from buffelgrass inhibiting seedling growth in a greenhouse study. However,
native perennial seedlings were smaller and less likely to survive near adult buffelgrass
than in plots with recently removed buffelgrass, both in the greenhouse and in the field.
This last result suggests that competition for a rapidly replenished resource, such as water
or light, is mediating the effect. We conclude that resource competition primarily drives the
negative effect of buffelgrass on native perennial seedling emergence and establishment in
the Sonoran Desert.
6
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
Contact Information: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, University of Arizona,
PO Box 210088 Tucson, AZ, 85721; psommers@email.arizona.edu
Multi-benefit Floodplain Vegetation Management for the El Rio Reach of
the Gila River, Maricopa County, AZ
Zooey Diggory1, Glen Leverich1, Bruce Orr1, Pat Ellison2, Doug Williams2, Jennifer
Pokorski2
1Stillwater
2Maricopa
Sciences, Berkeley, CA
County Flood Control District, Phoenix, AZ
Like so many other rivers in the Southwest, the 17-mile El Rio Reach of the Gila River,
downstream of Phoenix, AZ, has been almost completely taken over by nonnative saltcedar
(i.e., Tamarix spp.), resulting in significant loss of native vegetation cover and increased
risk and spread of wildfire. In addition, saltcedar has taken up so much of the 100-year
floodway that nearby lands slated for development are now predicted to flood under high
flow events because of the added hydraulic roughness. Given these myriad impacts, the
removal of saltcedar clearly has potential to provide multiple benefits for the river
ecosystem and nearby land uses. Total removal, however, is expensive and complicated
because (1) many native animals, including some endangered and threatened species, are
now dependent on saltcedar for habitat, and (2) the tamarisk leaf beetle, which was
released for biological control of saltcedar, is expected to arrive in the area in the next few
years. A vegetation management plan is being developed for the El Rio Reach that strives to
maximize the benefits of saltcedar removal, take advantage of the anticipated effects of the
leaf beetle while minimizing its impacts on wildlife habitat, and efficiently enhance native
vegetation and habitat while accounting for future climate, land use, and water availability
conditions. This presentation will describe the components of the vegetation management
plan, as well as physical and biological underpinnings for the plan components.
Contact Information: Stillwater Sciences, 2855 Telegraph Ave #400, Berkeley, CA 94704;
zooey@stillwatersci.com
Predicting Treatment Windows for Invasive Buffelgrass in Southern
Arizona using MODIS and Climate Data
Cynthia S.A. Wallace1, Jessica J. Walker1, Caroline Patrick-Birdwell2, Jake F. Weltzin3,
Helen Raichle4
1US
Geological Survey, Tucson, AZ
Electric Power, Tucson, AZ
3USA-NPN, Tucson, AZ
4Contract Scientist
2Tucson
The increasing spread and abundance of an invasive perennial grass, buffelgrass
(Pennisetum ciliare), represents an important shift in the vegetation composition of the
Sonoran Desert in southern Arizona. Buffelgrass out-competes native species and alters fire
regimes, and its control and management is a high-priority issue for resource managers
who seek to preserve the unique and iconic Sonoran Desert flora. Herbicidal treatment of
7
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
buffelgrass is most effective when the vegetation is actively growing; however, the erratic
timing of active buffelgrass growth periods in southern Arizona confounds effective
management decision-making. The goal of our research is to enable the strategic
application of buffelgrass herbicide by using remote sensing data to detect when and
where buffelgrass is photosynthetically active. We integrated ground-based observations
of buffelgrass phenology (green-up and senescence) in the Tucson, Arizona area with
climate information and Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite
imagery to understand dynamics and relationships between these disparate datasets
during 2011 to 2013. Regression analyses and statistical tests were used to identify
correlations between temporal patterns of the data sets. Our results reveal strong
correlations between the observed greenness of in-situ buffelgrass and satellite LSP
metrics, confirming that MODIS-EVI data can be a useful indicator of active buffelgrass
growth at multiple scales. The analysis also reveals strong harmonics between
precipitation and greenness, but with a lagged response, suggesting that precipitation can
be a predictor of the location and intensity of buffelgrass green-up at landscape scales. This
information can be used by resource managers to treat buffelgrass during optimal
conditions.
Contact Information: US Geological Survey, 520 N Park Ave. #221, Tucson, AZ 85719;
cwallace@usgs.gov
Fire Effects: Restoration of Watersheds and
Springs Workshop
Session Moderators: Don Swann (Saguaro National Park) and
Louise Misztal (Sky Island Alliance)
Geomorphic Responses of Burned Watersheds in Arizona:
Debris Flows, and Long-term Recovery
Floods,
Ann Youberg, Ph.D.
Arizona Geological Survey, Tucson, AZ
Numerous record-setting wildfires have occurred across Arizona and New Mexico since the
early 2000s. These very large fires have resulted in significant contiguous burned patches
and post-fire geomorphic responses – floods, debris flows and erosion. These post-fire
geomorphic responses, however, can occur on any size burned area with moderate to high
soil burn severity on steeper slopes. After wildfires, watershed hydrologic conditions and
sediment transport rates can be significantly altered such that landscapes experience
short-term but rapid geomorphic changes. Removal of vegetation and loss of surface
sediment cohesion leads to decreased interception and infiltration, increased runoff
volumes and velocities, and increased rain-drop erosion on newly exposed soil. Less energy
is then needed to transport sediment and erode hillslopes and channels while more water
8
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
is available to do the work. Thus, typical monsoonal storms (2-10 yr RI) immediately
following wildfires in the Southwest can generate significant floods, debris flows, and
erosion. Watershed recovery is generally expected to occur in five to seven years. In 2011,
however, a new trend with implications for the long-term health of watersheds was
observed when areas burned at moderate and high severity in wildfires 34 and 17 years
prior were re-burned by the Monument and Horseshoe 2 Fires. Geomorphic responses
from these twice-burned watersheds were generated by common monsoonal storms (2-5
yr RI), and were as strong, or stronger, than previous responses. The implications for the
long-term recovery of these burned watersheds are still being explored.
Contact Information: Arizona Geological Survey, 416 W Congress St. Suite 100, Tucson, AZ
85701; ann.youberg@azgs.az.gov
Forecasting Post-wildfire Flood Risk under Current Conditions and
Future Scenarios: Examples from Saguaro National Park East
Jon D. Pelletier, Tyson L. Swetnam, and Perry Grissom
University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
We describe a novel workflow that maps flood depths for a range of storm recurrence
intervals, with and without wildfire-affected conditions, for existing vegetation and likely
future scenarios (e.g. enhanced buffelgrass cover) using Saguaro National Park (SNP) East
as an example. Our approach determines the storm runoff within a watershed consistent
with a prescribed storm recurrence interval and wildfire scenario, then routes runoff over
a high-resolution Digital Elevation Model (DEM) to predict patterns of flood inundation. We
establish the baseline risk of flood inundation in SNP East using historical data from stream
gages, wildfires, lightning strikes, and vegetation cover. We then run a range of wildfire and
post-wildfire storm scenarios with and without the effects of likely future expansion of
buffelgrass and repeat the runoff simulation. The workflow is general and can be used to
assess the risk of post-wildfire flooding now and under scenarios of future vegetation
change in mountainous areas throughout the western U.S.
Contact Information: University of Arizona, Department of Geosciences, 1040 4th St.,
Tucson, AZ 85721; jdpellet@email.arizona.edu
Three Years of Post-fire Land Treatment Effectiveness Monitoring of the
2013 Silver Fire, Gila National Forest
Michael Natharius
USDA, Forest Service, Gila National Forest, Silver City, NM
In 2013, the Silver Fire burned 137,326 acres of National Forest System lands in the Black
Range of the Gila National Forest. The majority of the high severity burn was limited to
mixed conifer and pine vegetation types. The fire left several communities, many private
properties and County, State and Forest Service infrastructure at risk from post-fire
flooding, sedimentation and debris flows. A Burned Area Emergency Response team
(BAER) conducted an assessment of the fire and made recommendations to minimize post9
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
fire effects. The BAER team’s recommendations included aerial application of certified
weed free straw to 2,880 acres of high severity burn and aerial application of certified
weed free seed to 12,900 acres of high severity burn. The recommended seed mix included
a small percentage of native perennial grass species and annual barley (Hordeum vulgare).
An effectiveness monitoring plan was developed to evaluate treatment effects to site/soil
productivity, site diversity, and long term recovery. This monitoring plan also sought to
determine if invasive or noxious weeds were introduced with these treatments. Permanent
plots were established in mixed conifer and pine vegetation types in non-treated, seeded
and seeded and mulched treatment units throughout the burned area. This presentation
provides results of three years of monitoring.
Contact Information:
mnatharius@fs.fed.us
3005
E
Camino
del
Bosque,
Silver
City,
NM
8806;
Sediment Reduction and Watershed Restoration in Response to 2010
Schultz Fire, Flagstaff, Arizona
Allen Haden
Natural Channel Design, Inc. Flagstaff, AZ
The Schultz Fire burned approximately 15,000 acres of ponderosa pine forest within the
Coconino National Forest in June 2010. The vast majority of the area was severely burned
with total loss of trees and ground cover on steep, high elevation slopes and volcanic soils.
Nearly 1,000 residential properties within Coconino County are located immediately downslope of the burned area on inactive alluvial fans. Initial flooding in the summer
immediately following the fire caused debris flows that originated in the steeper portions
of the watershed. The neighborhood was inundated with flooding and tons of sediment.
Since the Schultz fire, properties downstream of the burned area continue to be impacted
by flooding, erosion, and debris damages from storm generated runoff.
Traditional engineering methods to build sediment detention basins and flood bypass
channels were rejected by USFS for negative impacts on forest resources and by the county
for potential heavy maintenance costs. A WARSSS study integrated with USFS collected
data quantified the sources of sediment and the potential sediment reduction created by
proposed practices in each watershed. Watershed surveys of channels, hillslopes, and
roads indicated that the majority of sediment was derived from unstable channel banks.
Fortunately, many opportunities for storage of sediment on, degraded alluvial fans existed.
Natural recovery of the degraded channels would take decades. Quantification of sediment
reduction potential provided a useful means of prioritizing actions. Use of natural channel
design methods was shown to increase the rate of watershed recovery after the fire and
was compatible with the USFS mission.
Restoration measures based on natural channel design methods have been undertaken to
speed recovery of ephemeral stream channels that were damaged in major flood events
immediately following the fire. Additional engineering analysis has been applied to insure
that the channels and structural practices can accommodate the county specified design
10
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
storm for all project work. Restoration of channel morphology to predicted recovery
dimensions has decreased the amount of sediment sourced and transported through these
channels to private lands downstream. Additionally, restoration of alluvial fans in
appropriate geomorphic settings is storing sediment otherwise transported from the
watershed. Weed management and revegetation are an integral part of the restoration
process. Seeding with native grasses has helped to stabilize the project area and
multifaceted weed management has helped to minimize invasion of weed species onto
project areas.
Contact Information: Natural Channel Design, Inc. 2900 N West St., Flagstaff, AZ 86004;
allen@naturalchanneldesign.com
Watershed Restoration Pre and Post-fire in the Chiricahua Mountains
Carianne Campbell and Louise Misztal
Sky Island Alliance, Tucson, AZ
Sky Island Alliance partnered with the US Forest Service, private land owners, scientists,
and other conservation organizations to test whether low-tech structures constructed from
onsite materials could increase ecosystem resilience in ephemeral stream channels in a
burned and unburned watershed in the Chiricahua Mountains of southern Arizona. This
novel collaboration involved community members of Douglas, Arizona through a paid
youth summer internship and a work crew from the local prison to install over 700
structures over a 2-month period. USGS incorporated the sites into a larger regional
framework to measure short and long-term native vegetation response to the structures,
which are designed to slow water flow and increase infiltration, and soil moisture
monitoring stations were installed to quantify immediate hydrological response. This
degree of partner integration was the direct result of the Sky Islands Restoration
Cooperative, a loose organization of diverse partners that meet periodically to coordinate
restoration priorities for the region and collaborate on on-the-ground conservation
responses.
Contact Information: Sky Island
carianne@skyislandalliance.org
Alliance,
406
S.
4th
Ave,
Tucson,
AZ;
Friday Afternoon Sessions
Utilities, Plants, and Wildlife
Session Moderator: Molly McCormick, Borderlands Restoration
TEP Panel: Working Together to Balance the Natural and Man Made
Environment
11
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
Leslie Carpenter, Michael Clark, Cheryl Eamick, Christina Frazer, Robin Lewellyn
Tucson Electric Power, Tucson, AZ
How do you balance the need for electricity with being a good steward of both the natural
and cultural environment? Through a collaborative effort with federal and state regulators,
engineers, environmental professionals, construction managers and private land owners,
Tucson Electric Power (TEP) has developed a tremendous example of striking a balance
between the need for infrastructure and implementation of measures resulting in the
protection of valuable resources in the Sonoran Desert. TEP has constructed a new singlecircuit 500 kilovolt (kV) transmission line from the Pinal Central Substation, east of Casa
Grande, Arizona to the existing Tortolita Substation, southeast of Red Rock, AZ, in Pinal
County. The project will add 500 kilovolts of transmission capability, increasing electrical
system reliability throughout the Tucson, AZ, metropolitan area, creating opportunities for
renewable electric resources and providing for greater reliability within the Western
Electric Grid.
