Laserfiche WebLink
<br />w <br />o <br />t,) <br />00 <br /> <br />The Glenwood Springs Resource Area continues work on the Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) plan to <br />reduce the movement of saline sediments from the Mancos shale derived soils, The emphasis this <br />yearhas been on enforcement of posted' regulations, and giving citations when necessary. . <br /> <br />A Watershed Activity Plan was implemented for White Face Butte, in the.White River drainage last <br />year. More than 40 structural projects were constructed (including pits, reservoirs, ponds, check <br />dams, and fences) on Douglas Creek, Deer Creek, and Milk Creek. A shift in grazing practices and <br />gully plug construction is creating salt savings. Some rangeland pit earthwork was completed in <br />FY-96, and field checks of White Face Butte water control facilities twice this summer confinned <br />that structural measures and improvements are working as designed. <br /> <br />In the Dry Creek Complex area of the Green River Basin, the BLM constructed. five sediment <br />retention structures on the west fork of Dry Creek, which will provide runoff and sediment control <br />for 1250 acres of deeply-gullied marine-shale badlands. Two older ponds were also cleaned out in <br />this Moffat County area. The Land Resources Activity paid $4,300 for this work by the Little <br />Snake field office. <br /> <br />New Mexico <br /> <br />This past year has seen northwest New Mexico experience one of the worst droughts in recent <br />years. Excellent cooperation of many ranchers has been evident in removing or reducing the <br />number of livestock grazing on public lands. A long-tenn program of sagebrush treatment (with <br />Tebuthiuron) was postponed this year in the Farmington District, because of drought.' Therewas <br />not suffiCient moisture for chemical pellets to dissolve into the soil Imd be taken up by plant roots. <br />Since many ranchers have been forced to haul stock water, and with reductions in livestQck, <br />financial strains have reduced the amount of private funds available for cost sharing on the <br />Tebuthiuron treatments. <br /> <br />Drought relief funds (Land Resources Activity) were used to purchase two large steel water tanks. <br />Two grazing allottees, the Meridian Oil Company, and the BLM cooperated on tankdelivery, <br />sitirig, and plumbing. Meridianagree<i to deliver fresh water from its Riddle G Number 4 well <br />directly to one tank, and in doing so, has put a stop to a 24 year old saline seep (1.5 ton/year) <br />originating at the old earthen pit which historically confined the produced water. The allottee is <br />responsible for delivery of water to livestock, as well as repairs and maintenance. <br /> <br />On July 14, 1995, the State Director amended the Farmington Resource Management Plan, <br />limiting vehicle travel within the San Juan Management Area to designated roads and trails within <br />areas having important resOUrce values for Wildlife, T & E species, soils .and watershed condition. <br />Thirteen different OHV management'units are contained within the San Juan Management Area. <br />June 1996 saw the first approval of an off-highway vehicle plan for any of these units, the 66,000 <br />acre Rosa Unit. Operation of any motorized vehicle in the Rosa Unit is limited to established, <br />regularly maintained roads which are designated open for public use. As a result, many roads will <br />be gated and locked while others (seven miles) will be obliterated, stabilized, and revegetated. <br /> <br />15 <br /> <br /> <br />Riparian management and restoration consisted of the planting of 800 cottonwood and willow trees <br />(poles) along two ephemeral drainages in the Farmington District. Approximately 500 of the <br />plantings were in the Gonzales Mesa Allotment along Largo Canyon Wash, with the balance <br />planted along Cereza Wash. Upon planting these areas are temporarily fenced (generally not <br />