Sierra Club Outings | Altar Valley Wildlife Habitat, Arizona

Altar Valley Wildlife Habitat, Arizona
February 17-23, 2008

Highlights:

Help protect one of the Southwest’s sole grassland animal habitats
Learn about the wildlife and vegetation of the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge
At day’s end, relax in a rustic lodge or hike within scenic Brown Canyon

Includes:

All meals and lodging on-trip
Evening enrichment programs by regional professionals
Work tools and project instruction

From the mid-1860s until its purchase by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in 1985, this expansive area was comprised of one major and many smaller, adjacent cattle ranches with hundreds of miles of barbwire fencing. Intense grazing of native grasses by 1.5 million cattle, combined with the severe drought years of 1885-92 drastically altered the dense, varied and lush grasslands that once covered the 50-mile long Altar Valley. When the rains did return, few grasses were left to absorb the summer monsoons, which created the refuges’ present day washes and gullies. Without vegetation to support beneficial wildfires, invasive grasses, bushes and trees such as mesquite and juniper thrived which now dominate much of the landscape. Without their native grass habitat, the masked bobwhite quail disappeared from Arizona by the early 1900s. It was not until 1964 that pairs were found and later relocated from Sonora, Mexico to the refuge with hopes to reintroduce and establish 500 breeding pairs. Today, staff biologists focus more effort on habitat management in order to increase survival of existing masked bobwhite.

Another species, the pronghorn (Antilocapra Americana), is also trying to establish itself in Altar Valley. In 1987, a small herd from Texas was relocated to the Refuge with an additional herd from northern Arizona relocated in 1999. Like bison herds of the late 1800s, endless numbers once covered the West from Saskatchewan to just north of Mexico City. Like bison, they nearly became extinct from over-hunting and habitat loss. Today, pronghorns can often be seen during the daytime hours near the entrance road to the Refuge Visitor Center. Considered to be the fastest land animals in the western hemisphere, they run in 20-foot bounds at up to speeds of 60 miles per hour. Additionally, the refuge has over 325 species of birds, 53 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 58 species of mammals including deer, javalina and mountain lion.

We will work directly with refuge volunteer staff, focusing mostly on two projects:

Fence Removal: This is prime habitat for the pronghorn and muledeer. To facilitate the free movement of wildlife we remove barbwire fencing. We clip it, roll it and dispose of it according to refuge specifications. Fence posts are removed or left in place, depending on their condition and age.

Brown Canyon: The area of Brown Canyon offers a secluded experience for wildlife observation, interpretation, and photography. Sycamore and oak trees line the stream that meanders through the canyon, providing habitat for several avian and rare plant species such as the cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl and Kearney’s bluestar. An environmental education center allows for day and overnight adult educational workshops as well as visiting university classes and wildlife researchers who work on graduate and undergraduate field projects. We work with staff to remove fencing materials and debris from abandoned homesteads as well as repair irrigation systems for future use in restoration of native plants. Trail maintenance and dirt road repair are always possible projects.

There may be other task assignments that require our attention as we move closer to our trip date. Budget and staff cuts have impacted regularly scheduled maintenance duties in the refuge, so our volunteer assistance will be a positive contribution on any assigned project.

The group will assemble at the Visitor’s Center, Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, Sasabe, Arizona at 10:30 a.m. on day one. Orientation will include an introduction of staff and an overview of the Refuge, our lodging facility, and work projects for the week. A light lunch will be served prior to our departure for the staging and parking area within Brown Canyon. After settling in the lodge, we may continue our afternoon with a short hike in Brown Canyon with a naturalist familiar with the vegetation and avian community. This introduction to the Canyon will assist your understanding of why our volunteer efforts are greatly appreciated by the refuge.

Evening programs are an integral part of our week, as well. They are held at the lodge and, while optional, are considered by most participants to be informative, entertaining, and exceptionally relevant to our overall service trip experience. In the past, our programs have included: a nature walk in Brown Canyon with an herbalist who identifies plants and explains their medicinal and nutritional uses; an evening of planet identification and stargazing through a ten-inch telescope by a member of the National Optical Astronomy Observatory at Kitt Peak; the history of wild cats (jaguars and mountain lions) of the Western United States by a wildlife biologist; a presentation of "sky island" regions in the Southwest and why their ecosystems are considered critical both for research and enjoyment; an evening focusing on raptors and how to identify them; bird migration patterns in North and South America.

A complete itinerary and required clothing and equipment details will be provided to all approved applicants well in advance of the trip. Wednesday is a day to explore the surrounding area and regional attractions.

The starting point of this trip will be the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge Visitor's Center in Sasabe, Arizona. Travel to the starting point is the responsibility of trip participants and is not included in the trip price. Detailed instructions on getting to the starting point will be provided to approved applicants.

Our first lodge meal is Sunday evening dinner on day one. Our last lodge meal is a continental breakfast on the final day of the trip. Breakfast is typically served at 7 a.m.; we pack our lunch and take with us to the worksite. Dinner is served at 6 p.m. with evening programs beginning at 6:45 p.m.. As a conservation effort, bring hard plastic containers to pack your lunch. Plastic bags are NOT provided. Reasonable requests for dietary needs should be noted on your application. Along with your request, be sure to list any food or medicinal allergies as well as all current medications being taken. As a group, we all share light housekeeping responsibilities on a daily basis as well as Saturday morning before we leave.

This is a moderate to strenuous trip. We work on uneven ground, removing barbwire fence and fence posts that demand our full attention. Comprehensive and careful demonstrations of working with barbwire will be given to ensure a level of comfort and safety for everyone. You do not have to be an expert at fencing; it is more essential to be a good listener, exhibit patience and exercise good judgment. We are working at altitudes of 3000-4500 feet in dry and very warm conditions. Keeping hydrated throughout the day is a key factor in your endurance as well as your fun factor. Plan on drinking up to one gallon or more of water per day. The physical impact of exertion at altitude demands everyone to work at their own pace and rest when necessary. No one will be pushed past their limits. All participants must have a current tetanus shot.

Participants are required to bring their own daypack and all required items. A complete list of all required items will be forwarded by the leader upon approval. This list includes long-sleeve canvas/denim shirts, pants and three one-liter or quart bottles for carrying water. Personal hydration systems like CamelBaks work well in these conditions and are highly recommended. Leather gloves are required and must be worn when working with barbwire. Bring clothes and gear that are worn-in but not worn-out and appropriate for three-season conditions. Layering for cool mornings and warm afternoons is appropriate. We’ll hope for warm, sunny days but rain can move in quickly. Waterproof shells or jackets can be the difference between being comfortable in a desert rainshower or very cold and wet.

Livestock grazing, fire suppression, and human demands on water supplies have altered the ecological balance of the Southwestern grasslands. Recent crossings by illegal immigrants have reached over 1,000 per day during winter months, causing further habitat damage by foot traffic and trash left behind. Law enforcement practices create additional pressures on already fragile desert and grassland ecosystems. Concerned volunteers, like us, who partner with conservation agencies in land stewardship help ensure this legacy of wildlands will continue for future generations.

Trip Price

The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.

Cat Hayden has led more than 35 service trips in the Southwest since 2002, and welcomes first-time service participants as well as seasoned veterans. She believes we all have unique experiences and talents to share that will, in time, benefit our fragile environments for generations to come.

E-mail: cmhayden@commspeed.net

Meg Keoppen has been a homesteader in Arivaca, Arizona since 1975, and has cooked for this service trip since 2003. She is an herbalist who grows many of the herbs she uses in her business. Her store, Desert Bounty Apothecary, opened in December 2006 in Arivaca. We welcome Meg back again in 2008!