BORDERLANDS RESTORATION NETWORK
  • Who We Are
    • BRN Mission & Vision >
      • Policies
      • Annual Report
      • Strategic Plan
    • Equity, Inclusion, and Justice
    • Why a Network
    • Meet Our Team
    • BRN Fellows
    • Meet the Network >
      • Borderlands Restoration Network 501c3
      • Borderlands Restoration, L3c
      • Wildlife Corridors
      • Cuenca Los Ojos
    • Meet Our Partners
  • What we do
    • Educational Programs >
      • Borderlands Earth Care Youth Institute
      • Water is Life
      • Field Studies
      • Women Grow Food
    • Native Plant Program >
      • Native Plant Program
      • Our Plants & Seeds
      • Wholesale & Contract Opportunities
      • Current Projects & Initiatives
      • Regional Seed Strategy
    • Watershed & Habitat Restoration
    • Borderlands Wildlife Preserve
  • News
  • Events
    • Nature Walk Program
    • Bat Appreciation Day
    • Migratory Bird Day
  • Donate
  • Join Us
    • Job Opportunities
    • Volunteer
    • ENewsletter
  • Blog
  • Buy Seeds & Merch

Guest Blog Spotlight:  News from our Member Organization Cuenca Los Ojos

12/13/2018

 
Picture
Borderlands Restoration Network is grateful for the opportunity to participate in the work of building a restoration economy in the Borderlands with some amazing member organizations.  This week we want to share some of the great work happening at our member organization: Cuenca Los Ojos.

Read on for an article from one of their recent newsletters.  Read more about CLO and join their mailing list by visiting them at the following link:
​  Cuenca Los Ojos Foundation

What does a volunteer experience at CLO? Each visit is unique. This newsletter describes some of the ideas that Isaac of the Chaa ranch in Texas was exposed to as he did his volunteer work...
Passing on to the Next Generation
Good land management takes into account not only agriculture and cattle but also water and fish, soils and plants, insects and small and large mammals. All play an indispensable role in a healthy environment. CLO concentrates on water recovery because water supports life, so the first task was to study the stream, how water moves, where the force is strongest, where vegetation has been able to establish and is slowing the flood flows and where rock retention structures (gabions) will be needed. ​​
​After walking the river Isaac said: 
​

- "You can’t get this in a book, you have to see it”

Next, Isaac went out to set traps with two fish biologists Chuck and Alton. Along with the native fish, Yaqui chubs, the traps caught a multitude of salamanders. These are strange neotenic creatures (meaning they can reproduce in an immature stage) and may never develop into an adult. A seemingly normal brood can produce an abnormally large monster with fangs that eats its brothers and sisters. Should it develop into an adult it reverts to normal behavior (normal behavior for a salamander).
Picture
Picture
The following day, three investigators from Sky Island Alliance Bryon, Stuart, and Tom came out to find a spring. They were equipped with nets, a water kit to test Ph, a pipe to measure flow, and a half globe. Looking into the globe one can find one’s position relative to the horizon line and in doing so determine the amount of sunlight that spot receives. Isaac went out with them to find the spring which they never found. I think it was a difficult task because, water was seeping out of the hills everywhere.
Picture
Picture
Next Isaac went to Mexico where for two weeks he learned how to plant trees to help restore native habitat and prevent erosion. Gerardo took Isaac with him to check the game cameras. Isaac said:- “ While we were out, we stopped by the pasture where the adult cows were being held. What a sight, hundreds of mature cows surrounded by tall grass, the animals themselves some of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen”.
Picture
Previously Jose Manuel had taken Isaac to show him how we are doing restorative grazing. - “Properly handled and rotated the cows will eat invasive species, including buffel grass which is a big problem in Texas. Jose Manuel makes sure cows have enough protein which is easily observed in their manure. He does not worm or use pesticides on the cows. As a consequence down the line dung beetles are able to break up and incorporate manure into the soil and this action allows nutrients and bacteria to be available to plant life which creates a healthy environment”. ​
Picture
Finally, Joe Manuel took Isaac to see the water restoration and the gabion work that is the signature work of CLO. Isaac closes his report saying "it is really amazing to see how many local people are involved in the ranch and native restoration efforts in Mexico, a community of people young and old , what it used to be like in the US, but now we can only dream about. I am very inspired by how accessible the ranches appears to be to kids, scientists, anyone, who wants to come and learn”.
Picture
To see more of the great work happening at Cuenca Los Ojos, to make a tax-deductible donation, or to subscribe to their newsletter, visit their webpage at: ​https://cuencalosojos.org/

Comments are closed.

    SEARCH OUR BLOG

    CATEGORIES
    ​

    All

    ARCHIVES
    ​

    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    June 2017

Location

Physical Address:
1 School Street
​Patagonia, AZ 85624

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 121
Patagonia, AZ 85624

Contact Us

General Contact:
E-mail: 
info@borderlandsrestoration.org
Phone Number: (520) 216-4148

BR Native Plant Nursery

42 San Antonio Road, Patagonia, AZ
**See instructions for how to buy our plants.**
Contact:
Francesca Claverie, Native Plant Program Manager 
​E-mail: horticulture@borderlandsrestoration.org
Phone Number: (520) 276-2483

BRN Seed Lab

1 School Street - Patagonia, AZ
**online sales only**
Email: horticulture@borderlandsrestoration.org
​
VOLUNTEER
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
​SIGN-UP FOR OUR ENEWSLETTER!
DONATE NOW
Hours of Office Operation:
**BRN is currently operating mostly remotely. Please contact us via email or by phone.**
Monday-Thursday: 8AM-3PM
Friday: By Appointment
​Saturday-Sunday: Closed
  • Who We Are
    • BRN Mission & Vision >
      • Policies
      • Annual Report
      • Strategic Plan
    • Equity, Inclusion, and Justice
    • Why a Network
    • Meet Our Team
    • BRN Fellows
    • Meet the Network >
      • Borderlands Restoration Network 501c3
      • Borderlands Restoration, L3c
      • Wildlife Corridors
      • Cuenca Los Ojos
    • Meet Our Partners
  • What we do
    • Educational Programs >
      • Borderlands Earth Care Youth Institute
      • Water is Life
      • Field Studies
      • Women Grow Food
    • Native Plant Program >
      • Native Plant Program
      • Our Plants & Seeds
      • Wholesale & Contract Opportunities
      • Current Projects & Initiatives
      • Regional Seed Strategy
    • Watershed & Habitat Restoration
    • Borderlands Wildlife Preserve
  • News
  • Events
    • Nature Walk Program
    • Bat Appreciation Day
    • Migratory Bird Day
  • Donate
  • Join Us
    • Job Opportunities
    • Volunteer
    • ENewsletter
  • Blog
  • Buy Seeds & Merch