Early on, TEP’s environmental staff met with regulatory agencies, developed relationships
with the community and other stakeholders to site the transmission line in the most
environmentally sustainable route. The baseline for the project was developed during the
transmission line siting process through the Arizona Corporation Commission, where TEP
received a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility. State of the art planning techniques,
“out of the box” thinking through collaboration resulted in significant cost savings, fewer
impacts to the environment, and expanded on a growing company culture of
environmental awareness that will be carried forward in TEP projects for years to come.
Contact Information: Tucson Electric Power, 88 E Broadway Blvd. Tucson, AZ 85701;
sbreslin@tep.com
Native Plant Conservation on the Pinal Central to Tortolita 500kV
Transmission Line Project
Leslie Carpenter1 and Diana Shiel2
1Tucson
Electric Power, Tucson, AZ
Resources, Tucson, AZ
2WestLand
Tucson Electric Power (TEP) will soon complete construction of a 41 mile, 500kV
transmission line project between Red Rock and Coolidge, AZ. TEP employed three
strategies to protect native plant resources during the project. First, TEP used a “minimal
footprint” approach for clearing, in which work zones were kept small and use of existing
access roads was maximized. Second, TEP and contractors developed a model to identify
saguaros (Carnegiea gigantea) which were incompatible with construction and/or
operation of the line. TEP used LiDAR technology to derive a height model, field
verification, and engineering analysis to identify saguaros within the line clearance zone for
the first 20 years of operation. Lastly, TEP conducted plant salvage efforts to remove and
relocate the incompatible plants. Community partners like the Tucson Cactus and
Succulent Society and three local plant salvage companies were instrumental in the salvage
12
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
effort. With advanced planning and coordination among land resources, engineering, and
construction departments, TEP kept the project footprint to approximately 18% of the
right-of-way. This includes avoiding the removal of more than 600 saguaro, and salvaging
over 650 cacti and native trees. This approach helped conserve valuable native resources
for rare species like the Lesser Long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae) and Morafka’s
Desert Tortoise (Gopherus morafkai), reduced habitat fragmentation, and saved millions of
dollars in stumpage fees and grading costs.
Contact Information: Tucson Electric Power, 88 E Broadway Blvd. Tucson, AZ 85701;
lcarpenter@tep.com
Did the Increase of Lehmann Lovegrass cause the Decline of Grassland
Sparrows in the Sonoita Plains?
H. Ronald Pulliam, Matt Brown, Kelly Fleming, Randy Moore, and David Seibert
Borderlands Restoration, L3C, Patagonia, AZ
Lehmann lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana) increased an average of 300% from 2003-04
to 2013-14 on 16 study plots in the Sonoita Plains. Several species of grassland sparrows
declined dramatically during the same period.
1.
The diets of most over-wintering grassland sparrows consist of small grass and forb
seeds ranging in mass from 0.1 to 1.0 mg. Lehmann lovegrass seeds have an average mass
of 0.05 mg and are too small to the energetically profitable.
2.
Lehmann’s lovegrass frequency has increased an average of 3 fold from 2003-2004
until 2013-2014.
3.
All sparrow species had substantially lower overwinter densities in areas where
lovegrass cover exceeded 25%.
4.
Detailed comparisons showed that grassland sparrows in general, and
Ammodramus sparrows in particular declined markedly on sites where lovegrass was
scarce in 2004 and increased substantially (more than 50%) by 2013-2014. On sites where
lovegrass was scarce in 2003-2004 but did not increase by 2013-14, sparrow numbers held
steady.
5.
Ammodramus sparrow abundance was, on average, 260% higher on experimental
sites where Lehmann lovegrass was removed by hand than on two adjacent control sites
where lovegrass was not removed. The maximum likelihood estimate of uncorrected
sparrow abundance was 0.81 observations per 200 m (nearly identical to the value on unmanipulated sites without lovegrass) versus an estimate of 0.31 observations per transect
on untreated controls.
Available evidence strongly points to a causal relationship between Lehmann lovegrass
increase and grassland sparrow decline in the Sonoita Plains. Strategies for limiting the
spread and dominance of lovegrass and increasing the ability of grassland sparrows to
persist in the face of the lovegrass invasion will be discussed.
13
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
Contact Information: Borderlands Restoration, 299 McKeown Ave, Suite #3, Patagonia, AZ
85624; pulliam2@uga.edu
Critical Habitat Restoration on the Upper Gila River
Shawn Stone1, J. Johnson1, G. Leverich2, R. More-Hla1
1 Gila
Watershed Partnership of Arizona, Thatcher, AZ
Sciences, Berkeley, CA
2 Stillwater
The Upper Gila Riparian Restoration project is a proactive effort to re-establish native
habitat for threatened and endangered species prior to colonization by the tamarisk leaf
beetle (Diorhabda spp.). Due to limited time before the arrival of the tamarisk leaf beetle,
active restoration techniques have been employed. We utilize an excavator and
masticating head to mechanically remove tamarisk from the riparian corridor and apply an
herbicide to the freshly cut stumps. Native plant container stock is then introduced for
greater establishment potential and to suppress secondary weed invasions. Provisional
seed zones are used to direct seed collections and to ensure the locally propagated
container stock is locally adapted. Local geomorphic diversity across our sites necessitates
greater biologic diversity, as varying depths to groundwater support varying vegetative
communities. We have classified planting zones for vegetative communities according to
groundwater depths. These zones are based on an examination of relative elevation data at
each of our restoration sites, which was then re-validated with our groundwater
monitoring results. Re-establishing riparian obligate to xeric native plant species in the
appropriate locations can help support a greater variety of faunal species, minimize
erosion after the initial treatment, and re-establish ecosystem processes negated by
tamarisk monocultures. Through careful planning and adaptive management procedures,
we hope that our approach will ensure cost effectiveness by capitalizing on evolutionary
adaptations and minimizing re-treatment efforts.
Contact Information: Gila Watershed Partnership of Arizona, PO Box 1614, Thatcher, AZ
85552; shawn@gwpaz.org
A Comparison of Intraspecific Variation in Early Life History
Characteristics of Native Colorado Plateau Forbs
Magdalena Eshleman12 and Andrea Kramer2
1Northwestern
2Chicago
University, Evanston, IL
Botanic Garden, Chicago, IL
Plant species with wide geographic distributions can experience very different biotic and
abiotic factors to which they may be adapted. Research has shown that many traits display
population differentiation, and in many cases this is a result of adaptation to local
conditions. However, critical information about local adaptation is too often lacking on
species that are used in restoration seed mixes, making it difficult for land managers to
make seed source decisions based on scientific evidence. To address this need, I tested six
priority restoration forbs for population differentiation and local adaptation in early life
history stages, including germination and emergence. I also tested whether seed dispersal
14
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
strategy had an influence on the detection of population differentiation. Differences in early
life history stages were tested across optimal germination conditions in an incubator study,
and the potential for local adaptation was tested in a reciprocal transplant field study.
There was significant population differentiation for many of the traits tested, but these
results lacked evidence for local adaptation. Low germination and emergence in the field
study limited my ability to test for local adaptation. However, in the incubator study there
was no difference in population differentiation between gravity-dispersed and winddispersed species. Long-term studies are needed to determine whether local adaptation
occurs in these species at later life history stages.
Contact Information: Northwestern University, 633 Clark St, Evanston, IL 60208;
maggieeshleman@gmail.com
How much is Enough: Lessons from Native Plant Restoration in support
of Hummingbirds in Southern Arizona
Molly McCormick and Ron Pulliam
Borderlands Restoration, Patagonia, AZ
The Sky Island Region of Southern Arizona is biologically diverse, but how do we assess its
ecological health amongst seeming abundance? Can this assessment drive efficient and
effective restoration, and how would we determine the efficacy of restoration work?
In a project aimed at restoring the nectar landscape and base of the food chain,
Borderlands Restoration, a restoration group based in Patagonia, AZ, worked to support
hummingbirds by installing native plants on four sites ranging from 7 to 12 hectares, using
low-input techniques. Our baseline assessment of ecological condition began by examining
temporal availability of floral resources at 100 randomly chosen points on each site. This
assessment identified gaps in nectar available for nesting and migrating hummingbirds.
We then installed native hummingbird-attracting plants at these sites and monitored
flower production for 1 to 3 years after planting. Using this information, we were able to
compare existing floral resources with those of the restoration plants, and determine if our
plantings impacted floral resource availability. We then analyzed survival of the plantings,
looking for patterns amongst various factors: planting timing, use of Dri-Water bags, and
the existence of irrigation. Restoration practitioners and land managers alike could use
these findings in planning efficient and effective restoration projects in support of
pollinators in the Sky Island Region.
Contact Information: Borderlands Restoration, 299 McKeown Ave, Suite #3, Patagonia, AZ
85624; mollylmccormick@gmail.com
Developing Monitoring Protocols for Vegetation Response to Watershed
Restoration; Preliminary Results from Southeastern Arizona
Natalie R. Wilson1, Laura M. Norman1, Miguel Villarreal1, Steve Buckley2, Joel
Sankey3, David Dean3, Steve Delong4, Whitney Henderson4, Carianne Campbell5, Kate
15
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
Tirion6, David Seibert7 and H. Ron Pulliam7
1US
Geological Survey, Western Geographic Science Center, Tucson, AZ
Park Service, Southwest Exotic Plant Management Team, Tucson, AZ
3US Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, Grand Canyon Monitoring and
Research Center, Flagstaff, AZ
4The University of Arizona, Biosphere 2, Tucson, AZ
5Sky Island Alliance, Tucson, AZ
6Deep Dirt Farms, LLC, Patagonia, AZ
7Borderlands Restoration, Patagonia, AZ
2National
Watershed degradation – arroyo cutting, erosion, and decreasing ground water levels and
surface water availability – threatens ecological and cultural values throughout the
Madrean Archipelago Ecoregion which extends from southeastern Arizona into northern
Mexico. Watershed restoration techniques – gabions, check dams, cross vanes and one-rock
dams – have been implemented by land managers seeking to conserve these values but the
relative effectiveness of these techniques is still unknown. This research explores the utility
of field-based and remote sensing methods for evaluating the short and long-term effects of
the different restoration techniques. Vegetation metrics – vegetation abundance, species
composition and species diversity – are used as a proxy for assessing changes in water
availability resulting from successful restoration and will be considered in tandem with
long-term presence/absence studies of birds. To quantify short-term effects on vegetation
the area within 4m of the restoration structures and within the channel was divided into
zones based on proximity to structure. Within these zones nested frequency plots, canopy
cover estimation and photo points were implemented to assess abundance, composition
and diversity. Field results from one study area were compared with terrestrial LiDAR
results collected over a two year period. Long-term monitoring plots were established
using point-line intercept in three different height strata (field, subcanopy and canopy);
this will capture changes in vegetation structure in addition to changes in abundance. Longterm monitoring plots include subplots to assess changes in species composition and
diversity. Baseline data was collected at four study areas and will be presented.
Contact Information: US Geological Survey, Western Geographic Science Center, 520 Park
Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85719; nrwilson@usgs.gov
Fire Effects: Restoration of Watersheds and Springs
Workshop
Session Moderators: Don Swann (Saguaro National Park) and Louise
Misztal (Sky Island Alliance)
Fire Effects on Tinajas and Frog Habitat at Saguaro National Park
Don Swann, Kara O’Brien, and Chuck Perger
Saguaro National Park, Tucson, AZ
16
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
Saguaro National Park has been monitoring lowland leopard frogs and their habitat for 19
years, particularly in tinajas, a local name for spring-fed rock pools located in intermittent
mountain streams. Following large wildfires in 1999 and 2003, many tinajas (often far
downstream from the fires themselves) became filled with sediment, leading to local
extirpations of frog populations. We have continued to monitor frogs, sediment, and water
in tinajas to track their long-term response to these fires. In addition, we have
experimented with restoration of tinajas through manual excavation of sand and gravel.
This talk will review the results of this program and examine the relationship of fire and
aquatic habitat across a range of spatial and temporal scales.
Contact Information: don_swann@nps.gov
Initial Response to Fire on Springs
Samantha Hammer, Louise Misztal, Carianne Campbell, and Christopher Morris
Sky Island Alliance, Tucson, AZ
Arizona has the highest abundance and density of springs in the western US – in
southeastern Arizona alone, there are over 1000 springs. Because springs support
disproportionately high levels of productivity, endemism, and biodiversity, they are an
important component of climate change resiliency in the Southwest, where climate change
effects are projected to be particularly severe. Changes in fire regime due to climate change
have affected many springs and will affect many more, but it is unknown how fire or fuel
treatments may potentially benefit or harm springs. Additionally, most springs lack critical
baseline information to assess the impacts of fire and to plan and implement restoration
after fire. We collected data on springs’ location, ecology, and status for over 30 springs
using citizen science inventory and assessment methodologies in mountain ranges affected
by recent fires, an area being restored – the Pinaleño Ecosystem Restoration Project, and
unburned areas. We combined springs data with spatial data on burn severity to
understand the impact of fire on springs. These data will allow us work with land and
natural resource managers to incorporate springs into pre-fire treatment planning on
public lands, to safeguard priority springs, and to restore springs post-fire.
