Sul Ross State University

Recent Highlights of the CDRC&D

Annual Meeting

The Chihuahuan Desert RC&D recently held its 2007 annual meeting, giving updates on a number of projects under way and accomplishments for the year.

 La Junta Salt Cedar Control

The Rio Grande Institute in partnership with CDRC&D received a Grazing Land Conservation Initiative  Grant From NRCS for the sum of $184,000. An additional $189,000 is being matched by the Rio Grande institute bringing the total to $373,000. This money will be used toward the La Junta Salt Cedar Control Project.

The La Junta Salt Cedar project encompasses salt cedar eradication through biological and chemical control methods of application to private landowners property along the Rio Grande River near Ruidosa, Candelaria and Indian Hot Springs in Presidio and Hudspeth Counties

To date Salt cedat beetles have been released at 4 sites located on ranches in the Ruidosa and Candelaria area. There has been definite beetle activity and disbursement on adjacent trees located near all caged trees.

Spring 2008 will determine how well beetles over wintered in the field. Monitoring will continue throughout the year.

 Gifts-in-Kind- International Distributors

The Chihuahuan Desert RC&D joined the Gifts In Kind International program in 2002, and continues as a Coordinating Agency Partner(CAP) with the worlds leading charity in product philanthropy. Since CDRC&D is a (CAP), it is able to provide donations in two ways. First, as the distributor  of the products that companies donate, we make products available to the community through GIK to 501K organizations. Materials may include computer hardware and software, healthcare products, clothing and educational materials. Items may be placed by order through us and come in sizes ranging from cartons, to pallets, or truck loads of merchandise. Secondly, through the Retail Donation Partner (RDP) Program, stores like Office Depot make available donated items from their stores on a calendar year basis.

In 2007, CDRC&D continued wit the office Depot Stores located in Midland an El Paso. A total of $24,000 worth of merchandise was received and distributed to 16 non-profit organizations from El Paso to Alpine, thus imrpoving the quality of life for people in the area.

 TEX*A*SYST

On September 26-28 2007, the CDRC&D in cooperation with the Texas Cooperative Extension Service, The Natural Resources Conservation Service, Big Bend, Highland, and Highpoint SWCD's, in Brewster, Jeff Davis, Presidio, Culberson, and Hudspeth counties hosted a water well screening event to rural residents.

The water samples tested were designed to teach residents of Alpine, Marfa, Presidio, Fort Davis, Van Horn, Sierra Blanca, and Dell City practices for improving water quality that is for home and agricultural use.

75 water samples in all were screened for nitrates, total salts, and bacteria by mobile lab equipment which is considered to have a 99% accuracy rate.

Those participating in the screening learn the importrance of undergroung water quality. Plans for this year will be to expand the screenings into surrounding communities near El Paso, Tx.

Tigua Indians Conservation Plan Development

Marfa NRCS Field Office Staff are providing technical assistance in the way of a conservation plan development on Tribally owned land in Presidio County near Valentine, Tx.

The nearly 70,000 acre ranch will have a conservation plan developed to install conservation practices like water, fencing, and brush management. When completed the plan will provide a means for the Tribe to enter into the programs like Environmental Quality Incentive Program and Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program administered by USDA/ NRCS.

Governor Senclair of the Tigua Indians signed his approval for a Soil and Water Conservation Plan with the El Paso- Hudspeth SWCD and developed by NRCS. This plan will lay the ground work for conservation practices that will be implemented through the United States Fish and Wildlife Service's Tribal Wildlife Grant Program.

This grant will provide funding to install a complete resource managment system to the land owned the the Tigua Indians located in the Hueco Tank State Park Region.