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At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
USGS2007

Chemical contaminants, health indicators, and reproductive biomarker responses in fish from the Colorado River and its tributaries

Common carp (Cyprinus carpio), black bass (Micropterus spp.), and channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) were collected from 14 sites in the Colorado River Basin (CRB) to document spatial trends in accumulative contaminants, health indicators, and reproductive biomarkers. Organochlorine residues, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-like activity (TCDD-EQ), and elemental contaminants were measured in composite samples of whole fish, grouped by species and gender, from each site. Selenium (Se) and mercury (Hg) concentrations in fish were elevated throughout the CRB, and pesticide concentrations were greatest in fish from agricultural areas in the Lower Colorado River and Gila River. Selenium concentrations exceeded toxicity thresholds for fish (> 1.0????g/g ww) at all CRB sites except the Gila River at Hayden, Arizona. Mercury concentrations were elevated (> 0.1????g/g ww) in fish from the Yampa River at Lay, Colorado; the Green River at Ouray National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Utah and San Rafael, Utah; the San Juan River at Hogback Diversion, New Mexico; and the Colorado River at Gold Bar Canyon, Utah, Needles, California, and Imperial Dam, Arizona. Concentrations of p,p???-DDE were relatively high in fish from the Gila River at Arlington, Arizona (> 1.0????g/g ww) and Phoenix, Arizona (> 0.5????g/g ww). Concentrations of other formerly used pesticides including toxaphene, total chlordanes, and dieldrin were also greatest at these two sites but did not exceed toxicity thresholds. Currently used pesticides such as Dacthal, endosulfan, ??-HCH, and methoxychlor were also greatest in fish from the Gila River downstream of Phoenix. Total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs; > 0.11????g/g ww) and TCDD-EQs (> 5??pg/g ww) exceeded wildlife guidelines in fish from the Gila River at Phoenix. Hepatic ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity was also relatively high in carp from the Gila River at Phoenix and in bass from the Green River at Ouray NWR. Fish from some sites showed evidence of contaminant exposure as indicated by fish health indicators and reproductive biomarker results. Multiple health indicators including altered body and organ weights and high health assessment index scores may be associated with elevated Se concentrations in fish from the Colorado River at Loma, Colorado and Needles. Although grossly visible external or internal lesions were found on most fish from some sites, histopathological analysis determined many of these to be inflammatory responses associated with parasites. Edema, exophthalmos, and cataracts were noted in fish from sites with elevated Se concentrations. Intersex fish were found at seven of 14 sites and included smallmouth bass (M. dolomieu), largemouth bass (M. salmoides), catfish, and carp and may indicate exposure to endocrine disrupting compounds. A high proportion of smallmouth bass from the Yampa River at Lay (70%) was intersex but the cause of this condition is unknown. Male carp, bass, and catfish with low concentrations of vitellogenin were common in the CRB. Comparatively high vitellogenin concentrations (> 0.2??mg/mL) were measured in male bass from the Green River at Ouray NWR and the Colorado River at Imperial Dam and indicate exposure to estrogenic or anti-androgenic chemicals. Anomalous reproductive biomarkers including low GSI and gonadal abnormalities (calcifications, edema, and parasites) observed in fish downstream of Phoenix are likely related to the poor water-quality of the Gila River in this area.

Colorado River Basin↗
USGS1999

Additional records of bats from the middle Rio Grande Valley, New Mexico

The resident and migratory bat fauna of the middle Rio Grande Valley in central New Mexico is inadequately known. Many of the specimen records from this valley are from Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, ca. 20 km S of Socorro, Socorro Co. Findley et al. (1975) reported Myotis lucifugus, M. yumanensis, Lasiurus cinereus, and Tadarida brasiliensis from the refuge to which Reith (1982) added Antrozous pallidus. During June and July 1994, we netted nine nights and conducted visual searches of known roosts to capture 67 bats of seven species as part of a baseline survey of bats on the refuge. We surveyed artificial wetlands in the transitional zone between riparian forest and adjacent desert-grassland, within ca. 2 km of the Rio Grande. Nearby agricultural fields and ponds managed primarily for use by waterfowl provided numerous sites suitable for foraging and drinking by bats. We report four new species records for the refuge, one of which is also a new county record. Voucher material is deposited in the Biological Survey Collection, Fort Collins (BS/FC), now housed in the Museum of Southwestern Biology (MSB), University of New Mexico.

