Speech Nov 17, 2003 by Jim Crosswhite to Association of Wetland of Wetland Managers, Socorro, NM
Agenda www/aswm.org
Abstract
Map of Conservation Practices on the ECBar Ranch

 

Private Riparian Restoration in the
White Mountains of Arizona

Background for conservation practices on the EC Bar Ranch.

Since purchasing the EC Bar Ranch in the White Mountains of northeastern Arizona in 1996, I have applied Best Management Practices toward integrating conservation and sustainable agricultural practices to improve ranching economics, water quality and wildlife habitat on my 400 acre property, including 3 miles of riparian area. Forage production in upland pastures has increased from 300 lbs/acre to over 2,000 lbs/acre while riparian pastures have improved from "non-functional" to nearly "proper functioning condition" with over 4,000 lbs/acre in production. I have installed riparian and buffer strip fencing to allow rotational grazing of livestock through 20 pastures, elk proof fencing to eliminate the uncontrolled grazing of elk herds active in the area, and off-channel water wells to supply water to 12 drinkers used by livestock and wildlife. An inefficient earth irrigation ditch system loosing about 100 million gallons of water annually has been replaced by a sprinkler system that covers over 100 acres, including two miles of riparian area.

Water quality concerns being addressed.

In 2000, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) identified exposed streambanks aggravated through historical over-use by livestock and elk as the source of non-point pollution that exceeded turbidity standards for total maximum daily load (TMDL) on seven miles of Nutrioso Creek, including the EC Bar Ranch and Apache-Sitgraves National Forest (ASNF). I have implemented water quality improvement practices recommended in the "Nutrioso Creek TMDL for Turbidity" report to restore and maintain riparian vegetation needed to filter sediment and improve water quality to meet TMDL standards for turbidity, while matching 50% of the total project expenses. With the completion of these water quality improvement projects in 2003, Nutrioso Creek may soon be meeting water quality standards and attaining it's aquatic and wildlife designated use.

Habitat issues being addressed.

Four species of fish live in Nutrioso Creek, including the Little Colorado River spinedace (Lepidomeda vittata), which is on the Endangered Species Act list of Threatened and Endangered Species. I am implementing recommendations in the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) "Little Colorado River Spinedace Recovery Plan" dated 1998 and the Arizona Game & Fish Department (AGFD) "Nutrioso Creek Fish Management Report" dated 2001 to recover habitat and increase fish populations on the EC Bar Ranch. In addition, I am improving habitat as recommended in the FWS "Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) Final Recovery Plan" dated August 2002.

Agency partnerships representing near-term solutions.

Since 1997, I have worked with the following agencies to implement water quality, wildlife habitat, and rangeland improvement projects on the EC Bar Ranch.

  1. Natural Resource Conservation Service - US Department of Agriculture (Environmental Quality Improvement Program for brush management, cross fencing, and livestock/wildlife drinkers)
  2. Farm Service Agency - US Department of Agriculture (crop insurance, drought assistance, etc)
  3. Apache Natural Resource Conservation District (cooperator in local conservation programs)
  4. Arizona State Land Department (Stewardship Incentive Program for riparian fencing and windbreaks)
  5. Arizona Water Protection Fund - Arizona Department of Water Resources (grant program for water wells, livestock/wildlife drinkers, and monitoring)
  6. Arizona Department of Environmental Quality(ADEQ) and Environmental Protection Agency Region 9 (Water Quality Improvement Grant Program under Clean Water Act section 319h for various water quality improvement practices to meet TMDL standards for turbidity)
  7. Arizona Game & Fish Department (private landowner stewardship agreements for seed and fertilizer to assist wildlife; technical support for refugia and aquatic habitat improvements)
  8. Arizona Heritage Fund (agreement for elk exclosure fencing to protect riparian areas)
  9. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (Partners in Fish & Wildlife Program to improve habitat for fish and wildlife; technical support for refugia and aquatic habitat improvements; Safe Harbor Agreement)
  10. Apache-Sitgraves National Forest - U.S. Forest Service (technical support for water quality and habitat improvements implemented by Mr. Crosswhite on the ASNF)
  11. Western Region Sustainable Agricultural Research and Education Program (WSARE grant program to monitor riparian pastures for sustainable dormant season livestock grazing)
  12. The Nature Conservancy (monitoring for the WSARE project; technical support in developing conservation easements)
  13. Watershed groups, including the Upper Little Colorado River Watershed, Little Colorado River MOM, Nutrioso Watershed Partnership (outreach, networking, and advice)

The total value of completed projects is just over $1 million, including $520,000.00 (52%) in match from myself. Pending water quality and wildlife habitat improvement grant projects that may be completed within the next 3 years is about $500,000.00.

Non-profit company representing longer-term solutions.

