Riparian Treatment Monitoring
Ed Sargent Wildlife Area
- The Forest Stewards Guild is leading monitoring efforts on an elk exclosure installed by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish on state land. (Also working with Chama Peak Land Alliance on the monitoring effort)
- Increased grazing pressure by the elk has decreased riparian vegetation leading to higher rates of erosion and increased water temperature.
- This area is a historical Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout habitat.
- Four HOBO stream temperature loggers were installed both inside and outside of the exclosure to monitor potential treatment effects on stream temperature.
- Two game cameras were installed to pilot a USGS remote water level monitoring program.