Southwestern Naturalist↗
USGS2002

Wildlife association with human‐altered water sources in semiarid vegetation communities

Based on common use in wildlife management, we hypothesized that human‐constructed water sources influence faunal communities detectably compared to similar habitats that lack water. We examined 20 wildlife water units and 20 paired comparison sites without water from April to August 1992 in semiarid southern New Mexico to assess animal species associations. We sampled sites by using small‐mammal live traps, herpetofaunal and invertebrate pitfall arrays, and 30‐minute time‐area counts. We compared animal species richness and species concordance among water units (rain catchments, earthen tanks, and windmills) and comparison sites in three vegetation communities (mixed scrub, grassland, and pinyon‐juniper). We detected 134 animal taxa during field sampling. Animal species richness did not differ between water units and comparison sites among vegetation communities. Amphibians were found only at water units but occur far from units during seasonal wet periods. Greater numbers of individual small mammals and herpetofauna at water units versus comparison sites likely related to debris and disturbed soil present near water units. Taxa detected at water units and comparison sites were 65% concordant overall; discordant taxa were those rarely detected. Our data implied that definitive effects of artificial water sources on native wildlife species were not detectable. Providing water sources may be a strategic management tool but must be viewed critically regarding effect on distribution of native, feral, and exotic animals. Water units should be developed only when and where clear objectives have been stated, natural water sources have been quantified, commitment exists to ensure continued function, and feral and exotic animals will not benefit to the detriment of native species.

New Mexico↗
USGS2019

Pecos River Basin salinity assessment, Santa Rosa Lake, New Mexico, to the confluence of the Pecos River and the Rio Grande, Texas, 2015

The elevated salinity of the Pecos River throughout much of its length is of paramount concern to water users and water managers. Dissolved-solids concentrations in the Pecos River exceed 3,000 milligrams per liter in many of its reaches in the study area, from Santa Rosa Lake, New Mexico, to the confluence of the Pecos River with the Rio Grande, Texas. The salinity of the Pecos River increases downstream and affects the availability of useable water in the Pecos River Basin. In this report, “salinity” and “dissolved-solids concentration” are considered synonymous; both terms are used to refer to the total ionic concentration of dissolved minerals in water. The sources of salinity in the Pecos River Basin are natural (geologic) and anthropogenic, including but not limited to groundwater discharge, springs, and irrigation return flows. Previous studies in the Pecos River Basin were project specific and designed to address salinity issues in specific parts of the basin; therefore, in 2015, the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and Texas Water Development Board assessed the major sources of salinity throughout the extent of the basin where elevated salinity in the Pecos River is well documented (that is, in the drainage area of the Pecos River from Santa Rosa Lake to the confluence of the Pecos River and the Rio Grande). The goal was to gain a better understanding of how specific areas might be contributing to the elevated salinity in the Pecos River and how salinity of the Pecos River has changed over time. This assessment includes a literature review and compilation of previously published salinity-related data, which guided the collection of additional water-quality samples and streamflow gain-loss measurements. Differences in water quality of surface-water and groundwater samples, streamflow measurements, and geophysical data were assessed to gain new insights regarding sources of salinity in the Pecos River Basin and a more detailed assessment of potential areas of elevated salinity in the basin. The datasets compiled for this assessment are available in a companion data release. The literature review identified several potential sources of salinity inputs to the Pecos River in New Mexico and Texas. In New Mexico, sources of salinity inputs included sinkhole springs discharging into El Rito Creek, the Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge inflow to the Pecos River, inflow from the Rio Hondo, including the main channel and a restored channel at the Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge referred to as the “Rio Hondo spring channel,” the outflow from Lea Lake at Bottomless Lakes State Park, and the Malaga Bend region of the Pecos River. In Texas, sources of salinity inputs included Salt Creek downstream from Red Bluff Reservoir and the area near the Horsehead Crossing ford on the Pecos River. The compilation of historical water-quality data revealed a lack of consistent sampling of the same constituents at the same sites along the main stem of the Pecos River, which results in data gaps that hinder the ability to effectively analyze long-term changes in water quality that may help with the understanding of how salinity in the Pecos River has changed over time and identifying the sources of salinity in the Pecos River Basin. To help fill these data gaps, water-quality and streamflow data were collected in the study area in February 2015 by the U.S. Geological Survey. Historical water-quality data and newly collected data from February 2015 were evaluated for selected major-ion concentrations, dissolved-solids concentrations, and deuterium, oxygen, and strontium isotopes. Analysis of the data indicated several areas of increasing salinity in the Pecos River. Most notable increases were in two subreaches of the river, between Acme, N. Mex., and Artesia, N. Mex., and between Orla, Tex., and Grandfalls, Tex. Increasing sodium and chloride concentrations from Acme to Artesia coincided with changes in isotopic ratios within the Pecos River Basin. Changes in isotopic ratios in this reach indicate a likely inflow from an isotopically different source of water compared to the water in the main stem of the Pecos River, such as groundwater inflow, inflow from surface-water features distinct from the main stem of the Pecos River, or both. In the subreach between Orla and Grandfalls, an increase in dissolved-solids concentrations was observed along with a shift in isotope values, indicating that neither evaporative processes in Red Bluff Reservoir nor inflow from Salt Creek likely solely influences the salinity of the Pecos River in this subreach. The highest dissolved-solids concentrations in the Pecos River Basin were measured downstream from Grandfalls, where dissolved-solids concentrations are greater than 16,000 milligrams per liter near Iraan, Tex. Changes in isotopic values (deuterium, oxygen, and strontium) indicate mixing of different waters at several areas along the main stem of the Pecos River. The spatial distribution of the areas of interest from the literature review and the water-quality data are available in the companion data release.

