Volunteers join Gila National Forest staff to benefit riparian zone and aquatic life
GLENWOOD, NM, July 19, 2023 – Gila National Forest has been working with volunteers from Trout Unlimited, Mesilla Valley Flyfishers, Amigos Bravos, and other conservation and sporting groups to restore Little Turkey Creek as part of a larger Willow Creek restoration project. Two projects have been completed on Little Turkey Creek, in fall 2022 and spring 2023. Thirty volunteers from all around New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona participated in the latest, spring project.
Willow Creek is located just north of the Gila Wilderness boundary on the Reserve Ranger District, while Little Turkey Creek lies just inside the wilderness boundary on the Glenwood Ranger District. The Willow Creek watershed, to which Little Turkey Creek is tributary, was burned during the 2012 Whitewater-Baldy Fire.
"The goal of this series of projects is to restore instream and riparian habitat that will one day support a naturally reproducing Gila trout population," said Acting Glenwood District Ranger, Brian Stultz. "Project activities will reduce erosion by stabilizing streambanks and increase streamside shading through willow plantings. Together, these actions will help improve habitat for the endangered Gila trout and other aquatic and riparian species."
Project management is provided by Jim Brooks of Backcountry Stream Restoration and Monitoring. Over the two projects in the Little Turkey Creek area so far, volunteers have installed dozens of instream rock structures, creating pool and riffle features that mimic natural stream hydrodynamics, helping to stabilize erosion. The group used rocks to fill two large headcuts that were beginning to erode adjacent wetlands and they planted more than 300 willow cuttings to hold soil in place, provide shade, and improve wildlife habitat. Stream restoration work using heavy equipment is expected to begin along Willow Creek this summer. Funding for this project is provided by the New Mexico Environment Department's River Stewardship Program.
Retired New Mexico Game and Fish Biologist Nick Smith was an incredible camp cook and the group enjoyed his delicious, creative, and bountiful meals featuring wild game meat and fish! Check out photos from two Little Turkey Creek restoration projects at Willow Creek Restoration | Flickr. For more information contact Maribeth Pecotte at 575-388-8211 or Maribeth.Pecotte@usda.gov .