Socorro Nature Area
Escondida Lake
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Rhodes Ranch
Rhodes Ranch Bosque Restoration Project Final Report (large pdf file)    This is a good year for the Pecos sunflower. Dan Baggao (BLM-Roswell) showed a population on BLM land about 3 miles north of Dexter that I did not know existed. I surveyed this small valley in the early 1990s and reported the Pecos sunflower population there had been nearly extirpated. I accessed the valley from the south and did not fight my way through the dense salt cedar - so missed a lot of habitat on the north side of the valley. BLM subsequently bought this land from the private landowner, cleared the salt cedar and removed livestock. There are a few 1000 sunflowers in the lower part of this valley at approximately this location:  Dan said he would probably GPS a polygon around the occupied habitat in the near future.  The plants are large and dense in a few places here, but I still think they are a small remnant of a very large population that probably occupied the entire valley before a well was established on the spring at the head of the valley and a dike thrown up across the lower valley. The work by BLM and Bottomless Lake State Park at the Lea Lake overflow area had a very positive effect on that Pecos sunflower population.  Most of the plants are small (foreground on both sides) because of hash soils, but they are very dense and will flower. Instead of the few hundred plants that were here before the construction work and weed control, there are now many 1000s of sunflowers at this location. A couple places where Pecos sunflowers have been planted in the past are also doing quite well this year. The sinkhole population on State Trust Land south of Bottomless Lakes has several 1000 sunflowers.  These are also mostly small, but there are many more on a larger area than I have seen in the past. The Rhodes property on the east side of the Rio Grande north of San Antonio has 1000s of Pecos sunflowers this year.  The patches are becoming dense and I am seeing individual sunflowers spread to areas where they were not planted. Fortunately, a livestock exclusion fence was a condition for planting Pecos sunflower on this parcel.  The grazing pressure is so intense, no sunflower can grow near the fence, much less on the livestock side. I’m pleasantly surprised that the planting on the Rhodes property is becoming a success. I feel certain now that Pecos sunflower was much more common in the Rio Grande valley before it was channeled, drained, plowed, and overgrazed. Conklin Ranch
Conklin Ranch
Bottomly Ranch
Gonzales
Gonzales Final Report  During Treatment  After Treatment Hwy 380 Fuel Break
Hwy 380 Fuel Break Restoration Project Final Report (large pdf file)  Acre Extrication  Outflow into the Rio Grande  First Major Flow |
San Acacia
 San Acacia Riverine Park is located east and south of San Acacia, along a bend in the Rio Grande. It has a total of 3 tables and grills and is located adjacent to the river. The park was built in 1999 and is used extensively by residents of San Acacia as a picnic site and fishing spot. To get to the park, exit at the San Acacia exit, and drive east to the main channel, turn right, and drive south to the first bridge, turn left, cross the tracks, and get on the east side of the low flow channel. Take the first ramp up onto the levee, and just as you get on top, take the ramp down the east side and follow the road to the park. There are numerous trails leading south from the park that are used by 4X4's, ATV, equestrian riders, and hikers. Polvadera
 Polvadera and Polvadera+ are located about half way between the Socorro Nature Area and San Acacia Riverine Park. Polvadera has 3 tables and grills, and Polvadera+ has one table and 1 grill. They are located under a cottonwood Bosque, currently about 1/4 mile from the Rio Grande. To get to Polvadera, drive the low flow channel till you come to the cement bridge that crosses the low flow channel (the only one), about 3 miles south of San Acacia. Go up the ramp onto the levee, and you will see the ramp road down the east side. The park is at the toe of the levee. Polvadera+ is north, where the low flow channel takes a bend to the west. Look for the ramp down the east side of the levee and follow the road to the single table. Tubes
 "The Tubes" Riverine Park is so named because there are 3 large culverts or tubes that are used to divert water from the low flow channel just west of the park. The park is actually two tables and 2 grills located along the west bank of the Rio Grande, just north of the Escondida bridge. The northern most table, located on a peninsula overlooks the outflow of the Parida Arroyo, a major arroyo that empties just across the channel and drains a very large watershed east of the river. The southern table is just across the diversion channel and is situated a treated stand of old growth cottonwood and also is located along the Socorro Valley Bosque trail. "The Tubes" is accessed by either taking the east low flow road or levee road north from the Escondida Bridge Road. Escondida Bridge
