Friday, August 28, 2015

New approach examined at Seven Cabins Spring in Lincoln County

A source protection plan for Seven Cabins Spring on the Lincoln National Forest will be revamped after a meeting with interested adjacent landowners concerned about water being fenced off from livestock and wildlife. Lincoln County Manager Nita Taylor said at the June and July county commission meetings, commissioners were told about the potential fencing of the Seven Cabins Spring by the Smokey Bear Ranger District staff. District wildlife biologist Larry Cordova explained the purpose of the limited fencing and how accommodations for livestock and wildlife were part of the design. But on Aug. 8, District Ranger Dave Warnack, who returned from temporary duty heading the Gila National Forest in western New Mexico, along with Cordova and George Douds of the district met Taylor and interested landowners and ranchers at the site to discuss the proposal being funded by revenues from the state Habitat Stamp program. Seventeen people attended, including Taylor and Commission Chairman Preston Stone, a rancher. Seven Cabins Trail 66 is located in the Capitan Mountains Wilderness and is accessed from U.S. 380. Fencing water sources on the national forest developed into a contentious issue in neighboring Otero County and the Sacramento Ranger District of the national forest.  "The initial plan was to fence to protect the spring source and associated wetlands to restore habitat and the water source," Taylor said. "After lengthy discussion, (Warnack) agreed to abandon the initial plan and to begin the process to change the scope of work for the already approved project, and to begin the implementation of an alternative corrective action." The concept is for a two-year project of placing pipeline and water storage to capture the entire water production of the spring, Taylor said. "The excess water that caused the marshland would be placed in use, rather than running unused on the terrain," she said. "(Warnack) was receptive to the interactive process leading to the decision, but he advised at some point and under certain circumstances, the fencing off of an area may be the appropriate solution. At that point, ranchers and owners will work with the Forest Service for a solution."...more

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