Poverty Creek Demonstration Site

Wahoo Watershed Workgroup

Sierra SWCD - Your local leaders in natural resources.

VISION STATEMENT:

An Ecosystem that functions as “natural” as possible with regards to forest health, rangeland restoration, species diversity, water quality and quantity, economic vitality, recreation and utilization, while respecting the customs and cultures of the local community and operating under current political and procedural limitations.

The Wahoo Watershed Workgroup is an informal organization established to identify, plan and implement watershed restoration plans. Members of the group include environmental groups, Hot Springs High School Biology Club, Gila National Forest Permittee's Association, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, County of Sierra, numerous volunteer fire departments, Natural Resources Conservation Service and others, with a total mailing list of over 60 groups and individuals. The Sierra Soil and water Conservation District serves as the lead entity on this watershed workgroup. Initially, this group was comprised of members of the Sierra County National Fire Plan who wanted to begin looking a watershed restoration efforts that could assist in reducing the threat of catastrophic wildfires.

Reduction of the risk of catastrophic wildfire, improved water quality, increased herbaceous cover and improved wildlife habitat were designated as key areas of emphasis for the group. Initial efforts of the WWW were to identify areas to be incorporated into watershed planning. Currently the area basically incorporates the Lower Rio Grande from the N. portion of Socorro County, southward to Caballo Dam, eastward to the White Sands Missile Range and the west border includes Wall Lake up to the Luera Mountains.

The WWW meets monthly on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 1:30 p.m.. in the Chandler Elkins Room, Sierra Conservation Plaza, 2101 S Broadway in Truth or Consequences NM. I If you would like to become involved or need additional information, please contact Tammy Grainger, Project Coordinator, at (505) 740-0409 or by e-mail at tgrainger@valornet.com

PROJECTS

WWW has received a Collaborative Forest Restoration Program grant funded through the US Forest Service. The grant, in the amount of $358,554, is for a research and demonstration site on 200 acres of the Black Range District, Gila National Forest. The goal of the grant is to implement various treatment methods that show varying degrees of improvement to the vegetative cover.  The project Coordinator is Tammy Grainger, who will assist the WWW group in the implementation of the project. A contract has been established with Northern Arizona University, Ecological Resource Institute  (ERI) who will assist in the development of the treatment plan, the monitoring plan and sustainable forest restoration. The group selected for their first treatment site an area along the Continental Divide on NM State Highway 59. Eighty acres have been treated with 40 acres based on a full forest restoration plan and 40 acres based on moderate forest restoration. This 80 acre plot was completed in June of 2005 and the next site has been selected in a riparian area affected by an influx of woody species. Pre-treatment and Post-treatment monitoring is being conducted on all sites. For further information, please read the attached treatment plan:

ERI treatment-prescription recommendations