2016 city of rocks state park management plan€¦ · chihuahuan desert grasslands, which make up...

2016 City of Rocks State Park

Management Plan ENERGY, MINERALS, AND NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT - STATE PARKS DIVISION

Contributors The following individuals contributed to the development of this plan: Cheryl Bada, Deputy General Counsel, EMNRD John Busemeyer, Planner, SPD David Certain, Bureau Chief, Field Support, SPD Rolf Hechler, former Regional Manager, Southwest Region, SPD Judy Kowalski, Bureau Chief, Design and Development, SPD Gabe Medrano, Park Manager, City of Rocks State Park, SPD Robert Stokes, Archeologist, SPD Christy Tafoya, Director, SPD Steve Tafoya, former Bureau Chief, Field Operations, SPD Melissa Torres, former Regional Manager, Southwest Region, SPD Rob Vadurro, Architect, SPD Toby Velasquez, Deputy Director, SPD Abbreviations ADA Americans with Disabilities Act BLM US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management DGF New Mexico Department of Game and Fish EMNRD New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department FY Fiscal Year NM New Mexico NMDOT New Mexico Department of Transportation RV Recreational Vehicle SLO New Mexico State Land Office SPD Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, State Parks Division UTV Utility Task Vehicle

Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 6

Park Description ............................................................................................................................... 6 Park History ...................................................................................................................................... 8

PARK ASSESSMENT ....................................................................................................................................... 8 PARK RESOURCES ..................................................................................................................................... 8

Land ...................................................................................................................................................... 8 Regional Setting ............................................................................................................................... 8

Natural Resources ................................................................................................................................ 9 Geology ............................................................................................................................................ 9 Water ............................................................................................................................................. 10 Vegetation ...................................................................................................................................... 10 Wildlife ........................................................................................................................................... 11

Cultural Resources.............................................................................................................................. 11 RECREATION ........................................................................................................................................... 12

Camping ......................................................................................................................................... 12 Day Use Areas ................................................................................................................................ 13 Interpretation ................................................................................................................................ 13 Events ............................................................................................................................................. 13 Trails ............................................................................................................................................... 14 Climbing ......................................................................................................................................... 14

PARK FACILITIES ...................................................................................................................................... 14 ADA Accessibility ............................................................................................................................ 14 Visitor Center ................................................................................................................................. 14 Maintenance Shop ......................................................................................................................... 14 Staff Housing .................................................................................................................................. 14 Utilities ........................................................................................................................................... 14

PARK MANAGEMENT .............................................................................................................................. 15 Staffing ........................................................................................................................................... 15 Partners and Concessions .............................................................................................................. 15 Volunteers ...................................................................................................................................... 15 Budget ............................................................................................................................................ 15 Visitation ........................................................................................................................................ 17

RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................................................. 19 ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS ......................................................................................................... 19

Park Resource Recommendations ................................................................................................. 19 Recreation Recommendations ....................................................................................................... 20 Facilities Recommendations .......................................................................................................... 21 Management Recommendations .................................................................................................. 22

ACTION PLAN .............................................................................................................................................. 24 References .................................................................................................................................................. 26 Appendix ..................................................................................................................................................... 27

City of Rocks State Park 2016 Management Plan

Management Plan 2016 5

The State Parks Division and

City of Rocks State Park Mission:

Protect and enhance natural and cultural resources, provide

first-class recreational and education facilities and

opportunities, and promote public safety to benefit and

enrich the lives of visitors.



Key Facts

Park established: 1952 Park management area: 2,934.713 acres Land leased to SPD by SLO since 1953:

Land purchased by SPD in 2005: Land purchased by SPD in 2007: Land acquired by SPD in 2012 from Freeport-McMoRan settlement:

680 acres 550 acres 988.873 715.84

Total campsites: With water and electric:

59 10

Full-Time employees: Law enforcement officers: Seasonal employees:

3 2 1

Park elevation: 5,275’ County: Grant

INTRODUCTION

Park Description City of Rocks State Park (Park) is in Grant County, off of State Highway 61, near US Highway 180. The Park is approximately 25 miles northwest of Deming and 22 miles southeast of Silver City. The Park features large boulders formed by volcanic ash, which can reach as high as 40 feet. The Park ranges in elevation from 5,800 feet at the top of Table Mountain, in the north-central part of the Park, to 5,040 feet at the bottom of Faywood Cienega, in the southwest corner of the Park. Camping, hiking, picnicking, biking, and night-sky viewing are the most popular activities in the Park.



