By: Audrey Rader, BRN Restoration Program ManagerWe are pleased to announce that Borderlands Restoration Network is a recipient of an Arizona Department of Water Resources Watershed Management Assistance Program grant! The Arizona Department of Water Resources will provide roughly $105,000 in support over three years with the express purpose of preventing the Santa Cruz water table from experiencing long-term declines.  This project will take place on the T4 Ranch, a working ranch midway between Patagonia and Nogales, AZ. Borderlands Earth Care Youth and Watershed Restoration Program crews will work together to install erosion control structures across twelve degrading drainages of this 300-acre property. In addition to restoring the physical processes of this site, we will also spread native, pelletized seed and mulch across bare ground. These activities will mitigate soil loss, increase water infiltration, and enhance native plant abundance and diversity while simultaneously educating and empowering our local youth.  ADEQ drone documenting the landscape on the project site. During July, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) staff flew drones over T4 Ranch to obtain imagery establishing the baseline conditions of this site to better inform restoration activities. After restoration work is completed, ADEQ will again fly T4 Ranch to document and survey the land. These surveys may aid ongoing efforts by the United States Geological Survey to track gullying rates with and without erosion control structures. In tracking these rates, we will garner a better understanding of the effectiveness of erosion control efforts in this special area. As proud occupants of these gorgeous Sky Islands, we are grateful when our work can continue through the generous support of our funders. We greatly appreciate the Santa Cruz Groundwater Users Advisory Council and Arizona Department of Water Resources Watershed Management in their support of the restoration of this vital region.
By: Cholla Nicoll, BRN Wildlife InternOne of the most amazing and diverse families lives right here in our local environment, and sometimes even our home. This family consists of 38 different species, the smallest of which is the domestic house cat (Felis catus). Cats have captivated humanity as far back as records exist. Cultures all over the world have revered cats for their power, beauty and mysterious ways. Luckily for us, four different species of wild cats make their homes right here in Southeastern Arizona. The Mountain Lion (Felis concolor) and Bobcat (Felis rufus) are commonly found here, while the Jaguar (Felis onca) and Ocelot (Felis pardalis) are considered endangered and rarely seen. All cats are obligate carnivores, meaning that their bodies require certain nutrients that can only be acquired through eating meat. Large cats like mountain lions eat approximately one deer every two weeks, or smaller animals more frequently if deer are not present. Since large cats require large meals their presence often indicates an abundant ecosystem. Mountain Lions travel great distances to meet their caloric requirements and their territory can easily encompass 20 square miles. Protecting non-endangered cats, like mountain lions, is vital because it also protects a large habitat containing many different plants and animals. To learn more about mountain lions and how to safely coexist with them please visit Mountain Lion Foundation.  Mountain Lion captured on one of our wildlife monitoring cameras last fall in the Borderlands Wildlife Preserve. As elusive as our feline friends can be, we do frequently find tracks and scat indicating their presence at the Borderlands Wildlife Preserve. Occasionally we are lucky enough to capture a picture of a cat on our wildlife cameras like this mountain lion image from last fall. These beautiful predators help maintain the balance of wildlife in our area and still strike up a feeling of awe in the lucky few who catch a glimpse of them in their natural surroundings.
In celebration of our local wild cats, Borderlands Restoration Network in collaboration with the Patagonia Creative Arts Association will be holding a wild cat drawing contest for local elementary-aged students. This contest will take place in September and the winners will have their art featured on one of the trail signs located within the Borderlands Wildlife Preserve. Be on the lookout for more details as September approaches! By: Laura Monti, BRN Senior FellowBecause of the support of many generous donors, myself, Jesús Armando Haro Encinas and Gary Paul Nabhan made a trip to Desemboque, Sonora on July 2nd to deliver medical equipment, supplies and medicine to assist in setting up a COVID-19 response clinic. The equipment and supplies that were brought to Desemboque included six oxygen concentrators including two high flow 10 liter/minute machines, disposable masks, tubing, a sterilization unit, oximeters, personal protective gear, sanitizer, and medications. The high flow oxygen concentrators are scarce due to the rising levels of COVID-19 in both Arizona and Sonora. We would like to purchase two more as they become available to be able to supply the clinics in each village.
