Riparian Consulting Services

Background on the EC Bar Ranch.

In 1996, Jim Crosswhite purchased the EC Bar Ranch, consisting of 265 acres including 1.5 miles of Nutrioso Creek, located in the White Mountains of eastern Arizona about 15 miles south of Springerville on highway 180/191. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) estimated forage production at 300 lbs./acre due to infestations by Rabbitbrush, over grazing by livestock, and poor management practices. To survive, livestock were forced into the Nutrioso Creek riparian corridor, which was rated in "non-functional" condition under the BLM Proper Functioning Condition Rating System. An outdated earth ditch irrigation system wasted up to 100 million gallons of water each year due to seepage and evaporation. Over the next few years, an additional 150 acres was acquired, all with downstream sections of Nutrioso Creek in a similar degraded "non-functional" condition. For additional information see the www.ECBarRanch.com website, including the MAP tab.

State and Federal agency reports affecting the EC Bar Ranch.

  1. In 1997, the NRCS created a comprehensive Conservation Plan with a wide range of Best Management Practices (BMPs), including on-the-ground practices such as riparian fencing, cross fencing, off-channel water wells, livestock drinkers, riparian and upland pasture revegetation, and improved irrigation efficiencies. Livestock, irrigation water, nutrient, pest management, and wildlife habitat management practices were also recommended.
  2. In 1998, the US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) completed the Little Colorado River Spinedace Recovery Plan with recommended BMPs for improvements in Nutrioso Creek and other habitat locations for this species, which is listed as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act.
  3. In 2000, the AZ Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) issued the Nutrioso Creek TMDL for Turbidity Report with BMPs to improve water quality to meet TMDL standards on seven miles of the creek located on the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest, EC Bar Ranch, and other private land holdings. Turbidity is a non-point pollution source in the form of suspended solids created by eroding streambanks aggravated by historical overuse by large ungulates, such as livestock and elk.
  4. In 2001, the AZ Game & Fish Department (AGFD) performed a survey of native fish populations, including the LC Spinedace, and recommended BMPs to improve habitat conditions in the Nutrioso Creek Fish Management Plan.
  5. For additional information about agencies and reports, see link http://ecbarranch.com/smap.htm.

Conservation Practices implemented on the EC Bar Ranch

  1. See Conservation Practices by Category at website link http://ecbarranch.com/ypeople/start.htm.
  2. For a listing of conservation projects, agencies, and objectives see link http://ecbarranch.com/miscellaneous/property/ECBcons62605.htm.

Agency reports and management plans applying to the EC Bar Ranch.

See link http://ecbarranch.com/miscellaneous/property/ECBmangtPlans62605.htm.

Publicity and Outreach.

  1. To read a variety of articles written over the years about conservation projects on the EC Bar Ranch, see link http://ecbarranch.com/articles/articles.htm.
  2. For a broad perspective on steps to improve property, agencies with grant programs, and interrelationships between public policy objectives, agencies, and private landowners see the speech and slides presented in April 2005 at the Ecosystem Restoration Conference located on the www.ecbarranch.com website at link http://ecbarranch.com/articles/speeches/WandE.htm.
  3. For information about a film describing conservation projects on the EC Bar Ranch see http://ecbarranch.com/Pictures/hero.htm.

Results after 9-years of conservation practice implementation.

  1. Installation of about 50,000 feet of livestock and elk fencing has allowed rotational grazing under a Livestock Management Plan recommended by the NRCS.
  2. Installation of conveyance pipes and off-channel water wells to support a sprinkler irrigation system have eliminated earth ditches and loss of water. Irrigation Water and Nutrient Management Plans recommended by the NRCS have been adopted. Forage production in irrigated pastures has increased from 300 lbs./acre in 1996 to 4,000 lbs./acre in 2005.
  3. Riparian vegetation and eroding streambanks have been restored to meet water quality and habitat improvement recommendations by state and federal agencies. Wetland and Upland Wildlife Management Plans have been adopted.
  4. In 2003, Mr. Crosswhite completed the first Safe Harbor Agreement between a private landowner and FWS in Arizona. This voluntary agreement provides protections while encouraging threatened and endangered species habitat improvements. See link http://www.fws.gov/arizonaes/Safe_Harbor.htm.
  5. The majority of the 3-mile riparian area on the Ranch rated as "non-functional" in 1996 was recently rated in Proper Functioning Condition. For details see the PFC Survey (10-05) at the Monitoring Report link http://ecbarranch.com/monitoring/PFC/pfc.htm.
  6. Native fish populations, including the LC Spinedace, have declined over the last few years in Nutrioso Creek due to drought. The largest population now lives on the EC Bar Ranch where BMPs have been implemented. See Fish Survey (5-05) at link  http://ecbarranch.com/agfd/AGFDNutriosoCreekFish5-16-05/Fish5-16-05.htm.
  7. In 2005, Mr. Crosswhite completed the implementation of all water quality improvement practices in the ADEQ TMDL Report, see Exhibit A for a list of Water Quality Improvement Practices. In addition, he completed all wildlife habitat improvement recommendations in the AGFD Fish Management Report, see Exhibit B. This action distinguishes the EC Bar Ranch as having the first and only riparian area in the State of Arizona "restored" to standards described in reports by state and federal agencies.
  8. While the Ranch grew in size to over 400 acres with 3-miles of Creek, conservation projects totaling about $2 million were completed, with about 50% funded by state and federal grant programs and 50% by Mr. Crosswhite. Success of these projects is demonstrated by improvements in:
    1. Water quality standards meeting TMDL criteria.
    2. Wildlife habitat resulting in relatively high fish survival rates and other riparian dependent wildlife benefits.
    3. Functional condition of Nutrioso Creek equating to increased bank storage, more permanent water, and greater forage production for dormant season use.
    4. Soil quality and forage production in upland pastures resulting in a more economically viable ranching operation.
    5. Eligibility for conservation practice maintenance expense payments in future years.
    6. Potential protection for the riparian practices through a Conservation Easement Agreement.
    7. Appraised value based on publicly funded capital, structural, and income production projects.

Riparian Consulting Services

While there are competent and skilled attorneys, accountants, vegetative consultants, and riparian area experts, Mr. Crosswhite is one of the few private landowners in Arizona to successfully demonstrate how the integration of conservation and sustainable agricultural practices can improve ranching economics, water quality and wildlife habitat while meeting public policy objectives. If you want to improve a riparian area, Mr. Crosswhite may provide consulting services to address the broad range of options that may be available. If you would like further information, contact Jim Crosswhite by email at jim@ecbarranch.com.