Contact Information: Sky Island Alliance, 406 S. 4th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701;
sami@skyislandalliance.org
Response of Vegetation after Wildfire on the Warm Springs Natural Area
in Moapa, Nevada
Von K. Winkel, Ph.D., Restoration Ecologist and David J. Syzdek, Environmental
Southern Nevada Water Authority, Las Vegas, NV
During July 2010, a wildfire burned 407 acres of the Warm Springs Natural Area (WSNA) in
Moapa, Nevada. The WSNA is a nature preserve owned and operated by the Southern
Nevada Water Authority and is home to 28 sensitive wildlife and macroinvertebrate
species including the endangered Moapa dace (Moapa coriacea), the Southwestern willow
flycatcher (Empidonax trailii extimus), Vermillion flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus), and the
17
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
Moapa naucorid (Limnocoris moapensis). The fire burned 112 acres of mesquite bosque, 16
acres of riparian tree corridor along the Muddy River and its tributaries, 157 acres of
shrubland, nine acres of California palm (Washingtonia filifera) groves, 93 acres of
grassland and 20 acres of wet meadow and marshland. Following the fire, the recovery of
resprouting species was rapid in contrast to non-sprouting species which was nearly nonexistent. Five years following the fire, nearly every burned Western honey mesquite
(Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana) had resprouted. The average length of resprouted
branches was nearly 75% of pre-fire tree height. Western honey mesquite trees rebounded
so quickly and abundantly that several mesquite groves were thinned to decrease fuel
loading. In contrast, almost no screwbean mesquite (Prosopis pubescens) trees had
resprouted after five years. Burned velvet ash (Fraxinus velutina) tree resprouts were so
abundant that new stems outnumbered burned stems 6:1. In contrast, few cottonwood
trees (Populus fremontii) resprouted. Other resprouting species such as arrowweed
(Pluchea sericea), water jacket (Lycium andersonii), and saltgrass (Distichlis spicata)
reached near pre-fire growth by summer 2015.
Contact Information: Southern Nevada Water Authority, 1001 S. Valley View Blvd., Mailstop
760, Las Vegas, NV 89153; von.winkel@snwa.com
Increasing Resilience and Creating Habitat Refugia at Springs in the
Chiricauhua Mountains
Carianne Campbell and Louise Misztal
Sky Island Alliance, Tucson, AZ
The Chiricahua Mountains connect the diverse Sierra Madre with the vast Gila Wilderness –
perfectly positioned for importance to a huge diversity of plants and animals. Increasing
scarcity of mid and high-elevation water sources has prompted project partners to create
new open-water habitats for bats in this mountain range, and partners quickly realized that
threatened Chiricahua leopard frogs and other wildlife can benefit from the same habitat
modifications. In 2014, new open-water habitat was created at Ash Spring as part of a
collaborative wetlands restoration workshop. During construction, partners decided to
reduce the number of ponds created with heavy machinery from 9 to 3 in order to preserve
wet meadow habitat. Following lively discussions with partners, this scaled-down
approach was taken a step farther at Hermitage Seep in 2015, where Sky Island Alliance
proposed to create open water habitat without the need to excavate a pond at all in the
existing wet meadow. An extensive and healthy population of whorled milkweed (Asclepias
subverticillata), larval host for monarch butterflies, was identified onsite, underscoring the
importance of preserving the wet meadow habitat. These habitat creation projects will
allow AGFD to release new Chiricahua leopard frog populations and contribute to the
recovery of the species, and these two projects embody the flexible and responsive nature
in which SIRC partners are collaborating to continually improve outcomes.
Contact Information: Sky Island Alliance, 406 S. 4th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701;
Carianne@skyislandalliance.org
18
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
2002 Rodeo-Chediski Post-Wildfire Restoration Efforts
Daniel Pusher
White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Resources Program, Whiteriver, AZ
Many springs emerged after the wildfire and many withstood the catastrophe 2002 RodeoChediski wildfire that burnt over ~280,000 acres on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation.
Since the wildfire many post wildfire restoration treatments were conducted and many
restoration best management practices were unsuccessful. The relevance and value of this
presentation is to emphasize the importance of proactive watershed management
strategies. Proper watershed management and mitigation strategies that are utilized
and/or considered must be pertinent to the physical properties of a particular watershed.
Physical, chemical, and biological properties must be assessed and understood before a
mitigation strategy is implemented.
Contact Information: White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Resources Program, 201
E. Walnut St, Whiteriver AZ, 85941; danielpusher@wmat.us
Developing Guidance
Restoration
for
Climate-informed
Springs
Ecosystem
Louise Misztal1, Carianne Campbell1, Larry Stevens2, Jeri Ledbetter
1Sky
Island Alliance, Tucson, AZ
Stewardship Institute, Flagstaff, AZ
2Springs
Over the past two years Sky Island Alliance has worked with managers and experts to
develop an Arizona Springs Restoration Handbook. The Handbook walks practitioners
through considerations and a process for planning and implementing springs restoration,
including how to effectively consider and incorporate climate change. Fire effects at springs
are of increasing concern in the context of climate change as larger more intense fires burn
throughout the state and significantly alter watersheds. Other common threats to springs
include: flow diversion, interruption of disturbance regimes, grazing impacts, exotic plant
and animal invasions and groundwater extraction and/or contamination. Springs have
significant potential to recover and when key stressors are removed, however the science
on spring restoration is limited with very few restoration projects published and reviewed
for success. To address this knowledge and guidance gap, we convened interactive
workshops with practitioners to vet key topics and develop a draft handbook for spring
restoration in Arizona. We seek to advance climate-smart spring restoration and provide a
consistent approach for springs stewards. Handbook topics include defining desired
conditions/goals in the context of climate change, inventorying, assessing and planning,
restoration options, management strategies, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating
success. The purpose of the handbook is to summarize the established, standardized
protocols for springs restoration and management in Arizona. Through the partnership of
Sky Island Alliance and the Museum of Northern Arizona’s Springs Stewardship Institute,
this handbook is to be used as a guide and catalyst for the advancement of conservation
efforts for Arizona’s springs ecosystems.
19
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
Contact Information: Sky
Louise@skyislandalliance.org
Island
Alliance,
406
S.
4th
Ave,
Tucson,
AZ;
20
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
Saturday, November 21, 2015
Saturday Morning Sessions
Collaborative Watershed Restoration
Session Moderator: Michele Girard, Eco Ideas, LLC
Restoration of Cienegas and Headwater Tributaries of the Rio San
Bernardino
David Hodges and Valer Austin Clark
Cuenca Los Ojos A.C. Agua Prieta, Sonora Mexico and Cuenca Los Ojos Foundation, Pearce, AZ
The Cuenca Los Ojos Foundation restores lands, wetlands, and wildlife in Arizona and
Sonora. This semi-arid area receives limited rainfall in a given year with extreme
fluctuations, sometimes receiving up to 45% of the annual rainfall in one event. Many
streams are seasonal and depending upon the watershed, can go from dry to flooding in an
hour’s time. Harvesting water on both slopes and drainages is therefore crucial to achieving
maximum conservation outcomes. Historically, a large cienega wetland was located where
Black Draw, Hay Hollow, and Silver Creek came together to form the Rio San Bernardino,
just south of the International Border. The wetlands were a major stopping place for
migrating birds and animals. In the early 1900’s these wetlands dried due to incision of the
adjacent streams. Cuenca Los Ojos has been working for more than a decade to restore
these streams and adjacent upland areas. Despite historic drought conditions during the
entirety of this restoration period, our work has resulted in a dramatic increase in the
cienega acreage and riparian and grassland vegetation. This in turn, has led to an increase
in wildlife such as native fish, frogs, riparian and grassland bird species, and a host of
mammals.
Contact Information: Cuenca Los Ojos, 12626 E. Turkey Creek Road, Pearce AZ 85625;
dhodges73@gmail.com
Sky Island Restoration Cooperative (SIRC) – An Overview
Michele M. Girard and SIRC Members
Eco Ideas, LLC., Tucson, AZ
The Sky Island Restoration Cooperative (SIRC) is a loosely organized, bi-national
community based cooperative of restoration practitioners, land managers, landowners, and
researchers. Our backgrounds are diverse and include: government and non-government
organizations, private landowners, ranchers, students, and volunteers. Our goal is to
combine our energy and knowledge to improve restoration activities, outcomes and
awareness across the Madrean Archipelago and nurture an understanding of the
importance of biodiversity for human well-being. Our cooperative builds bridges across
21
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
institutional, administrative, and cultural boundaries to create effective regional
restoration strategies.
Our SIRC vision is to:
• Restore hydrological and biologic processes throughout entire watersheds.
• Maintain the unique biocultural diversity of the region by working across borders,
jurisdictions, and public/private boundaries
• Build resilient natural and human communities based on restoration economies
• Address social inequities and improve the quality of life in the Borderlands
In 2014 SIRC partners combined resources to implement sixteen projects that included:
watershed research, spring inventory and restoration, watershed restoration using low
tech/low cost rock erosion control structures, seed collection, plant material propagation,
wildlife monitoring, and community outreach and educational programs - valued at over $2
million dollars. Much of this contribution came from volunteers getting involved in their
local communities and watersheds. An overview of the SIRC approach, accomplishments,
and updated information from 2015 will be presented. SIRC is a cost effective, locally
based, grass roots approach to watershed restoration that can serve as a model for other
areas.
Contact Information: Eco Ideas, LLC, 8112 W Whispering Dove Way Tucson, AZ 85743;
mgirard93@gmail.com
House Pond Renovation at Brown Canyon
Partnerships and Improving Wetland Habitat
Ranch:
Promoting
John Kraft
Forest Service - Coronado National Forest, Sierra Vista Ranger District, Hereford, AZ
The Coronado National Forest, Sky Island Alliance, and others collaborated to improve
aquatic habitat at Brown Canyon Ranch for two federally listed species: the Chiricahua
leopard frog and the northern Mexican gartersnake. Brown Canyon Ranch is a historic site
located on the Coronado National Forest in the eastern foothills of the Huachuca Mountains
and is visited by thousands of people annually. The primary objective was to replace the
pond liner at House Pond, but additional plans to improve bank habitat and connect two
lentic sites with an ephemeral wet meadow were accomplished. This project impacted
natural, historical, cultural, and recreational resources on the Coronado National Forest
and was accomplished with the efforts of numerous partners, and a diverse collection of
volunteers. This presentation will focus on the balance of these outside partnerships as
well as the cooperation between different resource areas within the Forest Service to
wildlife habitat.
Contact Information: Forest Service - Coronado National Forest, Sierra Vista Ranger
District, 4070 South Avenida Saracino, Hereford, AZ 85615; jpkraft@fs.fed.us
22
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
Restoration Work by Cuenca Los Ojos in the North Eastern State of
Sonora México.
Jose Manuel Perez-Cantu
Cuenca Los Ojos A.C., Pearce, AZ
Since 1999 Cuenca Los Ojos A.C. (CLO) a Mexican Non-profit organization has done
restoration on the north Eastern state of Sonora in México, on the apache high land
ecoregion, here is where CLO has restoring the biodiversity, and preserving the wild life
corridors on the border land region. The effort of years working different techniques as
loose rock structures, dirt berms and wire baskets or gabions, tree planting, and native
grass seeds production, for the restoration of this important biological region.
Contact Information: Cuenca Los Ojos A.C., 12626 E. Turkey Creek Road, Pearce AZ 85625;
jmperez@elcoronadoranch.net
A Multidisciplinary Multi-method Approach to the Assessment of the
Hydrologic and Geomorphological Effects of Watershed Restoration
James Callegary, Laura Norman, and Stephen Wiele
US Geological Survey, Tucson, AZ
A variety of methods are being applied to aid in restoring arid southwest watersheds.
Typically, these include reshaping of and the installation of structures on hillslopes and in
channels to slow runoff, decrease erosion, increase infiltration, and reactivate floodplains.
Recently a number of methods have become available that allow for monitoring and
assessment at multiple scales of the hydrologic and geomorphologic changes induced by
these structures. We report on results from a multidisciplinary, multi-scale approach to
assess the interaction of restoration methods with land management and natural processes
at several sites in southeast Arizona. Local-scale techniques include high-resolution
topographic surveys (RTK GPS and terrestrial- and drone-based LiDAR and
photogrammetry) to assess geomorphologic changes; combining repeat photography, inchannel water stage, and subsurface temperature variation to assess streamflow, and
infiltration rate and volume; electrical resistance tomography and electromagnetic
induction to determine subsurface structure and spatiotemporal water-content variability;
and isotopic analysis of bed sediments to assess changes in carbon and nitrogen cycling
and storage. Stream-gaging, and rainfall-runoff and hydraulic modeling are being used to
evaluate hydrologic and geomorphologic changes occurring at both local and landscape
scales. Measurements of streamflow, soil-moisture, and infiltration are used in conjunction
with models to estimate local impacts to the water budget and the response of channel
morphology. Preliminary results indicate that methods to support restoration planning,
monitoring, and assessment must not only be tailored to the scale, information needs, and
scope of the individual project, but also to landscape characteristics, including geologic
substrate, topography, and soil hydraulic properties.
Contact Information: US Geological Survey, Western Geographic Science Center, 520 Park
Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85719; jcallega@usgs.gov
23
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
The North-Central New Mexico Watershed Restoration Project
Cody L. Stropki1 and Dierdre L. Tarr2
1Watershed
2District
Scientist, SWCA Environmental Consultants, Albuquerque, NM
Manager, Claunch Pinto Soil and Water Conservation District, Mountainair, NM
The North-Central New Mexico Watershed Restoration Project is a collaboration of over 37
partners who are all involved for the common goal of restoring watersheds that have
degraded in health over the past century due to anthropogenic sources (land development,
public polices, population growth). These partners range from Native American Tribes, to
local government, state government agencies, federal government agencies, private
consultants, grazing permittees, and private land owners. This partnership began in 2002
with the formation of the Estancia Basin Watershed Health, Restoration, and Monitoring
Steering Committee which was developed to oversee forest thinning projects and the
monitoring of forest and watershed health in the Estancia Basin and included 4 Soil and
Water Conservation Districts (SWCD). Then in 2003 the Greater Rio Grande Watershed
Alliance was formed, which was a group of 5 SWCDs, in order to collectively manage State
funding for removing non-native invasive trees from the riparian forest. These two groups
began collaborating in 2005 and have had great success leveraging funding to complete
projects. Since 2002 these groups have treated over 25,000 acres on public and private
lands across multiple jurisdictions with 20,000 of those acres treated in the past 5 years.