Texas, New Mexico↗
USGS2005

Factors limiting the recovery of boreal toads ( Bufo b. boreas )

Boreal toads ( Bufo b. boreas ) are widely distributed over much of the mountainous western United States. Populations in the Southern Rocky Mountains suffered extensive declines in the late 1970s through early 1980s (Carey, 1993). At the time, these mass mortalities were thought to be associated with a bacterial infection (Carey, 1993). Although the few populations that survived the mass die-offs were not systematically monitored until at least 1993, no mass mortalities had been observed until 1996 when die-offs were observed. A mycotic skin infection associated with a chytrid fungus is now causing mortality of toads in at least two of the populations (M.S. Jones and D.E. Green, unpublished data; Muths et al., 2003). Boreal toads are now absent throughout large areas of their former distribution in Colorado and southern Wyoming and may be extinct in New Mexico (Corn et al., 1989; Carey, 1993; Stuart and Painter, 1994). These toads are classified as “endangered” by Colorado and New Mexico and are designated as a protected non-game species in Wyoming. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has categorized the Southern Rocky Mountain populations for federal listing and is currently reviewing their designation as a “warranted but precluded” species for possible listing in the next few years. For the management of boreal toads and their habitats, a Boreal Toad Recovery Team was formed by the Colorado Division of Wildlife in 1995 as part of a collaborative effort with federal agencies within the United States’ departments of the Interior and Agriculture and with agencies in two adjoining states. To date, conservation agreements have been signed by eight state and federal agencies and by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program. Although boreal toads were considered common throughout their range in Colorado, no comprehensive surveys of the numbers and sizes of their populations were conducted prior to mass die-offs in the 1970s. Surveys completed in the late 1980s to early 1990s, however, indicated that the toads were still present in only one of 377 historical sites in parts of western Colorado (Hammerson, 1992) and in about 17% of previously known sites in the Colorado Front Range (Corn et al., 1989). Once common in Rocky Mountain National Park, boreal toads are now found at only seven localities, with just two or three of these populations likely to be reproducing successfully each year (Corn et al., 1997). Intensive surveys by the Boreal Toad Recovery Team since 1995 have found about 50 breeding sites comprising 25 distinct populations within Colorado (Loeffler, unpublished data). Of these populations, most are small (fewer than five egg clutches laid per year) and may not survive over the long term. Efforts to restore population sizes and expand the geographical distribution of boreal toads in the southern Rocky Mountains have involved considerable person-hours and financial commitments. Special care has been taken to protect habitats and, when feasible, to improve sites where breeding populations currently exist. However, initial attempts to repatriate these toads in historic habitats in which boreal toads were present before 1975 have generally proven unsuccessful (Carey, unpublished data; Muths et al., 2003). It is too early to determine if recent repatriations will establish breeding populations (Scherff-Norris, 1999), but these efforts will likely continue. Despite the best human intentions and efforts, the recovery of former population sizes and the historical distribution of boreal toads will greatly depend on its own life history characteristics. However, as we will review in this paper, environmental factors affect many life history attributes in a manner that poses serious obstacles for recovery.