Earlier this year, I formed The Riparian Preservation Foundation Inc., a charitable non-profit Arizona corporation with 501(c) status dedicated toward the long term restoration and protection of riparian areas and open spaces. The Riparian Preservation Foundation can acquire water rights in Nutrioso Creek and stop using them so instream flows would last longer. It can acquire riparian areas, then place conservation easements on them to limit future development. It can pay for the costs of groundwater when needed to supplement surface flows for the benefit of riparian vegetation and wildlife habitat.

The Riparian Preservation Foundation will expand on successful outreach approaches such as the ECBarRanch.com website, ranch field trips, and personal presentations.

In answer to the overall question of the ASWM workshop, here are my perspectives on how the effectiveness of riparian area restoration can be improved?

  1. Forest Health Initiatives. Logging, controlled burns, and wildfires will thin trees increasing the amount of water flowing into streams and rivers. Less than 30% of riparian zones on public lands in the White Mountains of Arizona are in "proper functioning condition" due in part to large ungulate grazing, such as 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.
  2. Plant materials needed for restoration are not readily available. To satisfy the need for plant materials, such as willows, private land owners should have incentives through long term contracts to grow willows and harvest annual cuttings. If such "crops" were grown in riparian zones on private property, they could provide willow whips on a sustained basis. After planting, they would improve water quality, wildlife habitat, and help raise the water table leading to increased forage production with less irrigation. Income from the sale of plant materials would pay the costs of planting, fencing, and livestock management. Less public funding would be required for riparian restoration and protection.
  3. Grant and incentive programs would improve private land owner assistance to install and then maintain riparian zones in PFC for the long term. Right now, grant programs do not address long term maintenance issues. A successful program to use as a model is the National Conservation Buffer Initiative. Unfortunately, there is no incentive program to preserve the riparian areas the Buffer Initiative program is designed to support.
  4. Conservation easements would be more attractive when landowner incentive payments are available to increase riparian land values making them equal or greater than adjoining upland pastures suitable for real estate development. 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.
  5. A case study illustrating how the effectiveness of riparian area restoration can be improved is the seven miles with a turbidity problem on Nutrioso Creek. The first 3 miles on the EC Bar Ranch that was rated in "nonfunctional condition" in 1996 is nearly in "proper functioning condition" due to restoration practices implemented in recent years. The 4 miles downstream from the EC Bar Ranch on ASNF is rated as "functional at risk in a downward trend" due mostly to very limited woody vegetation, invasion of non-native species such as Russian Olives and Muskthistles, lack of instream flows due to drought conditions, and uncontrolled elk activity. A partnership has been recently created between the ADEQ, ASNF, FWS, AGFD, and myself to address these four issues.
    1. Using a sustainable supply of coyote willow cuttings from the EC Bar Ranch, I will plant up to 50,000 willow whips in the next two years on the ASNF to improve water quality and habitat. First, planting locations are selected along exposed F and G channel streambanks. Next, a hole is made with an electric hammer drill and 3 foot x 1 inch auger. Then a willow whip is inserted deep into the water table. Even if the stream channel dries up later, willows planted using this technique have a high rate of establishment.
    2. Invasive species will be treated on the ASNF by methods proven successful on the EC Bar Ranch without the use of herbicides.
    3. Instream flows will be increased when necessary during drought conditions along the first two miles of riparian area on the EC Bar Ranch using groundwater through an existing sprinkler irrigation system. Water delivered by large sprinkler units placed near the stream channel duplicates 1/2 inch of natural precipitation to help riparian vegetation grow on streambanks and in the channel. It quickly reaches the water table and flows downstream to the ASNF helping fish populations survive.
    4. A large water storage tank on the EC Bar Ranch provides a secure refugia for LC spinedace to reproduce before being released into the Creek each year. Surface water and groundwater are used to raise fish and supply the sprinkler irrigation system.
    5. Another benefit of the sprinkler system located along the creek is help protect the riparian area from wildfire if necessary.
    6. Elk proof fencing has been installed around almost 3 miles of riparian area on the EC Bar Ranch and about 1 mile on ASNF. If elk activities damage newly planted willows, the partners can use their combined resources to install elk proof fencing.
    7. Success in restoring Nutrioso Creek is being monitored by vegetative transects, photo points, GPS mapping, expert observations, and special water quality methods employed by ADEQ.
    8. Progress is presented on the ECBarRanch.com website, group field trips, and publications.

Conclusions.

These and other efforts will lead to innovative and sustainable methods of land stewardship, contribute significantly to public education about sustainable use of natural resources, promote and implement the collaborative process to create partnerships between public agencies and private landowners. Through interaction with public agencies, I have tried to introduce innovative ideas in ranch management and build bridges between ranchers, environmentalists, public land managers, scientists, and others with the goal of restoring western riparian areas collaboratively.

Thanks to the Association of Wetland Managers for this opportunity to describe the water quality, habitat, and ranching improvement projects on my ranch.

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