San Acacia Riverine Park is located east and south of San Acacia, along a bend in the Rio Grande. It has a total of 3 tables and grills and is located adjacent to the river. The park was built in 1999 and is used extensively by residents of San Acacia as a picnic site and fishing spot. To get to the park, exit at the San Acacia exit, and drive east to the main channel, turn right, and drive south to the first bridge, turn left, cross the tracks, and get on the east side of the low flow channel. Take the first ramp up onto the levee, and just as you get on top, take the ramp down the east side and follow the road to the park. There are numerous trails leading south from the park that are used by 4X4's, ATV, equestrian riders, and hikers. Confluence
  Confluence Riverine Park was named because it is a confluence between the Rio Grande and a major watershed from the west, which actually gets it start in the Magdalena Mountains (Water Canyon). Historically, these tributaries where major parts of the hydrological function of the Rio Grande, supplying fresh water to the river, not only during the snow melt season but also during the summer rainy season. This was extremely evident in 2006, when large flows from summer thunderstorms destroyed the access road, and actually cut off the park from vehicular traffic for several months (2nd picture). The park has 6 tables and 6 grills as well as being situated along the Socorro Valley Bosque trail. The park was one of the original 4 riverine parks build during the summer of 2007 by a New Mexico YCC crew, made up of local high school and college students from Socorro. Several upgrades have happened since, with pile railing installed in 2005, an additional table installed in 2005 and periodic repairs to the trail head a at the south end of the park. In 2009, the Socorro Amateur Radio Association adopted the park as a public service project. Bosque (The Stumps)
   Video of The Stumps The Bosque Riverine Park (commonly called The Stumps) is one of the 4 original riverine parks built in 1997. The present day structure of the park is nothing like it looked like when it was completed. In 2005, high flows from the Rio Grande changed the course of the river and required that the northern most table be relocated to the west side. The bank has continued to erode, but, with direct access to the river, it is still very popular. The old-growth cottonwood stand around the park is one of the oldest in this reach of the river. The thick salt cedar understory was removed in 1999, and since then, periodic re-treatments have keep it in check. In the salt cedars absence, a healthy stand of native New Mexico olive and seep willows have provided the understory diversity that was part of the original Rio Grande Bosque, making it very picturesque during the fall when the leaves are turning. In 2008, the Cottonwood Valley Charter School adopted the park. The park has seen many dignitaries, from past Governor Gary Johnson to Senator Pete Domenici, come visit, as well as fisherman, nature lovers, and the occasional Friday and Saturday night party. The Socorro Valley Bosque trail crosses the access road, 100 south of the park and then winds through the cottonwood stand to the west and south. The park is located about 3 miles north of the Otero Street Bridge, and 2 miles south of Confluence Riverine Park. Sandbar
  Sand Bar Riverine Park, just like Bosque Riverine Park, 1/2 mile north, was built in 1997. The park was named for a huge sandbar that was in the river, just east of the park. 5 Tables and 5 grills make up the park, which was adopted by the Spoke-n-Word bike shop and Manzanaras Street Coffee House in 2009. The park is not used that much because you cannot see the actual Rio Grande from any of the tables. The Socorro Valley Bosque Trail's east loop trail comes into the south end of the park and then becomes a handicap acceptable trail, going north from the northern-most table, back to the main stem of the trail, which crosses the entrance road just as it comes off the levee. The Cottonwood stand that surrounds the park was treated in 1999 to control the salt cedar and Russian Olive, with periodic treatments since then. Island
  Island Riverine Park is the southern-most original park, located about 1/4 mile north of the Otero Street Bridge, and was built in 1997. The park is unique in that it has two entrance roads and the 5 tables and grills are located along a old dike and road system that was built for unknown reasons. The park has yet to be adopted as of 2010, and receives heavy use, especially the 2 southern-most tables. The Socorro Valley Bosque Trail runs through the park (located on the road way). The park is named after an island that forms just to the southeast of the park during high flows of the river. The actual vegetation on the river is very well established and sits about 3 feet above the high water line. Like Bosque, the park is used for accessing the river for fishing and playing in the river. Otero Street