Colorado↗
USGS2013

Anthropogenic impacts to the recovery of the Mexican gray wolf with a focus on trapping-related incidents

Concerns regarding the potential negative impacts of regulated furbearer trapping to reintroduced Mexican gray wolves (Canis lupus baileyi), led to an executive order prohibiting trapping in the New Mexico, USA, portion of the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area. This ban was to last for 6 months and required an evaluation of the risk posed to wolves by traps and snares legally permitted in New Mexico. We reviewed potential threats to wolves in the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area, including threats associated with regulated furbearer trapping. One hundred Mexican gray wolf mortalities have been documented during the reintroduction effort (1998–2011). Of those mortalities with a known cause, >81% were human-caused resulting from illegal shooting (n = 43), vehicle collisions (n = 14), lethal removal by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS; n = 12), non-project-related trapping (n = 2), project-related trapping (n = 1), and legal shooting by the public (n = 1). Ten wolves died due to unknown causes. The remaining 17 mortalities were a result of natural causes (e.g., starvation, disease). An additional 23 wolves were permanently, but non-lethally, removed from the wild by the USFWS. Of 13 trapping incidents in New Mexico that involved non-project trappers (i.e., trappers not associated with USFWS or U.S. Department of Agriculture-Wildlife Services), 7 incidents are known to have resulted in injuries to wolves: 2 wolves sustained injuries severe enough to result in leg amputations and 2 additional wolves died as a result of injuries sustained. Foothold traps with rubber-padded jaws and properly set snares may reduce trap-related injuries to Mexican gray wolves; however, impacts caused by trapping are overshadowed by other anthropogenic impacts (e.g., illegal shooting, non-lethal permanent removal, and vehicle collisions).

New Mexico↗
USGS2019

Forest restoration, wildfire, and habitat selection by female mule deer

Decades of fire suppression, logging, and overgrazing have led to increased densities of small diameter trees which have been associated with decreases in biodiversity, reduced habitat quality for wildlife species, degraded foraging conditions for ungulates, and more frequent and severe wildfires. In response, land managers are implementing forest restoration treatments using prescribed fire and thinning to mitigate the risk of catastrophic wildfires and improve habitat conditions for a variety of wildlife species. We monitored habitat selection by female mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus ) in relation to forest restoration treatments and wildfires in northern New Mexico in 2015. Our specific objectives were to assess changes in forage abundance and determine habitat selection patterns of mule deer in relation to recent wildfires, forest restoration treatments, including duration of the post-treatment recovery, and other habitat characteristics. Herbaceous forage biomass was greater in wildfire-burned areas than in untreated areas or those treated with prescribed burns or thinning. Oak forage biomass was greater in wildfire-burned areas compared to prescribed burns, forest thinning, and untreated areas. However, thinned areas tended to have higher oak forage biomass than untreated areas. Mule deer selected for areas burned by prescribed fire and generally avoided wildfire-burned and thinned areas <5 years old. Mule deer strongly selected for thinned areas ≥5 years old. At both the landscape and home-range scale, grasslands were avoided during most seasons, pinyon-juniper woodlands were selected in winter, and oak vegetation and mixed-conifer forests were selected during summer. Our data suggests that mule deer may benefit from recent prescribed burns and older forest thinning, but the duration of post-treatment vegetation recovery influences the strength and direction of selection. Knowledge of the short- and long-term effects of restoration treatments will provide managers with the means to make more informed decisions regarding implementation of forest restoration and other vegetation treatments intended to benefit mule deer.

