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A Half Century of Rangeland Management in A Half Century of Rangeland Management in the Piñon, Juniper, Ponderosa and Grassland the Piñon, Juniper, Ponderosa and Grassland
Ecosystems of the SouthwestEcosystems of the Southwest
Sid Goodloe SWGLA Conference February 18, 2016
Forest and Rangeland History, Current Condition, Rehabilitation and Conservation Practices on Carrizo Valley Ranch in South Central New Mexico
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Carrizo Valley Ranch Lincoln County, New Mexico
Established 1956
Altitude - 6,500-7,500 feetPrecipitation - 16-18 inches 60% Rain, 40% Snow
Topography - Gently rolling hills to steep mountainsidesGrowing Season – Mid May to Late September
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Overall Objective __ Land Health Renewal
Specific Goal __ Pre-Settlement or Climax Condition
Starting Point __ Local History
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The first settlers in the Southwest didn’t realize the fragility of our landscape.
They came from a non-brittle environment
( high rainfall, high humidity) to a brittle environment (low rainfall, low humidity, high winds).
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Causes of Western Forest and Rangeland Deterioration
Settlements from high precipitation to low precipitation
Excessive livestock numbers
Yearlong grazing
Land claiming procedures
Priorities
Fire Suppression – Euro-forestry Management
Smokey Bear syndrome
Subdivisions
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Nogal Mesa –Circa 1900 Nogal Mesa - Today
Declining Livestock Carrying Declining Livestock Carrying Capacity Caused by Vegetative Capacity Caused by Vegetative
ChangeChange
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1900
1999
Transition-Indian Divide Switchback
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P/J Roots Affect Herbaceous Growth 40 Feet From Trunk
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Network of roots 40 feet from tree trunk
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P/J Roots Deprive Grass Of Nutrients And Moisture Resulting In Sheet Erosion
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Sheet Erosion turns to Gulley Erosion
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Correcting the
Problem
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P/J Thicket – Post Settlement
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Thinning – Fire Wood
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Dozer Push and Pile
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Seeding disturbed
areas
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Move as close to climax condition as possible if
compatible with human use.
Aldo Leopold
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Back to Native Grasses
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Piles pushed against live trees and burned one year later.
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Thinning the Ponderosa Forest
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Pine tops are excellent winter feed for Deer
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Mastication – Hydro Ax
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Ponderosa Thicket after Mastication
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After thinning, herbaceous ground cover has returned.
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Herbicide to Halt
Reinfestation
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One-Seed Juniper Treated with Herbicide
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One Velpar Pellet will kill this one-seed juniper.
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Two years after herbicide treatmentTwo years after herbicide treatment
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Cattle aid in watershed rehabilitation
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Grazing Innovations
Allan Savory
in Rhodesia 1968
Short Duration Grazing ?
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SDG Founders Reunion – Zimbabwe 2013
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SDG was introduced on Carrizo Valley Ranch in 1971
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August 15, 2010
August 15, 2011
What a difference a year makes.
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Riparian Rehabilitation
Riparian Areas cannot be successfully rehabilitated and maintained without first solving the problems in the Watershed above.
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05/03/23 41
“To Protect Your Rivers Protect Your Mountains”
Emperor Yu Chin – 1600 B.C.
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Fencing riparian areas is essential when upland forage is scarce.
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Steep Gully Banks
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Seeding Sloped Banks with Native Grasses
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Steep Gully Banks AFTER Sloping 2013
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Riparian rehabilitation means protection from concentrated livestock use during the growing
season.
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Fire History - Tree Ring Data
Western Forests and Rangelands Burned About Every Ten Years
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The only thing that has done
more damage to our Rocky
Mountain West than Smokey was the trapping out
of the beaver.
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Results of fire suppression
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PRESCRIBED OR CONTROLLED FIRE……Night burning with adequate black lines is safest.
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05/03/23 53
This misguided campaign contributed to the anti-fire policy and public attitude that developed
during the 20th century.
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05/03/23 54
Ladder Fuels ’80s – ’90s – caused by increasingly effective fire suppression
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From a biological desert to a productive watershed
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Low intensity fire - CVRLow intensity fire - CVR
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Burning piles with green grass and no wind
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Herbaceous Recovery after Thinning & Burning
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Cattle/deer below LH
Wildlife Habitat Enhancement
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Native wildlife prefer pre-settlement savanna
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Return to Grassland after P/J Invasion
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Mule Deer Habitat Enhancement Trophy Hunt
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The trophy hunt is now a youth hunt.
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The welfare of wildlife
depends upon suitability of habitat and overall land
health.
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Carrizo Valley Ranch Hunting Cabin
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Consumptive Recreation
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Recreation – it’s affect on The West’s Environment
ORV Explosion on Public Land Across the West is Out of Control !
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The number of 4 wheelers and side by sides has increased
exponentially. If left unregulated on public land, efforts to enhance wildlife
habitat and improve land health will be diminished.
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Vigorously promoted and unregulated !
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• Know your ecosystems and their history• Manage them holistically• Strive for properly functioning watersheds
– vegetation management• Plan your grazing and control it• Be willing to share your experience and
knowledge of maintaining a successful and sustainable cattle operation
To be a good land steward you should ---
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Four Generations in New Mexico