Slowing Water & Saving Water in the Borderlands Development and - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Slowing Water & Saving Water in the Borderlands Development and Testing of Rock Structures on Rangeland Richard Winkler

The Malpai Borderlands Group • “ Our goal is to restore and maintain the natural processes that create and protect a healthy, unfragmented landscape to support a diverse, flourishing community of human, plant and animal life in our Borderlands region. Together, we will accomplish this by working to encourage profitable ranching and other traditional livelihood which will sustain the open space nature of our land for generations to come. ”

Where we live and work 1 million acres • 59% Private • 23% NM/AZ State • 11% National Forest • 7% BLM

Watershed

C.C.C. Rock Structures 1930’s Gradual Slope Flat Rock Design

Goals and Designing Rock Structures • Slow water and increase infiltration rates of ephemeral streams • Slow rates of erosion along streambeds and catch sediment • Create areas for perennial grasses to begin growing • Slow water in areas after a fire • Identify areas where structures are most effective • Monitor sites to measure effectiveness

Rock Structure Work

Assessing Possible Locations for Rock Structures

Managing Erosional Effects of Fire

Peterson Ranch, Hay Hollow 3 26 04 3 25 05 Rock rundowns and wicker weirs with a cobble splash apron controlled the headcut and triggered the vegetation. The splash apron was partially scoured away.

McDonald Ranch, Thomas Tank 3 26 04 3 25 05 A cobble channel liner stopped a head cut from drying out this swale of grass.

Glenn Ranch, Red Windmill Draw 3 27 04 3 25 05 Flow direction The first “Media Luna.”

Lessons Learned *Rock Structures can be a management tool to enhance rangeland *Rock Structures can be used in conjunction with fire *Infiltration rates are increased and erosion rates are decreased as a result of properly constructed structures *The use of available materials is important when considering design features and locations *Labor costs are the largest and obstacle when building structures

Thank You www.malpaiborderlandsgroup.org