New Mexico↗
USGS2003

Analysis of ecological context for identifying vegetation and animal conservation planning foci: An example from the arid South-western USA

In developing conservation strategies, it is important to maximize effects of conservation within a specified land tract and to maximize conservation effects on surrounding area (ecological context). The authors proposed two criteria to select biotic entities for conservation foci: (1) the relative occurrence of fauna or flora in a tract is greater than that of an ecological context region; and (2) occurrence of the fauna or flora is relatively limited in the ecological context region. Using extensive spatial data on vegetation and wildlife habitat distribution, the authors identified strategic vegetation and fauna conservation foci for the 400 000 ha Fort Bliss military reservation in New Mexico and Texas relative to a 164 km radius ecological context region intersecting seven ecological zones and the predicted habitat distribution of 616 animal species. The authors set two specific criteria: (1) predicted area of a species' occurrence is <50% of the ecological context region; and (2) percentage of Fort Bliss intersecting the species' or vegetation community predicted areas in the ecological context region is >5% (Fort Bliss is 4.2% of the region). These criteria selected one vegetation class and 40 animal species. Further, these vegetation and animal foci were primarily located in two areas of Fort Bliss. Sensitivity analyses with other analytical radii corroborated the context radius used. Conservation of the two areas and associated taxa will maximize the contribution of Fort Bliss's conservation efforts in its ecological proximity. This relatively simple but information-rich process represents economical and defensible preliminary contextual analysis for detailed conservation planning.

Journal of Environmental Planning and Management↗
USGS2011

Evaluating trapping techniques to reduce potential for injury to Mexican wolves

Increased scrutiny of furbearer trapping has resulted in more regulation and even prohibition of common trapping methods in some States. Concerns regarding the potential negative impacts of regulated furbearer trapping on reintroduced Mexican gray wolves (Canis lupus baileyi) led now former Governor Bill Richardson to issue an executive order prohibiting trapping in the New Mexico portion of the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area (BRWRA). This ban was to last for at least 6 months and required an evaluation of the risk posed to wolves by traps and snares legally permitted in New Mexico. We reviewed various threats to wolves in the BRWRA, including threats posed by regulated furbearer trapping. Seventy-eight Mexican wolf mortalities were documented during the reintroduction effort (1998-2010). More than 80 percent of documented mortalities were human-caused: illegal shooting (47.4 percent), vehicle collisions (15.4 percent), lethal removal by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) (14.1 percent), nonproject-related trapping (2.6 percent), project-related trapping (1.3 percent), and legal shooting by the public (1.3 percent). The remaining 17.9 percent of mortalities were a result of natural causes. An additional 23 wolves were permanently removed from the wild by USFWS. Of 13 trapping incidents in New Mexico that involved trappers other than USFWS project personnel, 7 incidents resulted in injuries to wolves, 2 wolves sustained injuries severe enough to result in leg amputations, and 2 wolves died as a result of injuries sustained. Rubber-padded foothold traps and properly set snares would most likely reduce trap-related injuries to Mexican wolves; however, impacts caused by trapping are outnumbered by other, human-caused impacts.

New Mexico;Arizona↗
USGS1988

Peregrine falcon

Since 1975, 101 peregrine falcon breeding sites have been documented in Arizona, New Mexico and western Texas. Eyries were found in either riverine or montane canyons, habitats which supported dense and diverse avian prey and provided structural characteristics that may increase prey vulnerability. Approximately 85% of the sites visited each year were occupied. Egg-laying (mid-February to mid-May) typically occurred first in the south and at lower elevations, and later in the north and at higher elevations. Mean productivity of adult pairs (mean =1.55 young/year) was comparable to rates reported for healthy populations. Poor productivity and decreased territorial occupancy in western Texas and southeastern New Mexico occurred in the presence of high levels of environmental DDE. Estimates of the breeding population (141-187 occupied territories) are twice the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recovery goal for the region; however, the population is not considered recovered. The discrepancy of these assessments stems from the suitable-habitat approach used by the authors vs. the narrower eyrie-based USFWS recovery plan. Recommendations include reevaluation of recovery goals to ensure adequate habitat protection, elimination of regional sources of organochlorine pesticides, delineation of suitable habitat, formulation of habitat management prescriptions, winter habitat studies,continued monitoring of territorial occupancy and productivity, and accountability for sensitive information.

