|
|
Feature: Guidelines for Planning Riparian Restoration in the Southwest
A Guide for Planning Riparian Treatments in New Mexico was developed by a
cooperative effort between the USDA NRCS Los Lunas Plant
Materials Center (LLPMC), the USDA NRCS New Mexico Technical Services, and
the New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts. This guide provides both
planning and design assistance in treating riparian areas. The guide begins by
identifying the importance of collecting critical on-site information necessary
for the evaluation of site conditions which are based on hydrology, soils, and
vegetation. The site conditions will help to identify the treatment options for
restoration such as control of invasive woody species or planting of vegetation.
All treatments include some type of maintenance and monitoring. This guide is composed of 40 pages, identifies 40 free websites where New Mexico NRCS endorsed treatment information can be downloaded. It is “free of charge” from NRCS New Mexico Information About Plants at http://www.nm.nrcs.usda.gov/plants.html The guide has served as the foundation for Riparian Workshops which have been provided to all New Mexico NRCS Field Offices, NM SWCD employees, other federal and state agencies (i.e. BLM), non profit groups (i.e. Tamerisk Coalition), and private companies (Rocky Mountain Plants). The LLPMC employees have assisted in providing this training. This guide was presented to the international conservation community by a LLPMC Agronomist in a presentation about its composition at the Soil and Water Conservation Society 2008 Annual Conference in Tucson, Arizona. |
|