Park History The first official survey of the area was completed in 1868 and labeled the property that is now the Park as “City of Rocks”. The US Department of the Interior controlled the land from 1868 until March 27, 1914, when it transferred the land to the State of New Mexico. In 1952, the New Mexico State Legislature passed a bill establishing that the State Land Office (SLO) would lease 680 acres to SPD to create City of Rocks State Park. SPD held a formal dedication ceremony in May, 1956, after water service and picnic tables were added to the Park. The current visitor center, designed by the architect Ed Mazria, was completed in 1998. In 2005, SPD Purchased 550 acres of land adjacent to the original 680 acres. SPD added another adjacent 988.87 acres in 2007. In 2012, the mining company, Freeport-McMoRan, gave SPD 715.84 acres as part of a settlement with the US Department of Justice concerning damaging pollution coming from mines in the area. This acreage included two ecologically important areas- most of Table Mountain and Faywood Cienega.

Key Historical Events

1952 An act by the New Mexico State Legislature established the Park. 1956 The Park has an official dedication ceremony, which opens the property to the public. 1998 The visitor center is completed. 2005 SPD purchases 550 acres of adjacent land. 2007 SPD purchases 988.87 acres of adjacent land. 2012 SPD acquires 715.84 acres of adjacent land from Freeport-McMoRan Corp.

PARK ASSESSMENT

PARK RESOURCES

Land

Regional Setting The Park is in southwestern New Mexico. It is surrounded by SLO, BLM, and private lands. The public and private lands nearby are primarily used for grazing. The Faywood Hot Springs are a tourist destination 0.5 miles south of the Park. The Mimbres River is about 3.5 miles to the east. DGF recently acquired a property known as “River Ranch” on the Mimbres River, which is now a wildlife management area. The ranch was previously owned by Gene and Elisabeth Simon, who sold land to SPD in 2005 and 2007 that expanded the Park. The ranch serves as a permanent buffer that will prevent development from encroaching on the southeast side of the Park. The Gila National Forest is 16 miles to the north. The Cooke’s Range Wilderness Study Area is 15 miles to the southeast. Rockhound State Park and the Florida Mountains Wilderness Study Area are between 35 and 40 miles to the southeast. All of these areas are within a one-and-a-half-hour drive. The Gila Cliff Dwellings are nearly two hours away and are also a popular tourist draw in the region; the highway to the Cliff Dwellings is designated as the Mimbres Scenic Byway by the NMDOT, along which is located the Mimbres Culture Heritage Center at the Mattocks Ruin in the town of Mimbres.



Natural Resources

Geology The Park exists because of its unique geologic features. The large rocks are the result of a volcanic eruption 34.9 million years ago from the nearby Emory Caldera. During the eruption, the hot ash was nearly molten. This hot ash was then compacted and consolidated as it formed a thick layer on the land. During the cooling process, the ash formed into a lava-like rock, which had a pattern of vertical cracks. The rocks, also known as Kneeling Nun Tuff, are rhyolite compositions, which contain mineral grains, pumice, and crystals made of hornblende, biotite, quartz, and feldspar. In addition to the vertical cracks that formed during the cooling process, other cracks appeared as a result of erosion caused by

Climate Data Average maximum temperature in December 55.7

Average maximum temperature in June 91.3

Average minimum temperature in December 26.5

Average minimum temperature in July 61.1

Record High (June 22, 1974) 105

Record Low (February 3, 2011) -2

Average annual precipitation 12.11”

Average annual snowfall 2.8”



water, the freeze-thaw cycle, humic acids in the soil horizon, vegetation, and wind. Over millions of years, these erosive forces formed the giant boulders that are the centerpiece of the Park. Between 36 and 24 million years ago, there were dozens of eruptions in southwestern New Mexico that caused tuff formations in the area. Visitors can see three of these ash-flow tuffs, from three separate volcanic eruptions, on the slopes of Table Mountain. The volcanic activity in the area is also responsible for producing the Faywood Hot Springs (McLemore, 1997).