This group has also been able to leverage funding due to the diverse partnerships, which
has resulted in over $25 million in funding since 2002. This partnership is a great example
of how working together to bring everyone to the table can result in successful restoration
of New Mexico watersheds.
Contact Information: 5647 Jefferson St, NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109; cstropki@swca.com
Cross-Watershed Network
Lindsay Murdoch
Cross-Watershed Network Coordinator, AmeriCorps VISTA, Grand Junction, CO
Diverse stakeholders, complex issues, and varying geographies are just some of the
opportunities and challenges facing the people who manage our watersheds and associated
resources across the Arid West. Participants are coming together to form a new and
innovative approach to collaboration— the Cross-Watershed Network (XWN), an initiative
that strives to connect practitioners through information sharing, collective capacity
building, and collaboration across watersheds.
To date, the XWN has developed an interactive website (www.crosswatershed.net) to
connect practitioners across the Arid West as well as held numerous workshops on
watershed health issues ranging from enhancing ecological resiliency, to funding and
conducting long-term monitoring, to working with threatened and endangered species, and
understanding geomorphic processes.
24
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
This presentation will provide an overview of the XWN, including progress to date and
what the future looks like for enhancing cross-watershed collaboration.
Contact Information: lmurdoch@crosswatershed.net
River Restoration - Flows
Session Moderator: Matt Grabau, GeoSystems Analysis
Response of Riparian Vegetation to Minute 319 Environmental Flow in
the Colorado River Delta, Mexico.
Martha Gómez-Sapiens1, Pat Shafroth2, Erick Lundgren3, Karl Flessa1, and Edward P.
Glenn4
1. Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
2. U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO
3. School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
4. Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
In the spring of 2014 130 million cubic meters of water were delivered to the Colorado
River delta riparian corridor in Mexico. This was part of a pilot program implemented by
Minute 319 - a new agreement between Mexico and the U.S. regarding the river’s
management. The aim of this environmental flow was to promote the establishment of
native vegetation an enhance bird habitat quality. To assess the effects of the flow in plant
communities we determined the distribution of seedling patches and their survival at the
end of the growing season along 21 transects distributed in 92 river km. We monitored
before and after the peak flow to assess changes in cover, seed availability, the extent of
inundation and groundwater level to derive recession rates and soil salinity. Native species
(Populus fremontii, Salix spp. and Baccharis spp.) germinated in six of the 21 transects and
non-native Tamarix spp. was present in 14 transects after the pulse flow. At the end of the
growing season, seedlings of native species were present in four transects and Tamarix
spp. seedlings survived in 12 transects. Seedling patch extent was reduced by 90% in all
tree species. Native tree seedling establishment was likely limited by 1) the availability of
bare ground, 2) competition with annual species, 3) availability of soil moisture, and 4)
availability of seeds. We can use these results to identify areas along the riparian corridor
where most of the requirements for establishment of native vegetation can be met to plan
future restoration efforts.
Contact Information: Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, 1040 4th St,
Tucson, AZ 85721; gomezsap@email.arizona.edu
Restoration Treatments to Improve Vegetation
Environmental Flows in the Colorado River Delta
Response
to
Karen J. Schlatter1,2 , Matthew R. Grabau1, and Francisco Zamora-Arroyo1.
25
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
1Sonoran
Institute, Tucson, AZ
of Colorado, Boulder, CO
2University
Since the mid-1900s, the Colorado River Delta has not regularly received freshwater flows
due to the diversion of Colorado River water for human consumptive use. Despite altered
hydrologic regimes and resulting desiccation of 90% of the Delta, sporadic flood flows have
successfully regenerated patches of native riparian habitat along the river corridor in
Mexico. In 2014, an experimental pulse flow of water was delivered to the Colorado River
in Mexico as part of the U.S.-Mexico binational agreement, Minute 319, to determine if a
designed flow could improve biologic and hydrologic conditions in the Delta with a
relatively small amount of water.
Laguna Grande, a target restoration site in the central Delta, was not expected to receive
high-magnitude flows needed to create conditions for riparian tree recruitment during the
pulse flow. To improve recruitment, areas within Laguna Grande were cleared of saltcedar
and arrowweed prior to the pulse flow, and some areas were seeded with Goodding’s
willow and Fremont cottonwood during flow recession to promote riparian tree
establishment. A controlled, replicated experiment was implemented to assess effects of
four restoration treatments on riparian tree species recruitment: 1) control (no inundation
from pulse flow), 2) inundated, 3) inundated and cleared, and 4) inundated, cleared, and
seeded. Vegetation was monitored in March, May, and October of 2014 (before,
immediately after, and one growing season following the pulse flow). Preliminary results
indicate that environmental flow deliveries in the Delta require additional management
actions (clearing and seeding) for the successful recruitment of riparian tree species.
Contact Information: Sonoran Institute, 44 E Broadway Blvd #350, Tucson, AZ 85701;
kschlatter@sonoraninstitute.org
Restoring Flows on the Verde River, Arizona
Jeanmarie Haney and Kim Schonek
The Nature Conservancy, Tucson, AZ
The Verde River is of great ecologic, economic, and cultural importance to surrounding
communities and to Arizona and the southwest. Flows have been reduced through surface
water diversions, groundwater pumping, and climatic factors, and future flows are
threatened by continuing and increased depletions. To address these challenges The
Nature Conservancy is working with partners to develop a comprehensive integrated
water management approach that addresses surface water use, groundwater resources,
and watershed management in the Verde River watershed. Projects implemented thus far
include surface water diversion monitoring; installation of modern infrastructure to enable
irrigation companies to match diversion to actual demands, thus diverting less water; full
and partial season fallowing; diversion reduction agreements; conversion from flood to
drip irrigation; and recharge feasibility studies for urban runoff and treated effluent.
Extensive flow monitoring in the river, ditches, and tributaries provides data to gage
benefits to the river and downstream communities and to attribute models for projection
26
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
of benefits from future projects. By working with partners in the agricultural, industrial,
and municipal sectors to develop voluntary water transactions, leases and purchase
agreements, groundwater recharge networks, and more efficient irrigation water delivery
systems, we can demonstrate how human water demands can be met while also keeping
rivers healthy.
Contact Information: The Nature Conservancy, 1510 E. Fort Lowell Road Tucson, AZ 85719;
jhaney@tnc.org
Take Back the Rain! Stream Dynamics & Urban Water Harvesting in
Silver City, NM
Claire Catlett and Van Clothier
Stream Dynamics, Inc., Silver City, NM
Urbanization has changed how water naturally drains from the landscape in our cities and
towns, and in effect, has created a new sub-set of the natural watershed: the urban subwatershed. In sub-watersheds streets, roofs, parking lots, and sewer systems collect
stormwater; altering water flow, transporting contaminants, and impacting the health of
our waterways. In order to address the negative impacts of urbanization on our
watersheds, we need to learn how to take back the rain and work with nature through
green infrastructure projects like rainwater harvesting to beautify our neighborhoods and
improve watershed health.
Stream Dynamics is working to address the dynamic and permanent impacts that urban
infrastructure has caused to natural watersheds. Stream Dynamics, Inc. has been awarded
$138,220 by the New Mexico Environment Department, as part of its River Stewardship
Program. This funding will be used for the San Vicente Creek Urban Watershed
Restoration project, which will address stormwater management, water quality, and
overall riparian zone health for the San Vicente Creek watershed.
Stream Dynamics currently is building 80 water harvesting projects on Town of Silver City
Right of Way to directly treat stormwater pollution from the urban grid system.
Additionally, Stream Dynamics will work downstream in the urban watershed at the
riparian zone health through work to improve urban forestry and stream bank restoration
work with in-channel design work along the floodplain and riparian zone of the San Vicente
Creek. It is hoped that through urban water harvesting for watershed restoration, urban
ecosystems can see positive changes in water quality, shallow water table levels, and
groundwater recharge. Stream Dynamics will be restoring the San Vicente’s watershed to
integrate the constraints of the modern day built environment with the natural watershed
system’s needs. This shall serve as a practical model for other urban streams in New
Mexico, and the as well throughout the southwest.
Contact Information: Stream Dynamics, Inc. PO Box 785, Silver City, NM 88061;
claire@streamdynamics.us
27
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
Electromagnetic Induction to Determine Soil Salinity Trends for
Floodplain and Riparian Restoration
Matthew R. Grabau1,2, Chad McKenna2, Tzung-Mow Yao2, and Karen J. Schlatter1
1Sonoran
Institute, Tucson, Arizona.
Analysis, Inc., Tucson, Arizona.
2GeoSystems
Disconnection of river channels and floodplains due to flow control structures has severely
impacted riparian ecosystems worldwide. In arid regions such as the desert Southwest, a
lack of occasional flooding, especially combined with upstream evapoconcentration of salts
in reservoirs, can result in floodplain salinization and mortality of salt-intolerant native
trees like Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii) and Goodding’s willow (Salix
gooddingii). Minute 319, an addition to the US-Mexico international water treaty, provided
a one-time “pulse flow” and sustained “base flow” deliveries over five years to the Colorado
River in Mexico to determine if riparian corridor conditions can be improved with limited
water dedications. Minute 319 provided an opportunity to observe flow effects on
floodplain salt levels. We used calibrated electromagnetic induction results to map pre
(March 2014) and post (October 2014 and March 2015) pulse flow 0-1.2 m soil electrical
conductivity. Sensor readings were highly correlated with laboratory results (R2 > 0.82),
allowing reasonable interpolations of soil salinity. We estimated large salinity reductions
(median composite soil EC decreased by approximately 50%) during the first year of
environmental flows. However, salinity will likely trend toward pre-pulse conditions
without continued flows. Repeat monitoring is planned to determine the longevity of
salinity reductions. The electronmagnetic induction methodology provides a useful tool for
restoration site and planting palette selection. The primary limitation we observed is poor
estimation of surface soil salinity due to soil moisture variation. We continue to explore the
ability of additional data to improve correlations and/or reduce the need for event-specific
calibration.
Contact Information: Sonoran Institute, 44 E Broadway Blvd #350, Tucson, AZ 85701;
mgrabau@sonoraninstitute.org
Evaluating the Effect of Gabions on Vertical Water Flux in an Ephemeral
Stream using Wildlife Cameras and Temperature Sensors
Chloe Fandel1,2, James Callegary3, Ty Ferre1, Laura Norman3, Christopher Scott1,2
University of Arizona, Department of Hydrology & Water Resources, Tucson, AZ
University of Arizona, Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, Tucson, AZ
3 U.S. Geological Survey, Tucson, AZ
1
2
In water-scarce regions prone to flash-flooding, simple rock structures can be used to slow
runoff and erosion in ephemeral-stream channels, increasing infiltration and recharge and
improving riparian ecological health. However, few quantitative studies assess the
effectiveness of such structures for enhanced infiltration and recharge. We aim to evaluate
the impact of newly-installed gabions (rock-filled wire baskets) in an ephemeral-stream
channel located in a grassland in southeastern Arizona. Four gabions were installed in the
channel in May, 2015. We have instrumented channel reaches upstream and downstream
28
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
of one gabion with wildlife cameras, pressure transducers, and surface and subsurface
temperature sensors. We plan to infer vertical water flux through the subsurface using
daily surface and subsurface temperature fluctuations and analytical solutions of heat
transport in soil. These methods use the extent to which daily temperature fluctuations are
dampened and delayed with depth (because water transmits temperature changes more
quickly than dry soil). Flow on August 20, 2015 was captured by both cameras and
temperature sensors. Novel to this study, we will use the repeat camera imagery to
estimate ponded area through time. This will be used to convert temperature-sensor
derived infiltration flux to total flow, with and without the gabion’s influence. Additionally,
we expect to be able to monitor changes in infiltration flux through time, which will
advance our understanding of the impacts of fine-sediment deposition upstream of the
gabion.
Contact Information: University of Arizona, Department of Hydrology & Water Resources,
1133 E James E Rogers Way, Tucson, AZ 85721; cfandel@email.arizona.edu
Stormwater Capture and Recharge to Enhance Riparian Habitat
Michael Milczarek1, Cyrus Miller2, Karen Riggs3, Brooke Bushman4, Robert Rice1,
Lindsey Bunting1 and Laurel Lacher5
GeoSystems Analysis, Inc, Tucson AZ
JE Fuller Geomorphology and Hydrology, Tucson, AZ
3 Cochise County, Bisbee, AZ
4 The Nature Conservancy, Tucson, AZ
3 Lacher Hydrological Consulting, Tucson, AZ
1
2
Stormwater capture with subsequent recharge to groundwater has been proposed as a
method to enhance riparian habitat and augment groundwater resources in semi-arid
regions. Small scale retention structures such as the trincheras innovated by the Austins
have been shown to reduce flood flows and increase groundwater elevations which can
support riparian vegetation in mountainous watersheds. In floodplain river systems,
riverbank storage in response to large flood events is known to raise local groundwater
elevations and support base flow for months after the event. However, in areas of
groundwater pumping or previous groundwater extraction, flood frequency may be
insufficient to raise groundwater elevations to a level that can support riparian vegetation.