Book chapter↗
USGS2015

Jaguar critical habitat designation causes concern for Southwestern ranchers

The designation of jaguar critical habitat in April 2014 in southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico created concern for livestock ranchers in the region. We interviewed ranchers to understand their concerns with the jaguar critical habitat designation and their attitudes toward jaguars, wildlife conservation, and resource management in general. Ranchers we interviewed were concerned about direct impacts of designated critical habitat on ranching, as well as possible alternative agendas of critical habitat advocates and issues specific to the borderlands region. The ranchers were less concerned about the presence of jaguars but were more concerned about possible limiting effects of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), distrust of government entities, and litigious environmental groups. To maximize effectiveness, government agencies should work to foster trust in the ranching community, be cognizant of sensitive issues specific to the region that may challenge endangered species conservation goals, recognize the opportunity to work with ranchers for endangered species management, and provide outreach about implications of the ESA.

Rangelands↗
USGS2023

Conservation genomics of an endangered montane amphibian reveals low population structure, low genomic diversity and selection pressure from disease

Wildlife diseases are a major global threat to biodiversity. Boreal toads ( Anaxyrus [Bufo] boreas ) are a state-endangered species in the southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado and New Mexico, and a species of concern in Wyoming, largely due to lethal skin infections caused by the amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis ( Bd ). We performed conservation and landscape genomic analyses using single nucleotide polymorphisms from double-digest, restriction site-associated DNA sequencing in combination with the development of the first boreal toad (and first North American toad) reference genome to investigate population structure, genomic diversity, landscape connectivity and adaptive divergence. Genomic diversity ( π = 0.00034–0.00040) and effective population sizes ( N e = 8.9–38.4) were low, likely due to post-Pleistocene founder effects and Bd -related population crashes over the last three decades. Population structure was also low, likely due to formerly high connectivity among a higher density of geographically proximate populations. Boreal toad gene flow was facilitated by low precipitation, cold minimum temperatures, less tree canopy, low heat load and less urbanization. We found >8X more putatively adaptive loci related to Bd intensity than to all other environmental factors combined, and evidence for genes under selection related to immune response, heart development and regulation and skin function. These data suggest boreal toads in habitats with Bd have experienced stronger selection pressure from disease than from other, broad-scale environmental variations. These findings can be used by managers to conserve and recover the species through actions including reintroduction and supplementation of populations that have declined due to Bd .