We worked together with four healthcare providers of the Municipal Secretary of Health of Pitiquito and five local health promoters to initiate a COVID-19 response clinic. The team assessed, tested and provided healthcare to over 70 community members. The health care promoters received training on the use of the different oxygen concentrating machines and in the therapeutic administration of oxygen. The machines were put to immediate use and provided life saving support for patients in respiratory distress. The local health promoters were filled with pride and hope as they experienced tangible support, appreciation and accompaniment. They and all the Comcáac send greetings along with their deep gratitude for the support.
In addition to the clinic, arrangements are being developed to provide support from medical health care providers via phone and through video calls. We have also been assisting in the costs of transporting patients to hospitals, as needed, and funeral costs. Much of this work has required an enormous amount of coordination and communication which has generously been provided by Leonel Hoeffer, Coordinator of the Kino Bay Center Indigenous Community Partnership Program.
As well as providing ongoing support for the health promoters and health clinic operations, one of our next steps is to help improve the physical condition of the clinic in Desemboque. If funding permits we will restore access to water by repairing the water pump and tubing and purchase filters to assure potable water. To address the space limitations and overcrowded conditions of the clinic we will use temporary pop-up tents for a waiting area outside, as well as restore and ventilate several rooms in the clinic.  We would like to recognize the generous support of the following individuals and organizations:
Thank you to all for your generous donations -- this effort would not be possible without your support! Interested in supporting this effort? Click here to donate! -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Laura Monti, Jesús Armando Haro Encinas y Gary Paul Nabhan hicieron un viaje a Desemboque, Sonora, el pasado 2 de julio para entregar equipos médicos, suministros y medicamentos para ayudar a establecer la clínica de respuesta COVID-19. El equipo y los suministros que se llevaron a Desemboque incluían 6 compresores de oxígeno que incluían 2 máquinas de alto flujo de 10 litros / minuto, máscaras desechables, tubos, una unidad de esterilización, oxímetros, equipo de protección personal, desinfectante y medicamentos. Los concentradores de oxígeno de alto flujo son escasos debido a los niveles crecientes de COVID-19 tanto en Arizona como en Sonora. Nos gustaría comprar dos más a medida que estén disponibles para poder suministrar las clínicas en cada pueblo. Los proveedores de atención médica Laura Monti y Jesús Armando Haro Encinas trabajaron junto con 4 proveedores de atención médica de la Secretaría Municipal de Salud de Pitiquito y 5 promotores locales de salud para iniciar una clínica de respuesta COVID-19. El equipo evaluó y realizó pruebas a más de 70 miembros de la comunidad para COVID-19 y proporcionó atención médica. Los promotores de atención médica recibieron capacitación sobre el uso de las diferentes máquinas compresoras de oxígeno y en la administración terapéutica de oxígeno, y las máquinas se pusieron en uso inmediato, brindando apoyo vital a los pacientes con dificultad respiratoria. Los promotores locales de salud se llenaron de orgullo y esperanza al experimentar un apoyo tangible, aprecio y acompañamiento. Ellos y todos los Comcaac envían saludos junto con su profunda gratitud por el apoyo. Además de la clínica, se están desarrollando acuerdos para brindar apoyo de los proveedores de atención médica a través del teléfono y, si es posible, a través de videollamadas. También hemos estado ayudando con costos de transporte de pacientes a hospitales, y también en los costos de los funerales según sea necesario. Gran parte de este trabajo ha requerido una enorme cantidad de coordinación y comunicación que ha sido generosamente proporcionada por Leonel Hoeffer, Coordinador del Programa de Colaboración con Comunidades Indígenas del Centro Prescott de Bahía de Kino. Además de proporcionar apoyo continuo para los promotores de salud y las operaciones de la clínica de salud, uno de nuestros próximos pasos es ayudar a mejorar la condición física de la clínica en Desemboque. Si el financiamiento lo permite, restauraremos el acceso de agua reparando la bomba de agua y los tubos, además compraremos filtros para asegurar el agua potable. Para abordar las limitaciones de espacio y las condiciones de conglomeración en la clínica, utilizaremos carpas emergentes temporales para un área de espera afuera, así como también restauraremos y ventilaremos varias habitaciones en la clínica. Nos gustaría reconocer el generoso apoyo de las siguientes personas y organizaciones:
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Physical Address:
320-B School Street Patagonia, AZ 85624 Mailing Address: PO Box 121 Patagonia, AZ 85624 |
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