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Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge (FWS)
February 9, 2019 @ 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Contact Leader(s): Larry Benson, L.Benson@nmvfo.org with any questions.
RESULTS: The originally scheduled project for Saturday February 16 was cancelled during the partial shutdown of the federal government from December 22 –January 25. When a Congressional Continuing Resolution provided 3 weeks of temporary funding, the Sevilleta staff returned to work on January 28. They and the NMVFO decided to reschedule the project for Saturday February 9 (because this temporary funding would expire on Friday February 15). In less than 2 weeks they graded the restoration area, drilled about 2,000 holes, and prepared at least 1,000 cuttings of Goodings Willows and Cottonwood trees .
Despite the short notice, 16 NMVFO volunteers were able to make it on the rescheduled date. Joining a 6-member Americorps team, the VFO volunteers finished pole planting more than 700 trees under the direction of Wildlife Biologist Jon Erz.
Sevilla Update:
When the Sevilleta staff finally got back after the partial federal shutdown was lifted, they agreed to focus much of their work on preparing for our previously scheduled project. Because temporary funding under current Continuing Resolution expires on the 15th, the date of the project has to be moved up by a week–from Saturday the 16th to the 9th.
Difficulty: [1 Pulaski]
Contact: Lawrence (Larry) Benson, LawRBenson@aol.com, 505-821-7999
The Sevilleta NWR (https://www.fws.gov/refuge/sevilleta/) protects a large area north of Socorro containing a great variety of terrain and vegetation. Photos of last year’s project are available at https://www.flickr.com/photos/78338108@N07/albums/72157663893356497.
Volunteers for this year’s project are once again invited to help restore some riparian habitat along the Rio Grande in a restoration area that has been cleared of invasive Tamarisk trees. We will be pole-planting willows and/or cottonwoods to create an environment favorable to a variety of native wildlife, especially the endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher. Refuge staff will have already drilled holes down to the water table with an auger and prepared the cuttings, so our main job will be inserting these small saplings and back-filling the holes (to include breaking up clods of drying soil). As this task needs to be done in late winter (before the growing season), please dress accordingly if the weather is chilly or precipitation is in the forecast. The place where we’ll be working may be muddy, so wearing sturdy water-resistant boots is advised. Also bring work gloves and a day pack with lunch, drinks, and snacks. Extra water will be available at the work site. The work may be completed by early to mid-afternoon depending on attendance.
Volunteers will need to convene at Sevilleta’s Visitor Center by 8:30 AM for transportation to the work site. It is located 60 miles south of Albuquerque’s “Big-I” on Interstate 25. (https://goo.gl/maps/fKVrKMb3X962) Take Exit 169 and make a sharp right turn at the first intersection. The Visitor Center is about 1/4 of a mile up this road to the west. The project leader plans to arrive early to greet arrivals with some coffee and snacks, but will try to coordinate carpooling for others who may be interested. (One possible meeting place on the way south would be the parking lot at the Bernalillo County RailRunner Station located on Camino Del Tren, which branches north off Rio Bravo Blvd. about a mile west of I-25 at Exit 220.) Please contact Larry for more information