Colorado↗
USGS1983

Petroleum potential of wilderness lands in the Western United States

In 1982-83, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conducted an investigation of the oil and gas potential of the designated and proposed Wilderness Lands in the Western United States. The scope of this study was limited to the assessment of conventional recoverable petroleum resources occurring in the designated and proposed Wilderness Lands of the Western United States that are administered under four Federal agencies: Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), National Park Service (NPS), and Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). The total area of the study included approximately 74 million acres of Wilderness Lands in these 11 Western States: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. The 74 million acres represent 31 percent of the total Federal lands within these 11 Western States. Approximately 49 percent of all the lands in these States are federally owned. The objective of this study was to assemble through various means all the available pertinent information that could be brought together within the USGS and integrate these data into a computer-based digital cartographic data system that was focused upon the single issue of reviewing the known geological and geophysical data to determine the geologic characteristics favorable or unfavorable for the occurrence of petroleum resources in these Wilderness Lands. In a joint effort in the USGS between the Geologic Division (GD) and the National Mapping Division (NMD) all of the mappable information used in this study was prepared and processed by using digital cartographic techniques. These include digitizing the location and boundaries of the Wilderness Lands; acreage calculations; the boundaries of the USGS petroleum provinces; and the geologic and tectonic boundaries within each petroleum province and State. In addition, searches were conducted on well data files which provided the locations and geologic information on over 5,000 wells drilled within or immediately adjacent to the Wilderness Lands. An analysis of all the geologic characteristics favorable or unfavorable for petroleum occurrence in conjunction with the geologic settings for the Wilderness Lands scattered within the framework of the petroleum provinces was performed by a team of geologists on each of the wilderness tracts. The geologic characteristics reviewed for each tract included the presence or absence of the following: adequate source beds and reservoir rocks; adequate trapping mechanisms; favorable thermal and maturation histories; presence of petroleum seeps or adjacent wells with shows or production; and the presence of favorable sedimentary rock sections underlying volcanic terrane or faulted and overthrust areas. A description of the geology and geologic framework is provided for each State along with an explanation of the interpretative geology and evaluation of the petroleum potential within the locale of each of the wilderness tracts. The assessment of the petroleum resources on the Wilderness Lands was completed in two separate stages. In the first stage the geologists evaluated the geological characteristics for the favorability or lack of favorability for the occurrence of oil and natural gas within each wilderness tract and assigned a qualitative rating for each tract's potential for the occurrence of recoverable oil and gas resources. In the second stage in evaluating the petroleum potential for the wilderness tracts, an effort was made to arrive at a quantitative assessment within the framework of the USGS's latest published resource estimates which are made on a province basis. The geologic characteristics evaluated for the favorability of petroleum occurrence within each of the clusters of wilderness tracts were the determining factors for the subjective assessments of the petroleum potential for each wilderness tract occurring within the respective basin or province. The quantitative resource assessments are subjectively determined as to the richness and potential of the wilderness tracts relative to the total petroleum potential for the respective petroleum province within which they occur. The results of the qualitative analysis of the petroleum potential of the Wilderness Lands are tabulated by total acreages for each wilderness tract as classified by its potential rating. These tabulations are made for the Wilderness Lands by petroleum province, by State, and for the total Wilderness Lands in the 11 Western States. A summary is provided of the petroleum potential by acreage for all the Wilderness Lands in the Western United States by State and for the total 11 States. At least 34 percent of the total acreage for Wilderness Lands, or approximately 25 million acres, may have the geologic characteristics necessary for the occurrence of petroleum resources in varying amounts (high, medium, and low potential). An additional 33 percent of the Wilderness Lands may have some limited potential where small sedimentary areas are mixed within igneous and metamorphic terranes, but are more likely to fall in the low to zero potential. Finally, 33 percent of the Wilderness Lands probably have no petroleum potential because they are located in terranes with predominantly igneous and (or) metamorphic rocks that are unfavorable for the occurrence of petroleum. The quantitative petroleum assessments for the Wilderness Lands in the Western United States represent a part of the total estimate of the remaining undiscovered oil and natural gas for the 38 petroleum provinces, as defined by Dolton and others in USGS Circular 860 in 1981, within which the Wilderness Lands occur. The undiscovered recoverable oil for the Wilderness Lands in the Western States is estimated to range from 0.555 to 1.490 billion barrels with a mean estimate of 0.834 billion barrels. The undiscovered recoverable natural gas is estimated to range from 5.536 to 16.639 trillion cubic feet with a mean estimate of 9. 729 trillion cubic feet. Each range corresponds to the 95 and 5 percent probabilities of more than the respective amounts. The estimates reported at the 95 percent and 5 percent probabilities and the mean estimates for oil and gas are summarized for the separate States and the aggregated totals. A series of printed maps, one for each Western State, accompanies this report (Miscellaneous Investigations Series Maps I-1537-I-1547, in press) and shows in color the location and qualitative petroleum potential of the Wilderness Lands studied, with BLM identification of tracts; the boundary locations of all major Federal and Indian lands; the boundaries and identification of the USGS petroleum provinces; and other base information. A pamphlet will accompany each State map describing the geology of the State and the local geology relative to the position of the wilderness tracts and their petroleum potential. These maps were compiled by using traditional cartographic techniques from digitally produced graphics and are published as separate sheets for each State at a scale of 1:1,000,000.

Circular↗
USGS2026

Final project peport for “Mapping riparian vegetation response to climate change on the San Carlos Apache Reservation and Upper Gila River watershed to inform restoration priorities: 1935 to present – Phase 2: Focus on tamarisk vegetation”

