Stewards remove 2.5 miles of fence and build 1/4 mile of lay down fencing

The morning started off calm, the winds had not shown up, but the smoke from the Beehive fire loomed in the background.  The fire started the day before, likely lighting caused, and was poised to grow with the forecasted winds.  New Mexico and Colorado have been experiencing sever to extreme drought this year.  The snow pack was minimal and spring rains never showed.  The result is a landscape that is one spark away from a wildfire.

This didn’t stop the 24 volunteers from showing up to the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. The Taos BLM office came with 4 staff, range specialist, the monument manager, and two biologists.  BHA was represented by Habitat Stewardship Coordinators Elden Aguilar, Filip Anderson, Bard Edrington, Western Field Director Katie DeLorenzo, and Ben Mortensen of the Friends of the Rio Grande del Norte. In total 32 people gave up their weekend to improve habitat connectivity on the National Monument.

   

The large group split in to two work projects.  One would go to the NM/CO state line and remove netwire with Bard, and the other with Elden to build lay down fencing near San Antonio mountain.

 

State Line Fence Removal-2.5 Miles

There are miles of netwire fencing that divides New Mexico from Colorado.  A man made barrier that fragments a highly used migration corridor for pronghorn and elk. Multiple efforts have been made to modify this fence.  Last year, San Luis Valley Great Outdoors obtained a grant to convert 4 miles of state line fence to wildlife friendly fencing.  They contacted BHA to perform the removal and Southwest Conservation Corp to rebuild the new fence.  The partnership between these three non-profits, and the Taos and San Luis BLM offices is how big conservation goals are met.

  

  

The goal of the day was to remove 2 miles of netwire, and leave the t-posts in place for the SW Conservation Corp to use for the new fence.  The 14 volunteers quickly started dropping fence and hand rolling.  Spirits were high, conversations and new friendship's made, and even a hacky sack was brought out.  The camera crew for the upcoming documentary, Tangled Country, was on site keeping up with the high pace of wire rolling.  Volunteers knew time was limited as the winds began to pick up.  Around 11:00 the first 50 mph gusts lifted dust into the air.  No-one complained or tapped out.  The wind continued to pick up pace and the Beehive fire was clearly growing in the distance.  They hit the 2 mile mark and decided to pull another 1/2 mile.  By the time they received word that BBQ sandwiches were ready, they had pulled and rolled 2.5 miles of netwire.   The goal was met before 12:30 and they decided to call it a day after lunch.  Volunteers removed more fence than any other NM BHA event, in only 4.5 hours.

    

Wildlife Friendly Lay Down Fencing- 1/4 mile Constructed 

This portion of the event was hosted by Taos BLM Field Office Range Specialist Carl Thomson & NM BHA Habitat Stewardship Coordinator Elden Aguilar. Funding for the work was provided by the  NM Outdoor Department Trails + Grant and fencing material purchased by National Wildlife Federation. The two have been working vigorously preparing the posts before each event. From cutting wood posts, making wire loops, stapling, and marking the required heights, many hours of prep time goes into this type of fencing.

  

Lay-down fencing helps create better habitat connection and safer crossing. During migration season the fence can be un-looped & laid down flat on the ground so that herds of pronghorn, and elk can step over instead of jumping or crawling under. It also has the important height requirements to be wildlife friendly during grazing season when animals are passing through.

Four BLM staff, 1 NM BHA board member, and 7 volunteers took part in building the new lay-down fencing on FS road 87. A few days prior to the event, a 1/4 mile of the old fencing was removed by Elden Aguilar. Volunteers were briefed, and hit the ground running as they looped the wooden posts on the existing t-posts swiftly. Quickly the first 1/8 mile section was put up, all 4 wires stretched, stapled, and wooden stays tied on. They moved on to the next 1/8 mile section and finished just before lunch, where Fence Line BBQ called on the radio to let everyone know his famous BBQ sandwiches were ready. With everyone’s effort, they have reached 1/2 mile of lay down fencing, creating 3 sq. miles of improved habitat connectivity. Their goal is to have a 1 mile + by the end of the season.

  

There doesn’t seem to be anything that BHA volunteers back down from.  They are a group that prides themselves on staring down adversity.  Barbed wire doesn’t stand a chance when volunteers show up with wire cutters in hand.

  

As the winds continued to hit them like a schoolyard bully, and the dust penetrated into lungs, they headed back to camp with smiles on their dusty faces.  When the winds destroyed tents, and scattered their belongings, they packed up and moved into the forest to a more sheltered camp.

The wind and dust didn’t stop the wild game potluck, stories and music, laughter and jokes, or the Gerber giveaway.  Strong gusts throughout the night increased the fire to 2,000 acres.  There were no evacuation orders for the Carson NF, and they were in no danger from the fire.  On Sunday morning they hiked into the Cruces Basin wilderness to fish for brook trout.  A large group continued to push back against the wind and successfully caught fish.

  

  

The weekend was a huge success.  No-one complained, no-one went home early, and everyone left with the feeling of accomplishment.  They braved adverse conditions and improved wildlife connectivity on thousands of acres of public land.  A testimony to blisters before banquets.

  

If you read this and feel like you missed out, then become a BHA member and sign up for a stewardship event in your state.

Thanks to all of our sponsors that help make this work happen.