Urbanization increases stormwater runoff rates because of the increase in impervious
surfaces; the resulting “urban enhanced runoff” presents an opportunity to capture and
recharge surface water to enhance riparian habitat. This presentation will discuss the
technical challenges associated with evaluating the amount of stormwater that can be
captured, retained and recharged and the siting and design stormwater capture and
recharge facilities.
Contact Information: GeoSystems Analysis, Inc, 3393 N Dodge Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85716;
mike@gsanalysis.com
29
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
30
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
Featured Plenary Presentation:
Steve Buckley is a botanist for the National Park
Service’s (NPS) Southwest Exotic Plant Management
Team. He works with 55 national parks in six western
states on
all things botanical, including seed
collection and plant materials production, restoration
planning and implementation, in particular, the
restoration of nectar landscapes for pollinator
recovery. With support from the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) and the NPS he is helping to
develop the Madrean Archipelago Plant Propagation (MAPP) Center in Patagonia, Arizona
to increase the availability of native plant materials for restoration. He leads the
development of the Interagency Seed Strategy for the Madrean Archipelago to support the
goals articulated in the National Interagency Seed Strategy.
Steve is working on a doctorate at the University of Arizona and has been involved with
restoration projects and research throughout the southwestern United States since 2001.
He has worked on academic, private, tribal, state, and federal projects. He has worked for
the Ecological Restoration Institute (ERI) at Northern Arizona University where he
received both undergraduate and masters’ degrees; with Native Seeds/SEARCH and a
range of other agricultural and conservation organizations including as an intern with the
Society for Ecological Restoration (SER); and has worked with all the federal landmanagement agencies. Since 2009, he has worked with the National Park Service (NPS) and
the Sonoran Desert Network of the Inventory and Monitoring division; the US Fish and
Wildlife Service (FWS) and their Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts Zone of their Inventory
and Monitoring program; the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Safford field office; the
US Geological Survey (USGS); the US Forest Service and the Coronado National Forest; and
the NPS Southwest Exotic Plant Management Team (SWEPMT).
Steve works closely with the NPS Desert Research Learning Center (DRLC) in Tucson,
Arizona, where he manages the Flora Project; an interagency effort to produce field guides
and other floristic information resources for land managers, researchers, and the public.
The Flora Project is an interagency effort to address floristic information needs across
federal boundaries and also address the lack of botanical training opportunities to develop
the next generation of botanists. The Flora Project trains botanical interns, agency
botanists and botanist trainees, as well as resource managers throughout the region,
providing training in the field for staff and volunteers alongside classroom and lab-based
plant systematics short courses, survey assistance for rare or invasive species, and floristic
information tools and resources.
31
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
In Gratitude for Seeds: Growing a Restoration Economy
Steve Buckley
Southwest Exotic Plant Management Team, National Park Service / Bureau of Land Management,
Tucson, AZ
Ecological restoration relies on the ready availability of diverse native plant materials. In
the vision offered by the 2015 National Seed Strategy this translates to “the right seed in
the right place at the right time.” The National Seed Strategy, while a culmination of more
than a decade of work, has elevated the conversation to new prominence about how we
collect and grow the seed necessary to support a diverse and locally adapted plant
materials supply. Taking cues from national and other ongoing ecoregional efforts, the
Madrean Archipelago Seed Strategy is a nascent effort between federal agencies, nonprofits, and private partners for how to best conserve the unique plants of the region and
develop a robust plant materials supply chain. In a region that does not have an existing
seed industry, developing a seed strategy means engaging with a range of landowners,
community groups, nurseries, and agricultural producers to develop regionally adaptive
solutions. These efforts are exploring how restoration can contribute to economic
development in the US-Mexico borderlands, how we inhabit these landscapes, and how
seed collection and production can set the stage for long-term intergenerational
restoration efforts.
Contact Information: Southwest Exotic Plant Management Team, 12661 E. Broadway Blvd.,
Tucson, AZ 85748; steve_buckley@nps.gov
32
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
Friday Afternoon Sessions
Wetland Restoration
Session Moderator: Natalie Wilson, USGS
Reflections on 30 Years of Restoration
Valer Austin Clark
Cuenca Los Ojos, Pearce, AZ
Contact Information: Cuenca Los Ojos, 12626 E. Turkey Creek Road, Pearce AZ 85625;
vaustin@elcoronadoranch.net
Native Woody Riparian Restoration and Mapping Potential Beaver
Habitat in New Mexico to Increase Wetland and Riparian Habitat
Jim Matison1, Bryan Bird1, and Kurt Menke2
1WildEarth
2Bird’s
Guardians, Santa Fe, NM
eye View GIS, Albuquerque, NM
WildEarth Guardians has been planting native riparian vegetation across streams in New
Mexico to improve water quality, wildlife habitat, and reestablish wetlands. Although
riparian habitats historically constituted a small fraction of the landmass in the desert
Southwest they support up to 80% of vertebrates at some stage of their life and over 50%
of the nesting bird species use riparian habitats as the primary habitat for breeding
purposes. An estimated 95% of this habitat has been altered, degraded or destroyed.
WildEarth Guardians restoration activities are intended to restore functioning riparian
ecosystems to address water quality impairments but also to improve wildlife habitat and
climate change resilience. Since 1997, WildEarth Guardians has completed 50 projects,
planting more than one million native trees and forage species along 35 miles of stream
and recreating 150 acres of wetlands. In 2012 WildEarth Guardians conducted an
assessment of potential and suitable beaver habitat on federal lands across the state. The
dam-building beaver’s activities create a diversity of habitats and dams trap sediment,
create and maintain wetlands, and modify nutrient and decomposition cycles. The presence
of dam-building beaver reduces high flows and downstream flooding that can result in
destructive erosion, provides more constant summer flows, elevates the water tables and
improves riparian habitat. Of 2,617 miles of perennial streams assessed, 82% are
considered potential dam building beaver habitat. Among this set of streams, 359.7 miles
were determined to be least suitable, 443.7 miles moderate suitability, 575.0 miles good
suitability and 765.1 miles optimum suitability. From this geographic information,
WildEarth Guardians will work with partners to prioritize restoration activities to facilitate
the return of beaver to unoccupied habitat and increase restoration effectiveness and
climate resilience.
33
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
Contact Information: WildEarth Guardians, 516 Alto Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501;
jmatison@wildearthguardians.org
Wetland Sod: Living, Self-Repairing Riprap
Van Clothier
Stream Dynamics, INC., Silver City, NM
The Plug and Pond method has been used to restore incised stream channels for many
years. For the past five years, Stream Dynamics has been adapting this technique to restore
gullied wet meadows in the Valles Caldera National Park of Northern New Mexico. Design,
construction and monitoring of new restoration techniques has been funded by the New
Mexico Environment Department, Surface Water Quality Bureau. The completed project
includes: restoration of 40 sites in 7 drainages, ecological monitoring, and an illustrated
Technical Guide (forthcoming online). Monitoring results show improved wetland habitat,
higher water tables, greater volume of subsurface storage, increased base flow, decreased
flood peaks, lower water temperature, higher water quality and increased riparian obligate
vegetation. Designs and construction techniques have been developed to use wetland sod
in lieu of rocks for grade controls such as sod Zuni bowls and sod rundowns, and to cap
small gully plugs to immediately restore aesthetics, stability, and natural process. Worm
ditches (very high sinuosity channels dug through competent wetland sod) have been used
to transition flows around headcuts, arresting their progression. We also developed oncontour spillways and the “Contour pond with a valley-wide glide” to keep spillway shear
stress below the threshold of erosion.
This presentation features beautiful before, during and after photo points and videos of
construction techniques. Van Clothier of Stream Dynamics, Inc. will discuss the theory and
practice of these new restoration techniques and will cover their applicability, anticipated
results and actual monitoring results from piezometers, thermographs and vegetation
transects.
Contact Information: Stream Dynamics, Inc. PO Box 785, Silver City, NM 88061;
van@streamdynamics.us
El Rio Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan
Doug Williams
Flood Control District of Maricopa County, Phoenix, AZ
The Flood Control District of Maricopa County (FCD) recently completed a draft of the
Lower Gila River Floodplain Delineation Study between Bullard Avenue and Painted Rock
Reservoir. The study was based on new physical data which included the increased density
of salt cedar in the river. The results of the study identified additional land within the 100year floodplain when compared to the existing FEMA Effective Floodplain, which was
completed in 1999. Due to the changes in floodplain dimensions, the FCD initiated an EL
Rio Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan. The Plan evaluates flood hazard mitigation scenarios and
34
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
reevaluates the El Rio Watercourse Master Plan alternative. This approach included input
from landowners, District Staff, and the general public.
Hydraulic and economic evaluations were conducted to determine the effectiveness of a
range of flood hazard mitigation which includes river restoration scenarios. These
assessments could protect residents, property, and infrastructure from the effects of
flooding through fiscally responsible and sustainable floodplain management. To this end,
hydraulic modeling of flood mitigation scenarios helped determine the hydraulic response
of the river in regards to a reduction of the floodplain limits. Flood hazard mitigation
scenarios include a Thousand Foot Clearing, Vegetation Clearing and Native Vegetation
Replacement, Maximum Vegetation Clearing, Partial Levee, Full Levee and the Hybrid
Native Vegetation Replacement and Partial Levee Scenario.
The Hybrid Native Vegetation Replacement and Partial Levee Scenario, a favorite of the
communities, increases the benefits of the Vegetation Clearing and Native Vegetation
Replacement Scenario with levees.
Contact Information: Flood Control District of Maricopa County, 2801 W Durango St.,
Phoenix, AZ 85009; daw@mail.maricopa.gov
Automated Soil Moisture and Surface Water Monitoring to Enhance
Restoration Monitoring and Adaptive Management
Lindsey A. Bunting1, Matthew R. Grabau2,1, and Michael A. Milczarek1.
1GeoSystems
2Sonoran
Analysis, Inc., Tucson, AZ
Institute, Tucson, AZ
The presence or absence of suitable hydrology can determine the success or failure of
restoration projects. This is especially true for riparian restoration projects with droughtintolerant and phreatophyte vegetation. However, restoration monitoring does not always
include hydrology monitoring. A lack of these data can limit the ability of practitioners to
determine if hydrology was the cause of failure. Additionally, for irrigated projects, soil
moisture and groundwater data can be used to optimize water use.
To demonstrate the usefulness of irrigation, soil moisture, and groundwater monitoring,
we completed a pilot project for the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation
Program at a flood-irrigated 75 acre restoration plot within the 1,300 acre Palo Verde
Ecological Reserve near Blythe, California. The primary objectives of the project were to
determine irrigation distribution and efficiency, plant water availability in the root zone,
and quantify the presence of saturated or inundated soils as desired to enhance habitat
quality for native birds. A range of equipment types, at various levels of complexity and
cost, were installed to determine which instruments and data loggers were most costeffective.
Irrigation efficiency was limited by large field sizes, coarse soils, and low irrigation flow
rates. Irrigation efficiency could therefore be improved by decreasing field sizes, selecting
35
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
less sandy zones for restoration, and/or applying higher flow rates. Water availability
through the root zone was not limiting during the monitoring period, indicating that
irrigation frequency could be reduced. However, soil inundation and saturation was limited
to during and immediately after irrigation.
Contact Information: GeoSystems Analysis, Inc, 3393 N Dodge Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85716;
lindsey@gsanalysis.com
Rivers - Restoration and Monitoring
Session Moderator: Dana Backer, Saguaro National Park
Improving River-Floodplain Connectivity on Regulated Rivers in the
Southwestern United States: A Case Study from the Rio Grande, New
Mexico.
Todd R. Caplan1, Mark Stone2, Colin Byrne2, Chad McKenna1, and Grace Haggerty3
1GeoSystems
Analysis, Inc., Albuquerque, NM
of Civil Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
3New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, Albuquerque, NM
2Department
Like many southwestern rivers, the Rio Grande in central New Mexico has undergone
anthropogenic changes that limit river-floodplain connectivity. Since the constrained river
no longer naturally creates new off-channel riparian-wetland and aquatic habitats,
resource managers are physically excavating floodplain terraces to promote seasonal
inundation. This active restoration approach seeks to improve habitat for several federally
threatened and endangered fish and wildlife species. The purpose of this talk is to present
site-screening methods applied to a 31-mile river reach of the Rio Grande aimed at
minimizing excavation costs while maximizing restored acres.
We utilized one-dimensional hydraulic models and LiDAR data to evaluate floodplain
inundation potential under target river flows. Target flows emphasized the two-year
discharge using flow records from the past ten years to reflect observed reductions in
discharge associated with extended drought. The model outputs indicated extensive
inundation potential at the targeted discharge levels through the project reach. Additional
GIS analysis was performed to screen these sites further based upon land ownership and
vegetation conditions.
This desktop screening process yielded twenty-one candidate restoration sites that were
then field verified and narrowed down to six final design sites. To generate final designs,
we collected high-resolution topographic data to support development of 2-dimensional
hydrodynamic models for each site. Models were used to determine excavation depths
required to achieve desired inundated habitat characteristics, including inundated area,
flow depth and velocity. These data were used to generate conceptual engineering designs
to guide construction that is scheduled to begin in fall 2015.