Riparian ecosystems play a critical role in supporting wildlife habitats, maintaining water quality, and sustaining ecological resilience in arid landscapes. In the Upper Gila River level-4 Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC-4; Identification Number – 1504) watershed of Arizona and New Mexico, and across areas of the San Carlos Apache Tribe of the San Carlos Apache Reservation (hereafter, Tribe/Tribal – entity; or Reservation - place), riparian ecosystems have been substantially altered by the widespread expansion of tamarisk ( Tamarix spp.), an invasive and non-native riparian species. Tamarisk has high water use and increased flammability, making it a growing concern as droughts intensify across the southwestern United States (U.S.). Recent research indicates that tamarisk is increasingly stressed under prolonged drought conditions, which can elevate wildfire risk and further degrade riparian habitat. In response, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Western Geographic Science Center, in collaboration with the Tribe, developed remote sensing–based tools to map riparian vegetation composition and monitor vegetation condition over time. These tools enable accurate identification of tamarisk extent, detection of vegetation stress, and comparison with native species such as cottonwood and willow. This information directly supports restoration and management actions, including targeted tamarisk removal, protection of endangered species habitat, and prioritization of areas for native vegetation recovery. The tools also provide insight into how riparian vegetation responds to changing climate and hydrologic conditions, strengthening long-term planning for riparian forest management. Findings from this work demonstrate that riparian vegetation responses vary across river systems, indicating differences in plant composition and hydro-climatic conditions. Tamarisk on both the Gila and San Carlos Rivers generally exhibit greater declines in greenness in response to higher temperature as well as lower precipitation and river flow, while cottonwood ( Populus fremontii ) and willow (Salix spp.) are particularly sensitive to changes in discharge along the San Carlos River and respond more directly to both high and low flows, with more moderate responses to precipitation and temperature. By providing actionable, science-based information, this research supports climate adaptation planning, wildfire risk reduction, and improved riparian ecosystem health, with benefits that extend beyond the Reservation to regional water and wildlife conservation efforts.

Arizona, New Mexico↗
USGS2016

Jaguar surveying and monitoring in the United States

Because of the jaguar&rsquo;s ( Panthera onca ) endangered status under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 throughout its range (from Arizona in the north to Argentina in the south), jaguar individuals and populations are monitored to varying degrees throughout their range. Knowledge gained from monitoring jaguars is helpful for wildlife managers who are responsible for conserving this species. The University of Arizona (UA) has conducted a multiyear surveying and monitoring effort for jaguars and ocelots in southern Arizona and New Mexico. The purpose of this work was to establish an effective surveying and monitoring system for jaguars along the United States-Mexico border. Surveying and monitoring in this study focused on the United States side of the border, but the methods could also be used in Mexico. The intent was to develop and implement a surveying and monitoring system that would provide the greatest probability of recording jaguar presence in, and passage through, the border area. This project established and implemented a noninvasive system for detecting and monitoring jaguars. The study area incorporates most of the mountainous areas north of the United States-Mexico international border and south of Interstate 10, from the Baboquivari Mountains in Arizona to the Animas Mountains in New Mexico. We used two primary methods to detect exact jaguar locations: paired motion-sensor trail cameras, and genetic testing of large carnivore scat collected in the field. We emphasize that this project used entirely noninvasive methods and no jaguars were captured, radiocollared, baited, or harassed in any way. Scat sample collection occurred during the entire field part of the study, but was intensified with the use of a trained scat detection dog following the first jaguar photo detection event (photo detection event was October 2012, scat detection dog began working January 2013). We also collected weather, vegetation, and geographic information system (GIS) data to analyze in conjunction with photo and video data. The results of this study are intended to aid and inform future management and conservation practices for jaguars and ocelots in this region.

Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas↗
USGS2012

The Colorado Plateau V: research, environmental planning, and management for collaborative conservation

Roughly centered on the Four Corners region of the southwestern United States, the Colorado Plateau covers some 130,000 square miles of sparsely vegetated plateaus, mesas, canyons, arches, and cliffs in Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. With elevations ranging from 3,000 to 14,000 feet, the natural systems found within the plateau are dramatically varied, from desert to alpine conditions.This volume, the fifth from the University of Arizona Press and the tenth overall, focuses on adaptation of resource management and conservation to climate change and water scarcity, protecting biodiversity through restructured energy policies, ensuring wildlife habitat connectivity across barriers, building effective conservation networks, and exploring new opportunities for education and leadership in conservation science.An informative read for people interested in the conservation and natural history of the region, the book will also serve as a valuable reference for those people engaged in the management of cultural and biological resources of the Colorado Plateau, as well as scientists interested in methods and tools for land and resource management throughout the West.

Book↗