Rocky Mountain Research Station

General Research Interests:

• Ungulate-Fishery Interactions
• Riparian/Wetland Ecology
• Riparian Restoration Technology
• Rangeland Restoration and Grazing Dynamics
• Fire Effects on Riparian Ecosystems
• Rangeland/Riparian Monitoring Technology

 Current Research Projects:

• Determine ecological linkages and interactions between watershed management activities, intrinsic and extrinsic to riparian zones, and riparian biota, ecosystem function, and watershed health.
  
• Livestock-elk-fishery interactions on montane riparian habitats.
• Livestock-fish interactions on the Upper Verde River.
• Channel-riparian vegetation linkages.
• Classification of riparian/wetland vegetation types of Arizona.
  
• Develop, validate, and test new and existing methods for assessment of ungulate impacts and monitoring rangeland-SW riparian ecosystems of the semi-arid Intermountain west through interpretation of long term rangeland condition indicators.
  
• Determine the hydrologic and geomorphic consequences of wildfire and fuels management options in Southwest forest and woodland ecosystems, primarily riparian and woodland habitats of the sub-Mogollon Region.

Current Science & Technology Projects:

International-Rio Laja (2002-present):  Riparian restoration of the Rio Laja Watershed, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico.  A collaborative project funded by International Forestry and Salvemos al Rio Laja, A.C.  My charge is to provide technical expertise in the form of training in riparian restoration science, assist in the development and assessment of riparian restoration projects.  Salvemos al Rio Laja is a non-government, non-profit o rganization with a mission to implement watershed restoration technology.  The organization receives preferred funding from USDA Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service and several other wildlife organizations to foster habitat restoration for neotropical birds and migratory waterfowl.

International-Salvemos al Rio Laja (SRL) (2001-present):  This is a collaborative riparian and wetland restoration project wherein the USDA Forest Service International Program and RMRS-RWU-4302 provides technical expertise to Salvemos al Rio Laja, A.C. SRL is a non-government organization in san Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico, dedicated to the restoration of the Rio Laja watershed. I continue to provide technical expertise in the form of training in riparian restoration science, assist in the development and assessment of riparian restoration projects, design of wetland restoration field projects, monitor design, and mentor to graduate students engaged in the study of riparian ecology. The organization receives preferred funding from Mexican State and Federal agencies, USDA Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, private organizations and several other wildlife organizations to foster habitat restoration for neotropical birds and migratory waterfowl, as well as to foster technical assistance to rural communities.

International-Rio Santa Cruz and Rio San Pedro, Sonora, Mexico. In collaboration with Joaquin Murrieta of the sonoran Desert Institute and Ing. Gilberto Solis of the Universidad de Sonora, Departamento de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (DICTUS), I continue to provide technical expertise in revegetation studies and restoration of Rio Santa Cruz in Mexico. Together we work with the community of San Lazaro to reestablish native aquatic plants, stabilize the river channel, and manage livestock grazing. On the San Pedro, we continue to perform riparian health assessments and provide assistance in water quality studies.
http://aguaje.dictus.uson.mx/RSC-DICTUS/RoSantaCruzSonora.htm

International-Rio Los Ajos, Sonora, Mexico. In collaboration with Ing. Gilberto Solis Garza (INIFAP), we conducted some of the first riparian studies in the area. Our work focused on identification and classification of riparian communities.

International-Ejido Kiliwas Tribe, Baja California Norte, Mexico. In collaboration with Ing. Jorge Sepúlveda Betancourt (INIFAP), we conducted grassland reseeding trials and studied production of jojoba from native shrublands in the valley of Ojos Negros. The Kiliwas is the smallest indigenous tribe of Baja California, and their survival as a group is threatened by disintegration of the communities due to poverty. Their traditional knowledge of natural resources is rich owing to thousands of years of adaptation to desert environments.

International-Tapalpa, Jalisco, Mexico (1993-1996):
I was led project scientists in the development and implementation of a watershed assessment project, including training on the “El Carrizal Watershed” in Tapalpa, Mexico.  The USDA Forest Service International Forestry requested technical assistance to assist and collaborate with the Secretaria de Agricultura y Recursos Hidraulicos - Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias (Secretaria de Agricultura y Recursos Hidraulicos-Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales Agricolas y Pecuarias), State of Jalisco, Mexico.  Our work resulted in the adoption of scientific protocols for use in other watershed assessments by INIFAP, identification of new species of aquatic plants, new bird species distributions, and the development of spring water and forest products by local landowners.

International-Tapalpa Watershed Technology Transfer Project, Tapalpa, Jalisco, Mexico 1996: In conjunction with project scientists and the University of Arizona and the Secretaria de Agricultura y Recursos Hidraulicos - Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias, I organized a watershed technology transfer workshop to train INIFAP scientists in the watershed assessment methods.  Mexican scientists were brought to Arizona for a follow-up hands-on training courses on riparian ecosystems.

Native American Tribes-White Mountain Apache Tribe: 

• Restoration of Soldier Creek (top left photo above)
• Restoration of Pacheta Creek/Cienega (top right & right photos) For more information, please review our article on this restoration technique, which appeared in the June 2004 edition  of Ecological Restoration. Please note that the article is under © copyright 2004 by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin:
  
  2004 Medina, A. L. and J. W. Long. Placing riffle formations to restore stream functions in a wet meadow. Ecological Restoration 22:120-125.
  Full Text PDF



• Restoration of Horseshoe Cienega
• Restoration of Lofer Cienega
• Restoration of Maverick Cienega
• Restoration of riparian areas within the Rodeo-Chediski burned area, including Iron Mine Springs, and Turkey Creek.
• Long-term monitoring of Ord Creek
• Design of channel stabilization for Kinisiba Ruins
• Design of irrigation diversion and riffle structures on Cibeque Creek

Native American Tribes-Navajo Nation: 

I have worked with Tribal staff on assessments of riparian conditions, designs for channel and vegetation restoration, and fishery habitat assessments of Tsaile Creek and Canyon de Chelley. More recently, I advised the Ramah Chapter on methods of using natural grade controls or riffles to stabilize incising channels. The project will become an after school project for kids to learn about natural methods of channel restoration.

Native American Tribes-Hopi Tribe:  Hopi Tribe, Arizona (Stream restoration and invasive plant management)

Native American Tribes-Santa Clara Pueblo:  Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico (Post-fire riparian assessment)

Past Technology Transfer Projects:

In 2002, I conducted a workshop in Flagstaff on watershed restoration practices for 12 staff research scientists from the Universidad de Michoacan, and other Federal and State resource managers from the State of Guanajuato, Mexico, who are involved with the restoration of the Rio Laja Watershed.  Workshop participants received instruction in watershed condition assessment, restoration technologies, range management, and visited ongoing and completed riparian restoration projects on the Prescott, Coconino, Tonto, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests and the White Mountain Apache Nation.

In 2003, I conducted a 2-week workshop on impact assessment methods and channel classification in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico where 75 attendees representing universities, federal, state, municipal, and NGO’s were in attendance.  All workshops and field training are conducted in Spanish to facilitate comprehension.

In 2004, I will be (a) developing an assessment protocol to ascertain the effectiveness of stream structures, (b) designing a restoration plan for a major sand and gravel operation affecting key riparian resources, (c) working with Dr. Roger Tomlinson on GIS analyses and applicability of ground data to riparian restoration, and (d) designing research projects to be implemented by various Mexican university graduate students and cooperators.  Web sites: www.rio-laja.org/ and www.fs.fed.us/global/globe/l_amer/mexico.htm#5a.