Sul Ross State University
A Member of the Texas State University System

Recent Highlights of the CDRC&D

Annual Meeting

The Chihuahuan Desert RC&D recently held its 2008 annual meeting, giving updates on a number of projects under way and accomplishments for the year.

La Junta Salt Cedar Control

The Chihuahuan Desert RC&D along with the Rio Grande Institute have been continuously working on the eradication of saltcedar along the Rio Grande River where the vast monoculture is stangling the Rio Grande and native vegetation along the international boundary with Mexico.

Last year on five private ranches there were a total of sixteen released caged sites of beetles from La Junta whre the Conchos river enters the Rio Grande River and upstream continuing to Ruidosa and ending near Candelaria.

At two of the best sites, several thousand beetles were released from the cages, and thousand more were strategically released near these caged sites. With help from USDA/ARS field staff, NRCS personnel, and a student on the project from SRSU, the La Junta project is now going into its third summers of efforts to establish a viable colony of beetles in salt cedar along the Rio Grande in the Forgotten River stretch.

It is good to report that there is marked progress that can now be seen and we may be well on our way to an established colony. At two sites, approximately 20 to 25 trees were defoliated in an area of approximately two acres around the caged release sites. This year will be the test!

TEX*A*SYST

Chihuahuan Desert RC&D in cooperation with Texas AgriLife Extension, Big Bend, Highland, Toyah-Limpia Soil and Water Conservation Districts and The Natural Resources Conservation Service conducted water screening tests on July 16 for Brewster, Presidio, and Jeff Davis Counties and again on July 29 for Culberson adn Hudspeth Counties.

This screening event was designed to help rural residentws learn about practices that improve water quality for home and agriculture use. Water was tested for nitrate, salts, and bacteria. From the five counties a total of 185 tests were conducted. A retest was scheduled Sept 16 for the tests that turned out positive for bacteria.

Tigua Indians Conservation Plan Development

A grant from USFW was awarded to the Tiguas for restoration of their rangeland ranch located near Hueco Tanks, in El Paso, TX. CDRC&D and NRCS F.O. are assisting in all technical recommendations for practices installed. Brush management, water development, and fencing practices will be installed for attain a total resource management system plan. RFP's have been sent out requesting contractors to submit bids for fencing and brush control to start.

So far this project has accumulated $45,219.00 in project contributions from Independent Federal Agencies, Tribal Gov'tm USDA-NRCS, and other tribal services.

Governor Frank Paiz of the Tigua Indians  signed his approval for a newly developed Soil and Water Conservation Plan with Highland SWCD developed by NRCS. This plan will lay the ground work for conservation practices that can be implemented through various programs administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the United States Department of Agriculture.