Discussion of conservation practices on the
EC Bar Ranch, Nutrioso, AZ
By Jim Crosswhite at the
Arizona Riparian Council Annual Meeting
April 4, 2003

1. Perspective. (website: homepage) In November 2001, I attended a National Wetlands Workshop in New Mexico. At the beginning of the program, everyone was introduced. Out of 250 people present there were only 2 private landowners and only one owned a riparian zone, which was me. Everyone else worked for a government agency or non-profit group. With at least 50% of T&E species and riparian zones on private lands, private land owners should be more involved in learning how to improve and protect water and habitat on their properties. As a private land owner, I appreciate the opportunity to explain what I am doing to restore and protect my riparian area. Since 1999, I have been developing an internet website to describe the conservation practices underway on my ranch. Now I would like to use the website on CD to help explain some of the issues that prompted me to begin these projects, the approaches I have used, and what I have learned. I will let you be the judge of one outreach project for children that is draft form. It is a coloring book that illustrates conservation practices. (website: Illustrated tour of conservation projects – page 1 beaver)

2. Background. In 1996, I purchased 300 acres of ranch land in Nutrioso, near Springerville, in the White Mountains of eastern Arizona, including 1.5 miles of Nutrioso Creek. In 2000, I purchased 100 acres with 1 mile of creek downstream.

3.  In 1997, I contacted the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) for technical assistance to improve production. A Conservation Plan was developed that has been a “road map” for all practices on the ranch.

4. Important issues. (website: Illustrated tour – page 2 beaver tail)

   1. Nutrioso Creek was placed on EPA/ADEQ 303d list in 1993 as an impaired water due to livestock activity.

   2. An environmental group was working on a lawsuit to force BMPs to reduce livestock activity.

   3. Property and water rights could be affected by both issues

5. Approaches available to deal with these issues. (website: Illustrated tour – page 3 dam)

   1. traditional approach to ignore the situation

   2. pro-active approach was my choice

      1. Attended Upper Little Colorado River Watershed Partnership (ULCR) meetings representing Nutrioso Watershed since 1998. I have learned a lot about water issues which has helped me to write grants and implement practices.

      2. Asked the AZ Dept Environmental Quality (ADEQ ) to explain what nonpoint source problems existed and how to fix them so Nutrioso Creek could be removed from the 303d list. (website: Illustrated tour – page 4 house)).

      3. In November 1999, the ADEQ began work on the Nutrioso Creek TMDL for Turbidity. It was completed in July 2000 and became one of the first TMDL reports in Arizona. Out of 27 miles of creek on the 303d list, only 7 miles had excessive turbidity levels. Three miles were on private property, including 2.5 miles of my ranch, and 4 miles were on the Apache-Sitgraves National Forest downstream. The source of pollution was identified as exposed streambanks aggravated by historical overuse from large ungulates such as livestock and elk. (website: Illustrated tour – page 5 cow)

      4. Apply for funding through grant programs to implement TMDL recommendations. Most grants include public funds and landowner match of up to 40% to the total project. (website: Illustrated tour – page 6 elk).

      5. My goal has been to integrate conservation and sustainable agricultural practices to improve ranching economics, water quality, water quantity, and wildlife habitat while meeting public policy objectives. (website: Illustrated tour – page 7 beaver).

      6. Once funding was obtained, I had to fund and implement practices before receiving reimbursement. Over 15 grants have been completed with about $800,000.00 in total project expenses invested, including over 50% as match from myself. (website: Illustrated tour – page 8 man).

      7. Cooperate with agencies in seeking funding, technical support, and outreach opportunities. They include the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), Apache Natural Resource Conservation District (ANRCD), USDA Farm Services Agency (FSA), Department of Water Resources Arizona Water Protection Fund (AWPF), Arizona State Land Department (SLD), Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), Environmental Protection Agency Region 9 (EPA), Arizona Game & Fish Department (AGFD), Apache-Sitgraves National Forest (USFS), and some non-public groups, such as The Nature Conservancy. I am working on a new project with the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) to improve wildlife habitat.

