Sky Island Alliance and partners are in the final phases of restoration planning and implementation for the ciénega and creek that occupy the upper Cloverdale Valley. Due to large-scale man-made diversions and levees this project has proved complex but we are confident our current restoration design will achieve the outcomes and goals of the grant proposal and work plan. To continue the work to restore Cloverdale Creek and the two ciénegas associated with it we must look at the whole system. The lower creek corridor and its associated ciénega are the next steps in protecting and restoring this unique New Mexican riparian system. The lower creek has been impacted by the channelization of the upper creek and the installation of the levees. This has resulted in less water from flood events being stored in the ciénegas and creek system. The larger flood flows through the creek, combined with past heavy livestock grazing, has resulted in a moderately incised channel that starts at approximately 10 feet deep and ends with a 1-2 foot incision at the bottom of the study area. This incision has disconnected the creek from its floodplain and the adjacent lower ciénega, drying approximately half of the 120 acres of wetland. Because of improved grazing management this corridor now hosts a young cottonwood-willow community. With flood flows regulated by the restoration in the upper watershed and grade control structures installed in this lower reach the incised creek will slowly aggrade and provide more habitat for rare animal and plant communities and will reconnect lower Cloverdale Creek’s floodplain and subsurface water with the drying ciénega. The tributaries on valley right and left in the study area are also incised and the resulting gullies have the remnants of old gabions that probably date to the 1930’s and 1940’s. These structures have mostly been blown out, and gullying continues to incise the tributaries, sending flood waters and sediment down to the creek. With repair work and new structures, such as one rock dams, these gullies should slowly aggrade and retain more water subsurface in the uplands. The water will then slowly release into the creek improving perenniality of the creek. The lower ciénega has been impacted by the downcutting of Cloverdale Creek and its tributaries, which has disconnected the wetland from underground flow associated with Cloverdale Creek and its floodplain. A large levee at the upstream start of the wetland may also be interrupting water flows into the wetland system. We will determine relative inputs of water into the wetland system from surrounding tributaries and assess the impacts of this levee and downcut Cloverdale Creek on the functioning of the ciénega. Cloverdale Spring has been known since the 1800’s as the most productive and perennial spring in the boot heel of New Mexico. The spring has a 500 foot spring run that feeds two impoundments used by the landowner for recreation and livestock watering. The spring run and upper impoundment are shallow and support a degraded wetland plant community due to impacts from feral pigs. We plan to reshape the upper shallow impoundment and spring run to promote wetland vegetation and fence the area to protect the vegetation, animals and soils from disturbance. Reconstruct stream meander or side channel 2008 2010 In Progress Create/improve spawning/nesting habitat 2008 2010 In Progress Plant native riparian vegetation 2010 2010 In Progress Stabilize streambank 2010 2010 In Progress Improve the function of an existing wetland 2010 2010 In Progress Restore or re-establish wetland hydrology 2010 2010 In Progress Freshwater wetlands Creek restoration Cienega restoration Chiricahua leopard frog Sky Islands Desert grasslands Oak Savanna Riparian restoration NFWF Diamond A Ranch West Landowner Stream Dynamics Restoration Practioner Drylands Solutions Restoration Practioner US Forest Service Permitting and project support New Mexico Environment Department Project funder and permitting New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Project support US Fish and Wildlife Service Permitting and project support Zeedyk Ecological Consulting Restoration expert National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Original funder through Bring Back the Natives that supported planning and grant development. Cloverdale Restoration Phase 1 Improve the function of an existing wetland 2010 2010 In Progress Restore or re-establish wetland hydrology 2010 2010 In Progress Reconstruct stream meander or side channel 2008 2010 In Progress Create/improve spawning/nesting habitat 2008 2010 In Progress Plant native riparian vegetation 2010 2010 In Progress 31.4649823609505 -108.998365402222 31.4403805405937 -108.954591751099 31.4201670697016 -108.969526290894 31.4312996652869 -108.972272872925 31.4323249694575 -108.976736068726 31.4314461379977 -108.98325920105 31.4346684797388 -108.985147476196 31.4364260740017 -108.978967666626 31.4422844835183 -108.980684280396 31.4479960801925 -108.987550735474 31.4510714111117 -108.992185592651 31.4523893791724 -108.991670608521 31.4520964989837 -108.988065719604 31.4537073286897 -108.987379074097 31.4563431720923 -108.993730545044 31.4649823609505 -108.998365402222 Cloverdale Phase 2 Stabilize streambank 2010 2010 In Progress Improve the function of an existing wetland 2010 2010 In Progress Restore or re-establish wetland hydrology 2010 2010 In Progress Reconstruct stream meander or side channel 2008 2010 In Progress Create/improve spawning/nesting habitat 2008 2010 In Progress Plant native riparian vegetation 2010 2010 In Progress true 31.4271983364726 -108.956265449524 31.4304940612863 -108.951029777527 31.4282969242824 -108.948969841003 31.4271250968276 -108.942532539368 31.4165779907473 -108.935923576355 31.4098389409273 -108.944420814514 31.4112307408788 -108.950171470642 31.4132817768601 -108.953433036804 31.4154060168566 -108.95592212677 31.4169442295854 -108.957209587097 31.4225108838678 -108.962788581848 31.4271983364726 -108.956265449524 Stream Dynamics 2007 Planning assistance 10000.0 Volunteers 2007 Over 10 work weekends 60000.0 Federal Government NFWF 5-Star Grant 30000.0 Fully Funded 2009 Federal Government NFWF 5-Star Grant 30000.0 Fully Funded 2009 State Government New Mexico Environment Department River Ecosystem Restoration Initiative Grant 200000.0 Pending 2010 State Government New Mexico Environment Department River Ecosystem Restoration Initiative Grant 220000.0 Fully Funded 2008 Federal Government NFWF Back the Natives Grant 15000.0 Fully Funded 2006 Non-Governmental Organization Sky Island Alliance Conservation Mission The landowner of this area is dedicated to conservation through the Animas Foundation. Funding Yes! Volunteers We are always looking for volunteers in this area and others we work in. Duties will include floral and faunal inventories, restoration work, and monitoring. Species Recovery Plan Chiricahua leopard frog Recovery Plan Federal Land Management Plan Coronado National Forest Plan Habitat Conservation Plan Malpai Borderlands Habitat Conservation Plan false false false