holistic management of grass, cattle and wildlife on carrizo valley ranch

A Half Century of Rangeland Management in A Half Century of Rangeland Management in the Piñon, Juniper, Ponderosa and Grassland the Piñon, Juniper, Ponderosa and Grassland

Ecosystems of the SouthwestEcosystems of the Southwest

Sid Goodloe SWGLA Conference February 18, 2016

Forest and Rangeland History, Current Condition, Rehabilitation and Conservation Practices on Carrizo Valley Ranch in South Central New Mexico

Carrizo Valley Ranch Lincoln County, New Mexico

Established 1956

Altitude - 6,500-7,500 feetPrecipitation - 16-18 inches 60% Rain, 40% Snow

Topography - Gently rolling hills to steep mountainsidesGrowing Season – Mid May to Late September

Overall Objective __ Land Health Renewal

Specific Goal __ Pre-Settlement or Climax Condition

Starting Point __ Local History

The first settlers in the Southwest didn’t realize the fragility of our landscape.

They came from a non-brittle environment

( high rainfall, high humidity) to a brittle environment (low rainfall, low humidity, high winds).

Causes of Western Forest and Rangeland Deterioration

Settlements from high precipitation to low precipitation

Excessive livestock numbers

Yearlong grazing

Land claiming procedures

Priorities

Fire Suppression – Euro-forestry Management

Smokey Bear syndrome

Subdivisions

Nogal Mesa –Circa 1900 Nogal Mesa - Today

Declining Livestock Carrying Declining Livestock Carrying Capacity Caused by Vegetative Capacity Caused by Vegetative

ChangeChange

1900

1999

Transition-Indian Divide Switchback

P/J Roots Affect Herbaceous Growth 40 Feet From Trunk

9

Network of roots 40 feet from tree trunk

P/J Roots Deprive Grass Of Nutrients And Moisture Resulting In Sheet Erosion

Sheet Erosion turns to Gulley Erosion

Correcting the

Problem

P/J Thicket – Post Settlement

Thinning – Fire Wood

Fence Posts

16

Dozer Push and Pile

Seeding disturbed

areas

Move as close to climax condition as possible if

compatible with human use.

Aldo Leopold

Back to Native Grasses

Piles pushed against live trees and burned one year later.

Two Years Later

Five Years Later

Thinning the Ponderosa Forest

Vigas

Pine tops are excellent winter feed for Deer

Mastication – Hydro Ax

Ponderosa Thicket after Mastication

After thinning, herbaceous ground cover has returned.

Herbicide to Halt

Reinfestation

One-Seed Juniper Treated with Herbicide

One Velpar Pellet will kill this one-seed juniper.

Two years after herbicide treatmentTwo years after herbicide treatment

Grazing

35

Cattle aid in watershed rehabilitation

Grazing Innovations

Allan Savory

in Rhodesia 1968

Short Duration Grazing ?

SDG Founders Reunion – Zimbabwe 2013

SDG was introduced on Carrizo Valley Ranch in 1971

August 15, 2010

August 15, 2011

What a difference a year makes.

Riparian Rehabilitation

Riparian Areas cannot be successfully rehabilitated and maintained without first solving the problems in the Watershed above.

05/03/23 41

“To Protect Your Rivers Protect Your Mountains”

Emperor Yu Chin – 1600 B.C.

Fencing riparian areas is essential when upland forage is scarce.

Steep Gully Banks

Seeding Sloped Banks with Native Grasses

Steep Gully Banks AFTER Sloping 2013

Summer 2015

Riparian rehabilitation means protection from concentrated livestock use during the growing

season.

Fire

Fire History - Tree Ring Data

Western Forests and Rangelands Burned About Every Ten Years

The only thing that has done

more damage to our Rocky

Mountain West than Smokey was the trapping out

of the beaver.

Results of fire suppression

PRESCRIBED OR CONTROLLED FIRE……Night burning with adequate black lines is safest.

05/03/23 53

This misguided campaign contributed to the anti-fire policy and public attitude that developed

during the 20th century.

05/03/23 54

Ladder Fuels ’80s – ’90s – caused by increasingly effective fire suppression

55

From a biological desert to a productive watershed

Low intensity fire - CVRLow intensity fire - CVR

Burning piles with green grass and no wind

Herbaceous Recovery after Thinning & Burning

Wildlife

Cattle/deer below LH

Wildlife Habitat Enhancement

Native wildlife prefer pre-settlement savanna

Return to Grassland after P/J Invasion

bear

Mule Deer Habitat Enhancement Trophy Hunt

65

The trophy hunt is now a youth hunt.

The welfare of wildlife

depends upon suitability of habitat and overall land

health.

Carrizo Valley Ranch Hunting Cabin

Consumptive Recreation

Recreation – it’s affect on The West’s Environment

ORV Explosion on Public Land Across the West is Out of Control !

The number of 4 wheelers and side by sides has increased

exponentially. If left unregulated on public land, efforts to enhance wildlife

habitat and improve land health will be diminished.

Vigorously promoted and unregulated !

• Know your ecosystems and their history• Manage them holistically• Strive for properly functioning watersheds

– vegetation management• Plan your grazing and control it• Be willing to share your experience and

knowledge of maintaining a successful and sustainable cattle operation

To be a good land steward you should ---

Four Generations in New Mexico

Thank You!