  The Otero Street Riverine Park is located at the end of Socorro’s Otero Street, which is the cross street just north of the John Brooks Supermart. The Otero Street Park was established after the 2000 Otero Street Fire, which started about ½ mile south of the park from an abandoned campfire. After the fire was suppressed, it was determined that the location was a natural trail head for both the Socorro Valley Bosque trail as well as a small picnic area, due to its close proximity to downtown Socorro. The park consist of 4 tables and grills and also a small ¼ acre restored Bosque just south of the southernmost table. Just across the Rio Grande, the Bosque task force developed a fuel break at the mouth of Arroyo de Tajo to break up what is about 5 miles of continuous fuels between the Bosquecito Arroyo and Arroyo de Bartollo. Otero was adopted by the Socorro Domino’s Pizza store in 2008, and serves as the southern trailhead for the Socorro Valley Bosque Trail. Bosquecito Crossing
   The Bosquecito Crossing Riverine Park was named for its historic location. Due to the presence of the Bosquecito Arroyo, just across the river, the site was used as a ford because of the gravelly material periodically washed into the river channel when the Bosquecito arroyo flows after summer thunderstorms, creating a hard, stable bottom. This gravely material made it a safe and effective crossing point for horses, wagons, livestock before the bridges where built. The park consist of 3 table and 3 grills and has recently been adopted by the IRIS/PASCALL Conservation Club at NM Tech. Due to a change in the outflow of the Bosquecito Arroyo over the last few years, the river bead is currently creating a oxbow (bend) just above the picnic area which may warrant moving 2 of the 3 tables and grills to protect them from the river. Brown Arroyo
  The Brown Arroyo Riverine Park is located about 3 miles south of the Otero Street Park, and consist of 2 tables and I small grill. It is right next to the Rio Grande and is adjacent to the Brown Arroyo outflow into the Rio Grande. While not particularly impressive by itself, it is a good area to look across the river and see the Rhodes Ranch Bosque Restoration project, one of the most ambitious projects that the task force has taken on, which has worked to restore almost 300 acres of Rio Grande Bosque and savannah. To learn more about the Rhodes Restoration project, look for the tab under the same name on this web site. Beaver
  Beaver Riverine Park is named after a Beaver dam that was active when the park was built in 2000, and is the northern most park of a small cluster of parts adjacent to the Rio Grande about 3 miles north of the Hwy 380 bridge and 4 miles south of Brown Arroyo. The park consist of 2 tables and 2 grills. In 2005, the dense salt cedar stand between this park and the park to the south (Old Corral), was cleared of salt cedar and makes a nice short walk along the Rio Grande. Old Corral
   The Old Corral Riverine Park was named after an old barbed wire corral that was present on the site before the park was built. It has two tables and two grills and is located in a nice little bosque with river access, plenty of shade, and nice views of the river. A nice river walk exist between Old Corral and Beaver, just watch for stumps and slash left over from the thinning of the salt cedar in 2005. Cottonwood Grove
  Wrapping up a small cluster of 3 parks half way between Brown Arroyo and Hwy 380 is a small park named Cottonwood Grove Riverine Park. This park used to have direct river access, but with the slow but steady colonization of the sandbar just west of the park with cottonwood and willows, the river is hidden from view. The area just south and north of the park was cleared of salt cedar in 2005, which made the park much more open and enjoyable. There are two tables and 2 grills and access is from the levee road, requiring a hard right hand turn if approaching from the south, or easy ramp if approaching from the north. San Antonio
    The Southernmost Riverine park is called the San Antonio Riverine Park and is adjacent to the Hwy 380 Bridge. This park has 5 tables, 5 grills and is located in a beautifully restored Bosque that is about 60 years old (it dates from the last major flood of the Rio Grande in the 1940’s). San Antonio Elementary School adopted the park in 2007 and uses the park as an outdoor classroom and community service project. The site is also maintained by numerous private citizens of San Antonio that use the park as an area to take evening strolls along the Rio Grande. The Cottonwood stand was restored by removing the salt cedar, burning the slash and then treating the re-sprouts with herbicide (a common method to control the re-sprouting of the salt cedar’s roots). |