36
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
Contact Information: 3150 Carlisle Blvd, NE; Ste 203; Albuquerque, NM 87110;
todd@gsanalysis.com
Bringing New Life to America’s Most-Endangered River – Trail
Development Leads to Channel Restoration along the Santa Fe River
Robert M. Oberdorfer
Sites Southwest, LLC, Albuquerque, NM
The recently-realized Santa Fe River Trail has been many years in the making. A recent
literature search identified studies making recommendations for dealing with the river
corridor dating to the 1960s. The most recent efforts to plan a multi-use trail alongside the
river date back to 1994; however, fragmented and unclear land ownership, a vocal
populace, and significant physical constraints, combined with frequent staff changes and
administrative priorities had resulted in a series of unfulfilled Master Plans for the river
and/or a trail alongside. In recent years, the ephemeral river had downgraded to the
extent that it was threatening adjacent homes and properties – to the point where it was
deemed “America’s Most Endangered River” by the conservation group American Rivers in
2007.
By that time the City of Santa Fe had started the process of actually doing something about
the ailing river corridor; this time with the intent of approaching the river restoration and
trail design as a holistic package. In anticipation of the myriad concerns that would
ultimately need to be addressed, the selected consultant assembled a supporting team that
included landscape architects, civil engineers, geomorphologists, public involvement
specialists, and even the local watershed alliance. A combination of “natural channel
design” and more traditional hydraulic engineering was used to develop a restoration plan
that met the public’s perception of what the City’s proposed “Living River” corridor should
be, while providing recreational access via a new multi-use trail. The results have been
enthusiastically received by the community.
Contact Information: 121
roberdorfer@sites-sw.com
Tijeras
Ave,
NE
#3100,
Albuquerque,
NM
87102;
Verde Watershed Restoration Coalition: Four Years of Applied Riparian
Restoration
Anna Schrenk
Friends of Verde River Greenway, Cottonwood, AZ
The Verde River is treasured for its wildlife habitat, water supply, recreational
opportunities and natural beauty. The Verde River is both unique and one of the hardest
working rivers in the arid Southwest. It supports primarily native vegetation and rare
Cottonwood/Willow Riparian Gallery Forests, although non-native invasive plants –
particularly Tamarix spp. (tamarisk), Eleaganus angustifolia (Russian Olive), Ailanthus
altissima (Tree of Heaven), and Arundo donax (Giant Reed) – threaten the long-term health
37
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
and sustainability of these native vegetation communities. In 2010, stakeholders gathered
to discuss and prioritize these threats, the results of these workshops was a five-year
management plan and a collaborative public/private partnership. The Verde Watershed
Restoration Coalition (VWRC) is in year four of implementing the invasive plant
management plan with results to share about successes, challenges and opportunities that
are guiding us into expanded restoration planning efforts.
Contact Information: 903 N. Main Street Suite B, P. O. Box 2535, Cottonwood, AZ 86326;
anna.schrenk@verdewrc.org
Binational Collaboration for Restoration of the Colorado River Delta
Karen J. Schlatter, Francisco Zamora-Arroyo, Edith Santiago Serrano, Tomás Rivas
Salcedo, and Matthew R. Grabau
Sonoran Institute, Tucson, AZ
The Colorado River is a lifeline for the western United States and northwestern Mexico,
supporting nearly 40 million people and irrigating over 5 million acres of farmland.
However, due to river diversions, little or no water enters the river’s delta in Mexico, and
the Colorado River rarely reaches the sea. Consequently, over 90% of the historic Delta,
which encompassed over 2 million acres, has been lost. Despite severe degradation,
episodic flows have demonstrated the Delta’s ability to be revived with a small amount of
water. Habitat restoration projects have been underway since 2002. However, scaling up
and securing water have proven to be politically challenging. Political will and public
support have been fostered through cross-border partnerships, collaborative research,
pilot restoration projects, and local community engagement. To date, hundreds of acres of
riparian and marsh habitat have been created with participation of over 10,000 people
from local community groups, universities, and government agencies. Binational
partnerships between conservation organizations and government agencies have enabled
implementation of innovative transboundary water policy, culminating in Minute 319. This
agreement, signed in 2012, allocated water to the Delta for the first time in history. To
achieve restoration goals, we are using both conventional and innovative restoration
techniques to establish a mosaic of habitat types and increase native plant diversity. Efforts
to secure long-term water dedications, which will be required to sustain restoration areas,
are ongoing, along with research on how to most effectively allocate this critical, yet
increasingly scarce resource.
Contact Information: Sonoran Institute, 44 E Broadway Blvd #350, Tucson, AZ 85701;
kschlatter@sonoraninstitute.org
Southwestern Riparian Habitat Restoration Effectiveness Monitoring
David C. Lightfoot
SWCA Environmental Consultants, Albuquerque, NM
Wildlife habitat restoration is increasingly important for damaged Southwestern riparian
environments. A variety of different types of habitat restoration are being utilized for
38
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
different wildlife species, including stream channel modifications, overbank flooding and
removal of exotic tree species and planting of native vegetation. Habitat restoration often
targets endangered species, and species specific habitat restoration techniques are being
developed. Habitat restoration effectiveness monitoring (HREM) is essential to determine
whether or not habitat restoration projects are successful, and is essential as part of
adaptive management. However, HREM is often not conducted at all or is inadequate to
determine project success. Effective HREM should be based on the objectives of the
restoration itself and should be designed to produce data that will determine if those
restoration objectives were met. HREM sampling designs and measurements should
include restoration treatment and adjacent non-treated control areas, baseline prerestoration measurements, post-treatment/restoration measurements for as long as the
system is expected to change relative to the objectives, and comparative reference areas or
desired reference conditions. The development of appropriate evaluation criteria is a
critical step in HREM, and those criteria should be based on the objectives of the
restoration, and on desired reference conditions. Observational low-intensity and/or
quantitative high-intensity HREM may be utilized, depending on the complexity of the
restoration treatments and available budgets. HREM should address both the habitat
features and the population/community aspects of the species. The concepts and processes
of HREM are discussed and examples from the Southwest are presented.
Contact Information: SWCA Environmental Consultants 5647 Jefferson St NE, Albuquerque,
NM 87109; dlightfoot@swca.com
Plenary: Bringing it All Together
Session Moderator: Laura Norman, SER SW President
Planting the Seeds of Change
Caleb Pipes1, Oscar Medina1, Andy Bennett2, Vicente Guerrero1, and Brandon
Landeros1
1Changemaker
2Tucson
High School, Urban Restorative Ecology and Agriculture Program, Tucson, AZ
Audubon Society, Restoration Project Manager, Tucson, AZ
This presentation will focus on the educational experiences of high school students and
their ecological restoration efforts on their ten acre campus, Changemaker High School
(CMHS) located in the urban core of Tucson, AZ. With support of non-profit conservation
agencies like Tucson Audubon Society, students developed green, academic and practical
skills that are intended to support their future careers in a time of climate change. Through
water harvesting, restoration planting, and urban agriculture, students are engaging the
community by transforming the exterior of their school into a learning laboratory for
climate readiness. The community workshops held at CMHS have helped shape students’
understanding of the importance of conserving and producing habitats with native
vegetation for wildlife while understanding the negative effects of invasive species that can
impair ecosystems. Environmental sustainability as well as traditional ecological
39
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
knowledge plays a fundamental role in our restorative ecology program. Preliminary data
on passive and active rain water harvesting and restoration planting will be presented.
Students will share their comprehension of environmental literacy through an
interdisciplinary approach that blends the academic with the practice of ecological
restoration. Students will present their future social ventures related to the restoration
economy and health. The teacher will discuss the connection between environmental
literacy and social justice.
Contact Information: Changemaker High School, 1300 S Belvedere Ave, Tucson, AZ 85711;
abennett@tucsonaudubon.org
Rural Arizona’s Youth Restoration Movement – the BECY Institute and
Beyond
Caleb Weaver
Borderlands Restoration, L3C, Patagonia, AZ
The Borderlands Earth Care Youth (BECY) Institute is a paid summer internship whose
mission is to train the next generation of conservation leaders and rural land stewards. By
combining watershed, ecosystem and food system restoration, youth learn hands-on
marketable job skills from a broad spectrum of innovative ecologically and socially-focused
organizations and individuals to restore their home watersheds. Through steady exposure
to working professionals who have built conservation careers in unique ways appropriate
to solving ecosystem challenges, high school students living within the burgeoning
restoration economy of the US/Mexico borderlands can better imagine a positive
professional role in the communities where they have grown up. As of autumn 2015, 31
youth from Patagonia, Arizona to Douglas, Arizona have participated in the summer
programming, many of whom have switch their career focus to fields within conservation.
The BECY Institute, the innovative program that has inspired a thesis from a master’s
degree-seeking student from Northern Arizona University, has led to multiple subsequent
programs – from a hiking club at the Patagonia High School to an after-school business
incubator program for high school aged youth. Thanks to the BECY Institute, student
interns have access to an unparalleled network of support to hone their unique restoration
skillset that will be necessary to face the challenges of ecosystem restoration the Southwest
well into the future.
Contact Information: Borderlands Restoration, 299 McKeown Ave, Suite #3, Patagonia, AZ
85624; weaver.caleb@gmail.com
The National Seed Strategy: The Right Seed in the Right Place at the Right
Time
Peggy Olwell
Plant Conservation Program Lead, Bureau of Land Management, Washington, DC
Large-scale disturbances and other stressors threaten important native plant communities
and the ecosystem services they provide. These stressors include the spread of invasive
40
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
plant species, altered wildfire regimes, habitat modification, and climate change. The
National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration 2015-2020 will provide a more
coordinated approach for stabilization, rehabilitation, and restoration treatments. With
almost 30 percent of U.S. lands under Federal management, the Strategy encourages largescale habitat restoration; however, smaller scale restoration will benefit from large-scale
public investment in commercial native seed production. The Strategy is national in scope
and engages both Federal and non-Federal partners restoring public, tribal, state,
municipal, and private lands. Success on a national scale will be achieved through
coordinated establishment of a nationwide network of native seed collectors, a network of
farmers and growers working to develop seed, a network of nurseries and seed storage
facilities to supply adequate quantities of appropriate seed, and a network of restoration
ecologists who know how to put the right seed in the right place at the right time.
Implementing this Strategy requires investments in a national assessment identifying and
meeting seed needs, research, improved decision tools, and enhanced communication.
Contact Information: Bureau of Land Management, 1849 C Street NW, Room 2134 LM,
Washington, DC 20240; polwell@blm.gov
Status of Danaus plexippus (monarch butterfly) in Arizona
Gail Morris, C. Kline, and S. Morris.
Southwest Monarch Study
A recently published paper based on Citizen Science observations and tagging, “Status of
Danaus plexippus in Arizona” established the importance of rivers and riparian areas as
crucial monarch migration and breeding corridors in Arizona. Monitoring data collected by
the Southwest Monarch Study resulted in the identification of key breeding Asclepias spp.
and nectar flora resources preferred by D. plexippus by elevation. Monarch butterflies were
also reported puddling in slow moving streams and seeps especially when temperatures
are high and humidity is low, an uncommon behavior in monarch butterflies. Migration
destination for Arizona monarchs was identified as primarily to Mexico during the peak
migration but a smaller number also migrated to California earlier that appears to be
influenced by wind direction. Nearby riparian trees, especially Cottonwoods and Goodding
Willows, were utilized for night roosts and refuges during weather extremes. This study
also identified small overwintering monarch aggregations in Phoenix, Yuma, Parker, Lake
Havasu and Tucson. By far the largest monarch butterfly breeding and migration
populations were found in the Sky Island region of Arizona. The Southwest Monarch Study
is a partner with Monarch Joint Venture who is supporting the development of Monarch
SOS by Nature Digger, a new smart phone application currently available for education
purposes. When it is complete next season, it will be instrumental in reporting monarch
adults and immatures, tagging information and in identifying Asclepias spp. Currently
available for iPhones and iPad, it will be available for Android users as well.
Contact Information: swmonarchs@yahoo.com
No Pat Answers – Restoration in Novel Environments
41
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
Jonathan Horst
Tucson Audubon Society, Tucson, AZ
I want to start a discussion, a discussion to make us more relevant within a world of
continually increasing societal constraints on restoration projects, and to acknowledge that
in an uncertain future we must build toward resiliency and flexibility which may mean
embracing the novel. With ever-increasing frequency the lack of appropriate reference site
presents a challenge for restoration projects. Funders want them as a baseline and they
streamline the process creating performance standards. However, even if they did exist
they may not represent the highest functioning and most resilient option for what can exist
at a particular site. How do we identify and justify those highest or most important
functions? How can we turn constraints or artificial conditions into functional assets? How
do we intentionally build resilient, flexible, and adaptable systems that might cover
unanticipated climatic change? Let’s build a framework and figure out the critical guiding
questions that we can ask ourselves.
Contact Information: Tucson Audubon Society, 300 E University Blvd # 120, Tucson, AZ
85705; jhorst@tucsonaudubon.org
42
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
POSTER ABSTRACTS
2015 Tamarisk Beetle Distribution Map
Ben Bloodworth
Tamarisk Coalition, Grand Junction, CO
In 2004, the tamarisk beetle (Diorhabda spp.) was approved for full open field releases by
USDA-APHIS as a biological control agent for the invasive shrub/tree Tamarix. Once
established in several major systems, the beetle spread dramatically throughout riparian
landscapes across the west. The dispersal of beetle populations has been tracked by the
Tamarisk Coalition since 2007 and provided in spatial format for land managers to plan for,
and incorporate, the arrival and presence of the beetle into their restoration planning. The
2015 annual beetle distribution map provides both historical and current information on
beetle populations across 11 states and Mexico.
