|
River Restoration >
Rio Puerco
Rio Puerco Preserve
Rio Puerco in 2004 and in 2006 after restoration work by Forest
Guardians and volunteers.
As a result of years of effort, Forest Guardians has slowly
brought this once-lush desert waterway back to life. In 2006,
bald eagles and other native wildlife returned to this area for
the first time in decades. But because the area was severely
overgrazed when we first leased this state land in 1996, much
additional work still needs to be done.
The Preserve
Known in times past as "The Breadbasket of Northern New Mexico",
the Rio Puerco today lacks native stream side vegetation
necessary to hold it's banks. More than 50% of the sediment
flowing into the Rio Grande comes from this river system. The
Rio Puerco Preserve protects over 1,200 acres of land along a
three-mile stretch of river. With the exclusion of livestock and
with Forest Guardians’ restoration efforts, the Preserve is
being reclaimed.
For specific questions about our conservation efforts,
contact Jim Matison,
River Restoration Director.
|