Water Prior to 2005, the only water features in the Park were a few ephemeral arroyos. The land that was added in 2005, 2007, and 2012 included some significant water resources. A stock pond, which has around an acre of surface water, provides resources for wildlife to the southeast of Table Mountain. A stock tank with a windmill is located near the south central portion of the Park. Stock tanks and ponds in the area are import sources of water for wildlife and habitat for amphibians and bird species. The Faywood Cienega is in the southwest corner of the Park. It is one of only two cienegas in the area that have remained wet (the other is Faywood Hot Springs). The rest of the cienegas in the area have dried, mostly due to water extraction, cattle grazing, and subsequent downcutting of arroyo channels, which will lower water tables (Sivinski et al., 2011). The cienega attracts diverse wildlife, some of which cannot be found in the surrounding areas.

Vegetation The Park straddles two ecoregions. The Madrean Lower Montane ecoregion extends from the western base of Table Mountain to the east and northeast. The rest of the Park lies in the Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands ecoregion (Griffith et al, 2006). Since areas within the Park haven’t been grazed for decades, the Park provides an excellent example of Chihuahuan Desert grasslands, which make up the majority of the Park’s acreage. Grass species that are found there include black, blue, and sideoats grama, dropseed species, beargrass, tobosa grass, bluestem species, three-awn species, and bush muhly. Some other species in this ecoregion are creosote bush, acacia, tarbush, juniper, and oak species. The Park also has numerous species of cacti and yucca, including soaptree yucca (New Mexico Office of Natural Resources Trustee and New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office, 2013). The Madrean Lower Montane ecoregion in the vicinity of Table Mountain consists of Mexican piñon, one-seed juniper, alligator juniper, gray oak, Emory oak, manzanita, mixed gramas, and species of three-awn. Shrub species include desert ceanothus, alderleaf mountain mahogany, and catclaw mimosa (Griffith et al, 2006). Riparian habitats are very rare in this part of southwestern New Mexico. Over the last century, 85-95% of riparian forests in New Mexico and Arizona have been lost due to overgrazing by livestock, habitat modification, water withdrawal, and invasive species. Riparian habitats support a wider variety of flora and fauna than surrounding areas. Faywood Cienega is one of only two cienegas left in the area. The rest have dried up. The cienega supports wildlife that is not seen anywhere else in the Park including Gooding’s willow, bacharis, alkali sacaton, salt grass species (including the endangered Parish’s alkali grass), and several different species of wildflowers, sedges, and rushes (Sivinski et al, 2011).



Wildlife Several threatened or endangered species occur in the vicinity of the Park and some may occasionally be found within Park boundaries. These species include: Abert’s towhee, American peregrine falcon, bald eagle, Bell’s vireo, common black-hawk, Gila woodpecker, southwestern willow flycatcher, Arizona shrew, Chiricahua leopard frog, lowland leopard frog, Mexican garter snake, and narrowhead garter snake (BISON-M, 2015). Species which have been seen in the Park include chipmunks, kangaroo mice, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, elk, coyotes, bobcats, javelinas, porcupines, and bears. The Park is also home to three species of rattlesnakes and numerous species of lizards, which may include the Gila monster. Bird species in the area include red-tailed hawk, northern harrier, golden eagle, great horned owl, barn owl, turkey vultures, raven, purple finch, canyon towhee, cactus wren, canyon wren, mockingbirds, curve billed thrashers, Gambel’s quail, scaled quail, rufous and black-chinned humming birds, the greater roadrunner, and over 35 other species of migratory songbirds (New Mexico Office of Natural Resources Trustee and New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office, 2013). Tarantulas and scorpions are among the more notable arachnids in the Park.