Contact Information: Tamarisk Coalition, 244 N 7th St. Grand Junction, CO 81501;
bbloodworth@tamariskcoalition.org
Agave Restoration at Coronado National Memorial
Laura Fawcett, Jason Mateljak, and Ryan Janway
Southeast Arizona Group and National Park Service
In 2015, Resource Management staff members have continued work in the agave
restoration area at Coronado National Memorial. The agave restoration area consists of 7.6
acres which were part of the staging ground for equipment and materials during
construction of the international border fence in 2008. To offset the loss of Palmer’s Agaves
(Agave palmeri) during this construction, the Department of Homeland Security provided
funds for restoration. Agaves are an essential food source for endangered Lesser longnosed bats (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae) when they roost in the memorial each summer.
Resource Management staff and hardworking volunteers have planted 6,344 agaves in the
restoration area and adjacent areas over the past five years. Approximately 490 volunteers
have worked an estimated 2,294 hours in the restoration area. Most recently, multiple
planting days were held during the summer of 2014 and 2015. In addition to planting,
resource management staff and volunteers perform monitoring, watering, erosion control,
herbivore control measures and invasive species control in the area. Lehmann lovegrass,
(Eragrostis lehmanniana) dominated the area in 2010, but subsequent years of chemical
and mechanical control have resulted a healthy grassland consisting of mostly native grass
species. Approximately 3,154 agaves have been grown from seed for planting in 2016 and
2017 to offset losses from fire, frost, and herbivory.
Contact Information: laura_fawcett@nps.gov
43
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
Coronado National Memorial Partners with School Garden Program to
Benefit Endangered Bats
Laura Fawcett, Jason Mateljak, and Ryan Janway
Southeast Arizona Group and National Park Service
Abstract: Coronado National Memorial is engaged in a multi-year restoration project
focused on mitigation of border impacts and restoration of critical habitat of endangered
Lesser long-nosed bats (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae). This project focuses on propagating
native Palmer's agave and outplanting these plants in disturbed areas near the U.S.-Mexico
Border fence. A by-product of this project has been a tremendous community outreach
program where volunteers support the project in large one-day planting events. The park
has expanded on this stewardship with an Impact Grant from the National Park Foundation
and Disney nature, by partnering with a local middle school to propagate and transplant
native agaves. Students from Kindergarten-8th grade have received presentations on
important bat-agave relationships, propagation, and restoration, and are getting unique
hands-on opportunities to engage in restoration activities. The park hosted three school
field trips in 2014, to plant agaves and collect ripe agave seeds. These were the first on-site
school presentations in Coronado National Memorial since 2010; a result of border
activities. Students germinated the agave seeds in their classrooms, and are currently
growing and caring for hundreds of young agaves, which they will plant in the memorial
once they reach adequate size. In 2015, students returned for two more field trips to plant
agaves in the restoration area. School field trips will continue for the foreseeable future.
Contact Information: laura_fawcett@nps.gov
Fertile Islands - A New Approach to Managing Lehmann Lovegrass –
Dominated Grasslands
Laura Fawcett, Jason Mateljak, and Ryan Janway
Southeast Arizona Group and National Park Service
Abstract: Lehmann lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana) is an invasive, perennial grass
which dominates the grasslands at Coronado National Memorial. A new approach for
controlling E. lehmanniana invasions on a more feasible scale is to institute “fertile islands.”
These islands are an adapted management technique that involves maintaining small
patches of persisting native vegetation within the E. lehmanniana monoculture. These
microsites often have higher soil moisture, different soil characteristics, or resilient
individual plants that can compete with E. lehmanniana. Resource Management employees
identified areas with native species, applied different combinations of treatments, and are
monitoring which treatments result in the highest increase of biodiversity. These fertile
islands will facilitate an increase in native plant diversity of the landscape, an increase in
native seeds in the seed bank, a decrease in E. lehmanniana seeds in the seed bank, a
decreased fire susceptibility and continuity, and restoration of natural ecosystem function.
Contact Information: laura_fawcett@nps.gov
44
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
Adopt A Spring: Using Citizen Science to Monitor Springs Before and
After Restoration
Samantha Hammer, Louise Misztal, Carianne Campbell, and Christopher Morris
Sky Island Alliance, Tucson, AZ
Arizona has the highest abundance and density of springs in the western US – in
southeastern Arizona alone, there are over 1000 springs. Because springs support
disproportionately high levels of productivity, endemism, and biodiversity, they are an
important component of climate change resiliency in the Southwest, where climate change
effects are projected to be particularly severe. However, most springs lack critical baseline
information to assess the impacts of climate change and plan restoration. To address this
information gap, Sky Island Alliance has inventoried over 100 springs in southeastern
Arizona over the last four years, collecting information on their location, ecology,
geomorphology, and status. While these inventories collect vital data, they represent only
one point in time. For springs that are targeted for restoration action, planning the most
effective restoration requires longer-term data. Sky Island Alliance has initiated a pilot
“Adopt A Spring” project using trained volunteers to monitor six springs located in six
different mountain ranges year-round. Two of these springs have undergone restoration
and two are potential restoration sites, where the data will provide a comprehensive
understanding of the site prior to restoration. Data collected include water flow, depth, and
extent; water quality; area of different microhabitats; and plants and animals present.
These data will allow us to assess the effectiveness of restoration, plan restoration more
effectively, and better understand these spring ecosystems and the stressors acting on
them.
Contact Information: Sky Island Alliance, 406 S. 4th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701;
sami@skyislandalliance.org
Locally Adapted Plant Material Production for Southeastern Arizona
M. Cheyney1, J. Johnson1, R. More-Hla1, J. Conn2, S. Stone1
1Gila
Watershed Partnership of Arizona, P.O. Box 1614, Thatcher AZ 85552
of Land Management, 711 S 14th Ave, Safford AZ 85546
2Bureau
The Gila Watershed Partnership in collaboration with the Bureau of Land Management and
Eastern Arizona College produce locally adapted plant materials for various restoration
projects throughout Southeastern Arizona. Germination and cultivation of these plant
materials occur at the Native Plant Nursery in Safford, AZ. The Native Plant Nursery
specializes in providing locally adapted genotypes, specialized container stock for arid and
mechanized planting, and comprehensive information on wildland seed collections in order
to bridge the gap between plant science and practitioner application. Due to the
remoteness of ecological restoration projects, commercial availability of locally adapted
plant materials is often limited. We employ and train seed collectors under Seeds of
Success protocols to sustainably collect plant materials from numerous provisional seed
zones. In turn, we are able to offer practitioners plant materials that are adapted to the
local climatic conditions of the targeted restoration site. Many restoration sites are
45
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
challenged by water availability, site access, and/or the spatial extent of the site. We are
able to provide container stock with extended root systems, allowing deeper plantings
closer to groundwater. In addition, much of our container stock is sized to allow for the
transportation of numerous plants to sites with limited vehicle access. Finally, many sites
require mechanized planting to help limit the cost of restoration. We offer stock grown
specifically for a mechanical planter. Although few nurseries, at this time, have dedicated
resources to providing locally adapted genotypes, we believe this model offers numerous
economic, ecological, and educational advantages.
Contact Information: Gila Watershed Partnership of Arizona, PO Box 1614, Thatcher, AZ
85552; morgan@gwpaz.org
Integrating Restoration into River Park Design
K. Connor1, L. Woods1, C. Henley1, S. Bolduc2, D. Brosnihan,2 and H. Lasham3.
1RECON
Environmental Inc., Tucson, AZ
County Regional Flood Control, Tucson, AZ
3Psomas Tucson, AZ
2Pima
Historically Pima County Regional Flood Control created river parks to provide recreation
opportunities along watercourses reinforced for flood protection. However, at Paseo de las
Iglesias River Park along the Santa Cruz River, ecosystem restoration was also a primary
design goal. This recently completed project includes a variety of ecosystem restoration
elements such as rainwater harvesting basins, a diverse native plant palette, preserved-inplace mesquite thickets, dri-water and tall pot planting techniques, enhancements to an
existing ephemeral toad-breeding pond, raptor perches, lizard salvage and re-introduction,
on-going monitoring, and invasive species removal and control.
Contact Information: RECON Environmental Inc., 2033 East Grant Road Tucson, AZ 85719;
kconnor@reconenvironmental.com
Youth Engaged Stewardship
Christine In-Albon1 and Suzanne Dhruv2
1Empire
High School, Cienega Watershed Partnership
Tree Experience
2Ironwood
Youth Engaged Stewardship (YES!) began in the summer of 2012 with a goal of engaging
youth (ages 14-19) in meaningful projects on public lands in southeastern Arizona while
enhancing youth leadership skills. YES! focuses on youth-directed stewardship that
includes a range of activities: landscape assessment, habitat restoration, monitoring,
setting protocols and interpreting ecological sites for visitors. Youth work with both
government and NGO partners to develop project guidelines and budget requirements, and
implement the work needed. Over the past 4 summers at the Las Cienegas National
Conservation Area, 33 youth have participated in the program. Work completed by the
students has resulted in creating habitat ponds for endangered species, removal of nonnative grasses and reintroduction of native grasses into habitat ponds. This work included
46
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
the successful transplanting of Huachuca water umbel and restoration of eroded sacaton
grasslands. This last summer students established long term study plots and monitoring
protocols in order to understand and to reverse the erosion of grasslands adjacent to
Gardner Canyon at Las Cienegas. YES! students planned and held volunteer work days
aiding with their restoration efforts, expanding the work they could successfully complete
and educating others in the process.
Contact Information: Empire High School, 10701 E Mary Ann Cleveland Way, Tucson, AZ
85747; inalbonc@gmail.com
Improved Cave Management at Coronado National Memorial
Ryan Janway and Jason Mateljak
Southeast Arizona Group, National Park Service
In 2014, Coronado National Memorial received funds to improve cave and karst
management and develop WNS response. The memorial has a fledgling program that has
remained dormant for many years. Coronado Cave is one of several caves in the park and is
open to visitors as a wild cave experience. Park staff sought to employ a series of
monitoring and restoration activities as well as develop outreach and educational
opportunities regarding caves. We are partnering with other local cave parks to improve
our regional understanding of similar karst in southeast Arizona.
Contact Information: ryan_janway@nps.gov
Greenup and Evapotranspiration (ET) of Riparian Vegetation Following
the Minute 319 Environmental Pulse Flows to Mexico
C. J. Jarchow1, P. Nagler1, and E. P. Glenn2
1US
Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, Sonoran Desert Research Station,
Tucson, AZ
2Environmental Research Laboratory of the University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
During the spring of 2014, 130 million cubic meters of water were released from Morelos
Dam on the lower Colorado River, allowing water to reach the Gulf of California for the first
time in 13 years. A year later, we continue to analyze the effects of this historic experiment,
the result of a new U.S.-Mexico agreement. Based on MODIS and Landsat 8 satellite imagery
and field observations, initial findings show an overall positive response by vegetation (i.e.,
increased greening) to the pulse flows within the river’s riparian corridor. This reverses an
overall decline in the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and
evapotranspiration (ET) since the last major flood in 2000. In addition to the current status
of this experiment and effects of these pulse flows, we will present a conceptual model of
the role of groundwater and surface flows in maintaining the riparian corridor in Mexico.
Based on preliminary findings, pulse flows could be an effective tool for restoring the lower
Colorado River’s riparian zone.
47
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
Contact Information: Southwest Biological Science Center, Sonoran Desert Research
Station, 1110 E. South Campus Drive, Room 123, Tucson, AZ 85721; cjarchow@usgs.gov
Application of an Ecohydrological Approach to Guiding Riparian
Restoration Planning, Upper Gila River, Arizona
Glen Leverich1, Zooey Diggory1, Bruce Orr1, Tom Dudley2, James Hatten3, Kevin
Hultine4, Matthew Johnson5
1Stillwater
Sciences, Berkeley, CA
Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA
3Columbia River Research Laboratory, U.S. Geological Survey, Cook, WA
4Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, AZ
5Colorado Plateau Research Station, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ
2Marine
Riparian systems across the Southwest region, such as the upper Gila River in eastern
Arizona, are threatened by numerous natural and anthropogenic stressors, including
flooding, drought, invasion by tamarisk (saltcedar; Tamarix spp.), wildfire, urban
encroachment, and land- and water-use practices. A new concern in the upper Gila
watershed is the eventual arrival of the tamarisk leaf beetle that is expected to soon
colonize the tamarisk-dominated riparian corridor as the beetle continues to spread across
the southwest region. While there are numerous potential benefits to tamarisk
suppression (e.g., groundwater conservation, riparian habitat recovery, fire-risk
reduction), short-term negative consequences are also possible, such as altered channel
hydraulics and canopy defoliation during bird nesting season (e.g., the endangered
southwestern willow flycatcher). In preparation for anticipated impacts following beetle
colonization, we developed a holistic restoration framework to promote recovery of native
riparian habitat. Pivotal to this process was an ecohydrological assessment that identified
restoration sites based on consideration of natural and anthropogenic factors that,
together, influence restoration opportunities—flood-scour dynamics, vegetation
community structure and resilience, surface- and groundwater availability, soil texture and
salinity, wildfire potential, and land-use activities. Data collected included high-resolution
remote-sensing products, GIS-based delineation of channel migration, and vegetation field
mapping. These data along with other information generated, including pre-biocontrol
vegetation monitoring and flycatcher-habitat modeling, were synthesized to produce a
comprehensive restoration plan that highlights those areas of the river best suited for
active restoration and, ultimately, assist watershed managers in development and
prioritization of ecologically appropriate restoration strategies.
