Rio Grande del Norte Stewardship Weekend-Fence Removal and Fly Fishing
(Previoulsy the CO/NM State Line Event)
June 26-28, 2026
Where: Rio Grande del Norte National Monument- near Tres Piedras, NM.
Join Habitat Stewardship Coordinators Bard Edrington and Elden Aguilar for a weekend of fence removal and modification on the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. This event is your opportunity to take part in stewardship efforts that improve thousands of acres of public land.
You will have the opportunity to take part in two seperate stewardship projects on the National Monument.
CO/NM State Line Fence Removal
The San Luis Valley and Taos Plateau are important wintering and breeding grounds for large herds of elk, pronghorn and mule deer. Having once been sheep country, there are still boundaries of net wire. In particular, there is ~5 miles of net wire fencing along the state line. This type of fencing possess a huge barrier for migrating wildlife. Pronghorn move across the plateau in search of better forage, looing for portions of the plateau that have received more rainfall. While they are moving they encounter these net wire fences and it causes them to change course. In the summer they run the risk of being seperated from their fawns. By removing these barriers and replacing it with widlife friendly fencing we are immediatly improving connectivity. With your help we will remove the net wire fencing and contractors will follow behind to rebuild wildlife friendly fencing in its place. You will be directly responsible for improving connectivity on thousands of acres of public land in NM and CO.
Lay Down Fencing
The south side of San Antonio mountain is an important wintering area for elk and pronghorn. In the winter months you can see herds of 100+ pronghorn and elk moving up and down the mountain. During the animals move down from the flanks of the mountain into the flats, they encounter multiple fence lines. Multiple carcasses have been found entangled in these fences. Elden Aguilar will be leading a crew of volunteers to remove a section of fence and replace it with wildlife friendly lay down fencing. Just like the name implies, lay down fence can be dropped during the winter months, effectivly removing the barrier that once fragmented the habitat. When cattle are brought back in the fence can be stood back up, while still allowing pronghorn and elk to pass over and under.
Sunday Fly Fishing
We are excited to once again partner with Friends of the Rio Grande del Norte on this project. Director of Outreach, Ben Mortensen will lead a group of volunteers into the Cruces Basin Wilderness to fly fish the small streams for brook trout. This is a great opportunity to learn small stream fly fishing skills and explore a unqiue NM wilderness area.
Gerber Stewardship Tool Package Giveaway
Each volunteer will be entered to win a Stewardship Tool Package from Gerber, valued at $350. The kit includes the Dredge full size folding shovel, Bushcraft Axe, and the Dual-Force Multi tool.
BHA stewardship events are not just about improving habitat. Stewardship brings us together, but the relationships and connections made between the volunteers are as equally important. There are threats to our public lands, water and wildlife, and by standing together we are much stronger.
If this all sounds like fun to you, then don’t hesitate to sign up and take part in public land stewardship.
Tangled Country Documentary
The stewardhsip team has been working on a documentary of the Taos Plateau migration corridor and this stewardship event will be filmed and featured in the documentary!
Schedule:
Friday June 26: Arrive at the camping location anytime after 3:00. You will be responsible for your dinner.
Saturday June 27: Meet at the junction of FR 87 and highway 285 at 8:00 am. BHA will provide lunch in the field by Fence Line BBQ. Jim is becoming a staple at our stewardship events, providing in the field BBQ sandwiches and sides. We will work from 8:30- ~5:00. Saturday night will be a potluck, wild game if you have it, around camp.
Sunday June 28: Ben Mortensen will lead a group in to the Cruces Basin to fly fish the small creeks of the wilderness area.
Camping Location:
We will be camping in our normal location off FR 85 ~ 7 miles west of highway 285.
There are no amenities there, please bring water, there is room for camper trailers.
Camping Location 36.850814, -106.082445
Worksite Meet up: Saturday 8:00 am FR 87 and Highway 285
Saturday am Meetup Location 36.79665, -105.98705
OnX Folder with Pins and Routes
What to bring:
Water, sunscreen, long sleeve shirt and pants, boots, work gloves (we will provide them as well).
If you have any questions please contact Bard Edrington V edrington@backcountryhunters.org
Thanks to our sponsors!
