New Mexico Non-Native Phreatophyte/Watershed Management Plan Development of plan led by New Mexico Department of Agriculture in

collaboration with New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources, New Mexico Environment Department, New Mexico Indian Affairs Department, Office of the State Engineer, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, with input from the public and diverse stakeholders.

Plan submitted to Governor Richardson in September 2005

The plan provides a consensus document, publically vetted to guide development of future program elements.

Plan contains guiding principles including:

Ecological – consideration of scale (landscape and statewide in nature); ecological capacity; adaptive management

Social-Cultural – collaboration; respect for diverse social and cultural values; a commitment to education and communication

Economic – natural resource use and capacity; role of the private sector; local economies

Plan Recommendations:

New Mexico Department of Agriculture manages the program at the state level

Local Soil and Water Conservation Districts or other qualified entities manage individual local projects

Broad based technical oversight panel provides independent scientific review of projects:1. provide input to processes for watershed planning, monitoring, performance evaluation, and identification of critical research needs.

2. review inventory of non-native infestations on watershed scale and determine geographic information system to provide a statewide landscape scale resource review.

3. review best management practices for control/rehabilitation.

4. review projects for achievement of performance objectives and milestones.

5. evaluate and update plan templates and protocols as necessary to achieve objectives.

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Current StatusMajor Workgroup Tasks Compilation of information on existing phreatophyte removal projects;

Compilation of available GIS and remote sensing data on phreatophytic vegetation classification for 4 sub-basins;

Exploration of available hydrologic data to explore outcomes of removal projects;

Compilation of relevant hydrologic data, including surface water flows, depth to groundwater, and measured evapotranspiration (ET) of different groups of riparian vegetation;

Compilation of relevant metadata, including terms and attributes used in this work; and

Providing access to data and metadata through Web portal

Serving Geo-spatial Data Project Web portal was developed at NMSU Spatial

Applications Research Center (http://www.nmsu.edu/%7Egeoweb/sparc/swcctap.htm)

Goal was to provide access to maps and “raw” data for each sub-regionPortal provided pre-created maps of spatial data for

each sub-regionESRI’s geodatabase file structure was employed as

“container” for geo-spatial data for each sub-region

Ongoing EffortsTo date, we have compiled data on land use/land

cover, imagery, and treatment/infestation extent for the 4 sub-regions.

We are finishing up work to compile data in several areas: Data from the NM OSE/ISC on groundwater & land

use,ET tower data from numerous researchers, andHydro modeling and ET tower data from the

Arizona Hydrological Institute and SAHRA.

Lessons learned of Current Status Work

Current status work revealed much variability of data in the 4 areas studied:Data layers available varied from region to region.Quality of data also varied, with considerable

problems with corrupted datasets in some regions.SWCD staff involved in eradication efforts have not

focused on geo-spatial data capture. Future eradication efforts should also include funds

and support needed to capture higher quality spatial data.

Kirk Mcdaniel

Timing of the this TAP Project last fall tied in nicely with another activity we were involved in and that was the building of a website providing saltcedar information.The saltcedar website is housed on the Weed.NMSU.edu site

Kirk Mcdaniel

The first report was an effort to compile GIS and remote sensing info that might be useful for evaluating outcomes from the NM NnPP

Kirk Mcdaniel

Using Arcview numerous maps and photos were compiled that allow comparison to be made with shape files that developed by NS Helicopter when they were aerial spraying.This is the first time this data has been housed in one place and analyzed.For example, we now know that along the 519 mile length of the Pecos in NM, that about 50% (262 miles) of the saltcedar on the river edge has been treated. And treatments have been made on 105 miles of tributaries

Kirk Mcdaniel

Once we had maps that showed us when and where SC was treated in either 2002.2003,2004 or 2006 we initiated our second TAP project objective..

Follow-up Practices: Significant Findings

Natural regeneration is highly desirable

Time horizon is an important consideration – patience

Mechanical (excavator) control should be considered as a secondary procedure

Follow-up Practices: Significant Findings

Natural regeneration is highly desirable

Time horizon is an important consideration – patience

Mechanical (excavator) control should be considered as a secondary procedure

Follow-up Practices: Significant Findings

Natural regeneration is highly desirable

Time horizon is an important consideration – patience

Mechanical (excavator) control should be considered as a secondary procedure

Kirk Mcdaniel

and that was to evaluate aerial spraying and restoration under the NM NnPP.

Time frame for preparation of plan – completed fall 2005

Purpose of plan – guide non-native phreatophyte/watershed management and restoration

Guiding principles – included in planGeographic coverage - statewidePrimary partners in planning and implementation

include local, state, tribal, federal, private, and NGOs. Funding sources and constraints (no state

appropriation for overall program in FY08; $500,000 in FY07)

Conservation and management of water and watersheds

Plan updates - dependent upon funding availability and called for in the plan

You can find the New Mexico Non-Native Phreatophyte/Watershed Plan on the New Mexico Department of Agriculture Web Site at:

http://www.nmda.nmsu.edu/animal-and-plant-protection/tamarisk-salt-cedar