Contact Information: Stillwater Sciences, 2855 Telegraph Ave #400, Berkeley, CA 94704;
glen@stillwatersci.com
Restoration Assessment and Monitoring Program for the Southwest
(RAMPS)
Seth M. Munson
U.S. Geological Survey – Southwest Biological Science Center
48
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
Dryland regions in the southwestern U.S. have been degraded by invasive species, wildfire,
overgrazing, agricultural conversion, energy development, recreational activity, and urban
growth. These disturbances and others are accelerated by one of the fastest growing
human populations in the country and a pressing background of decreasing water
availability due to drought and elevated temperatures that are projected to become more
pronounced. The potential reduction and loss of ecosystem productivity from these lands
could have large socioeconomic and environmental costs. Restoration practices are needed
to promote recovery from disturbance, improve the health and integrity of drylands, and
ensure the long-term sustainability of ecosystem services. Despite the demand for
restoration, little information is available to help managers effectively reestablish perennial
vegetation and stabilize soils in regions strongly constrained by water availability, and
even less information is available to help managers structure restoration efforts to be
successful in the context of changing climate and disturbance regimes. The Restoration
Assessment and Monitoring Program for the Southwest (RAMPS) is a new initiative with an
aim to strengthen restoration strategies and outcomes by providing science and guidance
on effective restoration practices to land managers. RAMPS will be coordinated at the U.S.
Geological Survey - Southwest Biological Science Center and composed of a consortium of
scientists, managers, and practitioners with dryland restoration expertise. Here the
preliminary objectives of RAMPS are outlined to encourage participation and feedback
from the Southwest restoration community.
Contact Information: Southwest Biological Science Center, Sonoran Desert Research
Station, 1110 E. South Campus Drive, Room 123, Tucson, AZ 85721; smunson@usgs.gov
Wide-Area Estimates of Evapotranspiration by Red Gum (Eucalyptus
camaldulensis) and Associated Vegetation in the Murray-Darling River
Basin, Australia
Pamela L. Nagler1, Tanya M. Doody2, Edward P. Glenn3, Christopher J. Jarchow1, Armando
Barreto-Muñoz4, and Kamel Didan4
1US
Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, Tucson, AZ
Land and Water, Glen Osmond SA, Australia
3Environmental Research Laboratory of the University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
4Vegetation Index and Phenology Lab, Electrical and Computer Engineering of the University of
Arizona, Tucson, AZ
2CSIRO
Floodplain red gum forests (Eucalyptus camaldulensis plus associated grasses, reeds and
sedges) are sites of high biodiversity in otherwise arid regions of southeastern Australia.
They depend on periodic floods from rivers but dams and diversions have reduced flood
frequencies, leading to deterioration of trees and associated biota. There is a need to
determine their water requirements so environmental flows can be administered to
restore and maintain the forests. We used previous measurements of transpiration (EG) of
red gum trees and an algorithm based on the MODIS Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) from
the Terra satellite to estimate total ET for a large area of red gum forest fed by the
Murrumbidgee River in Yanga National Park, New South Wales. MODIS red gum ET
estimates adequately predicted sap flux estimates (r2 = 0.80). From 2000-2012, MODIS ET
49
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
estimates were the same as water balance estimates determined from river gages at the
entry and exit points for water into the forest. However, during a drought period from
2000-2009 MODIS overestimated ET compared to water balance data due to water stress
detected in sap flow studies. The time course of ET was extended back to 1995 using
Landsat imagery and gage data. Over the 38,134 ha of continuous forest, ET consumed 11%
of river water during the wet years of 1990-1997 while during the drought years of 20002009, 35% of inflows were consumed. This study supports ground studies suggesting that
red gum trees are resilient to drought conditions but at this location they require
environmental flows of 2000 GL yr-1 or more to produce flooding sufficient to keep them in
good condition over wide areas of forest. However, only about 120-200 GL yr-1 of river
water will be consumed in ET, with the remainder flowing out of the forest where it will
enter the Murray River system.
Contact Information: US Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, 1110 E.
South Campus Drive, Room 123, Tucson, AZ 85721; pnagler@usgs.gov
Pima County Regional Flood Control District’s Land Stewardship
Program
Marisa Rice, Jennifer Becker, and Carla Danforth
Pima County Regional Flood Control District, Tucson, AZ
Pima County Regional Flood Control District (District) is responsible for managing
approximately 25,000 acres of land within Pima County, located mostly in and around
rivers and washes. These lands are owned in fee, by easement or maintained through
intergovernmental agreements. Drainage infrastructure such as detention basins and
constructed channels make up half of the acreage, while the remaining acreage is mostly
undisturbed open space, purchased primarily to preserve floodplain function. The
drainage infrastructure areas and constructed ecosystem restoration projects have been
inspected regularly to ensure they function as designed and until recently, the open space
lands were inspected only when prompted by a public complaint. In early 2015, the District
created the Land Stewardship Program to begin actively managing and improving our open
space lands and the District’s active ecosystem restoration projects or “restored lands”.
The Land Management Program goal is to protect floodplain and ecosystem function on the
District’s open space and restored lands. Management activities include property
inspections, annual monitoring, long-term maintenance of large-scale restoration projects,
and small enhancement projects (e.g., invasive species control, erosion mitigation, etc.).
Management of these lands will be guided by watershed-scale land management plans that
will prioritize enhancement projects by resource needs. In an effort to pool available
resources, the District is seeking opportunities for collaboration with federal, state and
local agencies and local non-profits to complete these projects.
Contact Information: Pima County Regional Flood Control District, 97 E Congress St # 3,
Tucson, AZ 85701; marisa.rice@pima.gov
50
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
Analysis of 15-Year Bat Study at Chiricahua National Monument and Fort
Bowie National Historic Site
Amanda Selnick1, Karen Krebbs2, and Jason Mateljak1
1Southeast
2Karen
Arizona Group, National Park Service
Krebbs Consulting
Abstract: Chiricahua National Monument has collaborated with Karen Krebbs over the last
15 years to monitor bat populations at CHIR and FOBO. This long-term monitoring effort
began as summer only surveys and expanded to year-round surveys in 2011. Each year the
surveys seek to identify species present in the park and to capture basic health and trends
in bat populations within the park. Continuing this project will contribute to WNS and
Climate change monitoring as well as determining post-fire impacts on bat populations in
the ecologically diverse Chiricahua Mountains. The park is currently collaborating with U of
A and U of Montana to analyze trends over time and compare to similar regional surveys on
both sides of the international border.
Contact Information: Amanda_selnick@nps.gov
Wildlife Camera Trap Inventory at Chiricahua National Monument
Amanda Selnick and Jason Mateljak
Southeast Arizona Group, National Park Service
Biologists of the Southeast Arizona Group, in conjunction with the USFWS, implemented a
short term wildlife camera trap inventory at Chiricahua National Monument. NPS staff,
USFWS employees, SCA interns, and volunteers assisted with the deployment of 45 camera
traps across the park. These cameras were stratified by elevation and deployed in
randomly generated locations at least 1 kilometer apart. After 8 weeks, staff retrieved the
cameras, obtaining 24,156 photos, with 3,956 photos containing animals. This survey
confirmed 22 mammal species within the park, including one new species never before
documented on camera (the mule deer). Furthermore, this survey is part of the continued
development of a regional mammal camera trap inventory for parks and refuges across the
southwest. It has been piloted at Saguaro NP, Fort Bowie NHS, Leslie Canyon NWR, and San
Bernardino NWR, and it will soon provide a standardized protocol for repeatable mammal
inventories. This type of protocol will inform land managers about local or broad species
extirpations, which appear to be increasing as human developments close to protected
lands increase.
Contact Information: Amanda_selnick@nps.gov
Wildlife Camera Trap Inventory at Fort Bowie National Historic Site
Amanda Selnick and Jason Mateljak
Southeast Arizona Group, National Park Service
A camera trap bio blitz was set up at Fort Bowie with 44 cameras inside the 999 acre park.
Over 7 weeks, images of wildlife were captured at 11 different locations to find a species
51
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
census of mammals inside of the park. 5 locations were picked by the biological technicians
and 6 locations were picked at random. Each location had four cameras set up within 50
meters of the center point of the location. This short term wildlife census was set up to
create a much faster species inventory that spans the whole park. This was also used as a
pilot study to determine which method (random or bio tech choice) was most effective. The
44 cameras captured 16 mammals identifiable to the species level. The western spotted
skunk was identified at Fort Bowie for the first time since 1976. The cameras also caught
13 birds identifiable to the species level. About 11% of pictures were of gray fox, 10% were
of an insect, 8% were of birds and 7% of pictures of cotton tails. This study photographed
all species, but one (the striped skunk), that had been captured on our long term cameras.
This study analyzed photos across only 53 days. The long term camera analysis for Fort
Bowie consisted of 1,568 days.
Contact Information: Amanda_selnick@nps.gov
Salsola: Iconic Plant or Scourge of the West?
K.A. Thomas1 and M.H. Redsteer2
1U.S.
2U.S.
Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Geological Survey, Flagstaff Science Center, Flagstaff, AZ
Salsola species, commonly known as tumbleweed, are highly invasive, annual plants,
introduced to the U.S. in the late 19th century. While the genus Salsola occurs across the
North American continent, several species occur in the arid Southwest (S. tragus, S.
paulsenii, S. collina, and S. gobicola). Within the last decade, during predominantly drought
conditions, public and tribal resource managers in the Southwest have observed increased
extent and duration of Salsola infestations, including undisturbed habitat incursions.
Salsola has long been recognized as a weed related to agricultural and land disturbance; it
presents a number of consequences for invaded ecosystems, including degradation of
native grasslands and their wildlife habitat quality, competition with native vegetation, and
potential promotion of dune mobility. Salsola is also an alternate host to the beet leafhopper vector of curly top, can cause oxalate poisoning in sheep, builds massive biomass
piles on infrastructure, and poses a fire hazard. However, in some contexts Salsola may be
of benefit, such as providing nurse plant functions in restoring sites. Some infestations of
Salsola have been self-limiting, with the population density decreasing with 3-7 years after
initial establishment. The extent of Salsola infestations is not documented regionally and
description of its impacts, positive and/or negative, on restoration on disturbed sites is
wanting. In an effort to advance our understanding of Salsola’s occurrence and effects on
ecosystems, we invite resource managers and restoration practitioners to provide input
through this interactive poster on your experiences and observations on Salsola and
restoration.
Contact Information: Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, University of
Arizona, Tucson, Arizona. 85719 USA; kathryn_a_thomas@usgs.gov
52
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
Modelling Soil Erosion Vulnerability to Off-road Vehicle Disturbances to
Inform Management and Restoration of Arid Landscapes
Miguel L. Villarreal1, Robert H. Webb2, Laura M. Norman3, Jennifer L. Psillas4, Abigail
S. Rosenberg5, Shinji Carmichael3, Roy E. Petrakis4 and Philip E. Sparks4
1US
Geological Survey, Western Geographic Science Center, Menlo Park, CA
of Natural Resources, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
3U.S. Geological Survey, Western Geographic Science Center, Tucson, AZ
4University of Arizona, School of Geography and Development, Tucson, AZ
5Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, AZ
2School
Intensive off-road vehicle use for immigration, smuggling, and security of the United StatesMexico border has prompted concerns about long-term human impacts on sensitive desert
ecosystems. To help managers identify areas susceptible to soil erosion from vehicle
disturbances, we developed a series of erosion potential models based on factors from the
Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), with particular focus on the management
factor (P-factor) and vegetation cover (C-factor). To better express the vulnerability of soils
to human disturbances, a soil compaction index (applied as the P-factor) was calculated as
the difference in saturated hydrologic conductivity (Ks) between disturbed and
undisturbed soils, which was then scaled up to remote sensing-based maps of vehicle
tracks and digital soils maps. The C-factor was improved using a satellite-based vegetation
index, which was better correlated with estimated ground cover (r2 = 0.77) than data
derived from regional land cover maps (r2 = 0.06). RUSLE factors were normalized to give
equal weight to all contributing factors, which provided more management-specific
information on vulnerable areas where vehicle compaction of sensitive soils intersects with
steep slopes and low vegetation cover. Resulting spatial data on vulnerability and erosion
potential provide land managers with information to identify critically disturbed areas and
potential restoration sites where off-road driving should be restricted to reduce further
degradation.
Contact Information: US Geological Survey, Western Geographic Science Center, 345
Middlefield Rd., Menlo Park, CA 94025; mvillarreal@usgs.gov
53
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference
2015 SER Southwest Chapter
Conference Planning Team
Travis Bean, Southern California Representative for the SER-SW Chapter and Cooperative
Extension Weed Science Specialist with the Department of Botany and Plant Sciences,
University of California at Riverside.
Carianne Campbell, Conference Chair. Vice-President of the SER-SW Chapter and
Restoration Director at Sky Island Alliance.
Jason Eckberg, Southern Nevada Representative for the SER-SW Chapter
and Environmental Biologist with the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA).
Conor Flynn, New Mexico Representative for the SER-SW Chapter and Biologist with
SWCA, Inc.
Michele Girard, Hydrologist with Eco Ideas, LLC.
Matt Grabau, Representative at large for the SER-SW Chapter and Restoration Scientist
with the Sonoran Institute.
Allison Kutcher, Sky Island Alliance intern and student at Prescott College.
Louise Misztal, Conservation Director at Sky Island Alliance.
Laura Norman, President of the SER-SW Chapter and Research Physical Scientist at US
Geological Survey.
Steve Plath, Arizona Representative for SER-SW Chapter.
Victoria Stubbs, Treasurer of the SER-SW Chapter and Owner of MHR Consulting, LLC.
Don Swann, Saguaro National Park.
Kathryn Thomas, Secretary of the SER-SW Chapter and Research Scientist at US Geological
Survey.
Thank you for connecting with us!
54
Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Chapter
2015 Annual Conference