6. Current situation. (website: Illustrated tour – page 9 truck).

   1. No lawsuit has ever been filed to force BMPs, but the potential still exists because Nutrioso Creek is on the 303d list. However, a wide variety of BMPs have been implemented helping to reduce turbidity levels and improve aquatic habitat. For example, in September 2000 and 2002 the creek became dry upstream and downstream, but a vegetative study documented pools and flowing water on my property.

   2.  Water quality and habitat improvements also have economic benefits or, as I like to say, Conservation improves profits. Some example of practices on my ranch include:

   website: Illustrated tour

   page 10 riparian, cross, & elk fencing
   page 12 livestock bridge
   page 13 improved irrigation, e.g. sprinklers
   page 14 brush management
   page 15 buffer strip areas
   page 16 vegetative plantings, e.g. willows
   page 17 stream grade structures
   page 18 streambank seeding
   page 11 off-channel water wells & drinkers
   page 19 vegetative, wildlife, and water quality monitoring
   page 20 outreach, e.g. website, tours, YOCW
    

    Future situation. (website: homepage)

   1. Conservation projects increase property values. The capital improvements and production are two important components in appraising real estate. They are added to the price per acre relative to adjoining properties to reach a fair market value as the basis for sale. The same appraisal process is used to determine the price of a conservation easement.

   2. Favorable tax treatment is available for conservation practices. Expenses can be recovered as long term capital gains through an outright sale, sale of an easement, or equity financing.

7. What I have learned. (website: field trip schedule - map)

   1. New solutions are needed for long term restoration and maintenance of riparian areas. A combination of ground water pumping through new water wells and periodic droughts has caused the water table to drop in many riparian zones, such as Nutrioso Creek. As water levels fall, turbidity rises making it harder to remove the creek from the 303d list as an impaired water. Habitat is lost making it harder for wildlife to survive. As the water table declines, ranching economics suffer.

   2. One objective of the Forest Health initiatives to thin trees is to increase the amount of water flowing into streams and rivers. Logging, controlled burns, and wildfires have the effect of thinning trees. Less than 30% of riparian zones on public lands are in Proper Functioning Condition due in part to large ungulate grazing (livestock and elk). When riparian zones are in poor condition, increased flows lead to erosion, increased turbidity, flooding, and other water quality problems downstream. Therefore, forest improvements must include riparian restoration to be sustainable. (website: back to homepage)

   3.  Plant materials needed for restoration are not readily available. To satisfy the need for plant materials, private land owners should have incentives through long term contracts to grow willows and cottonwoods. If such "crops" were grown in riparian zones on private property, they could provide annual cuttings on a sustained basis, improve water quality, and wildlife habitat. If landowners sold plant materials the landowner could pay the costs of planting, fencing, and livestock management. Less public funding would be required for riparian restoration and protection.

   4. A combination of grant and incentives to private land owners would help maintain riparian zones in PFC for the long term. Generally, State and Federal grant programs do not address the long term maintenance issues. A successful program to use as a model is the National Conservation Buffer Initiative. Where is the incentive program to restore and protect the riparian areas the Buffer Initiative program is designed to support? (website: new riparian book)

   5. Landowner incentive payments would increase riparian land values making them equal or greater than adjoining upland pastures suitable for real estate development. Higher appraised values make conservation easements more attractive. When use restrictions are placed on riparian zones, they are more likely to reach PFC and transport a sustainable water supply from the upper end of a watershed to other parts where it is needed.

   6. A more comprehensive discussion relating to national riparian zone issues can be found in the new book entitled Riparian Areas: Functions & Strategies for Management by the National Research Council available through the National Academy Press. (website: homepage)

8. Thanks to the AZ Riparian Council for this opportunity to describe the project on my ranch. Questions.

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