Cultural Resources There is a wealth of archaeology in the lands around the Park. Two sources of water, Faywood Hot Springs, just to the south of the Park, and Faywood Cienega, have most likely attracted people to the area that is now the Park for thousands of years. Archaeological evidence shows that people have lived nearby since at least 9500 BC during the Paleoindian period. Paleoindian culture consisted of nomadic hunter-gatherers who hunted large game in the grasslands of New Mexico. Archaeologists have found artifacts on Park property from the Archaic period, which followed the Paleo-Indian period. The Archaic period began around 7000 to 6000 BC, when the climate in the region became similar to today’s climate. People from this period were mostly hunter-gatherers and relied more on plants for food than their Paleoindian predecessors. As the Archaic period progressed, archaeologists have found evidence that these people began living within areas of higher population densities for longer durations. They also began building pithouses, which were structures that were partially dug into the ground and covered with a roof made of plant material and mud or clay. They made other advances, such as creating irrigation ditches as seen in the Tucson area, which enabled them to produce, collect, and store enough food to get them through lean times. Archeologists have also found artifacts within the Park that are from the Mimbres culture, which is a branch of the Mogollon culture. These people lived in villages along the Mimbres River for centuries. Several mortar holes, which were used for grinding grain, are found near some campgrounds in the Park and may have been created by these people. Archaeologists have also discovered pieces of Mimbres pottery and tools within the Park. At first, the people of the Mimbres valley lived in pithouses, some of which were temporary while others became large, full-time villages. The larger villages along the river were located near the best farmland and the villagers practiced agriculture while still gathering wild resources. The smaller temporary pithouse sites were usually located away from the river and were occupied for a time until the nearby resources were depleted. They would then move to a new site and live there while resources in the area of the old site were allowed to replenish. Eventually the people would move back to the original site, and the cycle would repeat. Some of the archaeological sites near the Park show this pattern.



By around AD 550, the people in the area began making polished red pottery along with plain brownware, which was known as San Francisco Red. They later added painted designs, known as Mogollon Red-on-brown pottery. The people of the Mimbres Valley continued to hone their pottery and farming skills and became more sedentary over time. The villages grew larger, and the people in the area began making distinctive black-on-white pottery, known as Mimbres Style I Black-on-white, which sometimes had naturalistic designs. During this time the Mimbres culture started to become less influenced by the Hohokam culture to the west and more influenced by the Puebloan culture centered around Chaco Canyon. As a result, people started to leave pithouses and construct pueblo-style masonry homes around AD 1000. These pueblo villages were small at first, but some villages grew to have over 200 rooms. The famous Mimbres pottery was produced during this time period, with expertly drawn geometric designs and naturalistic designs of humans, animals, and mythological scenes. This pottery is world-renowned and became popular to collect, which created large-scale looting at archaeological sites in the region (LeBlanc, 1983, 2004). Beginning around AD 1100 and ending around 1300, a series of droughts in the area had a destabilizing effect on the cultures of the region, and people began to move out of the Mimbres valley to surrounding areas. By around 1250, the valley was sparsely populated (Lekson, 2009). In the following centuries, a series of cultures came to the area. Apaches came in the 1400s, and a petroglyph in the Park may have been made by them; some of the mortar holes were also likely used by the Apache who harvested the local plant foods. Spaniards traveled through the area in the 1500s. Mining began in the region in 1804, when a Spanish army officer began mining copper 20 miles to the north of the Park. Active mines remain in the area today. The Butterfield Overland Trail was established by traders in 1858 and remained in use until 1861. The trail passes to the south of the Park, and an 1868 map shows trails and roads connecting City of Rocks to Faywood Hot Springs and the Mimbres valley. In the late 1800s, homesteaders and businessmen began to occupy the area and attempted to make the Faywood Hot Springs a local attraction. After 1952, the Park brought visitors to the lower Mimbres valley, which remains occupied by ranchers and farmers, much as it did for the past 100 years. SPD staff have not completed a full survey of the Park that includes the recently acquired properties. Considering the rich cultural history of the area, additional sites from various times and cultures are nearly certain to be located within Park boundaries.

RECREATION

Camping Camping is very popular at the Park. Most of the sites are dispersed around the perimeter of the rock features. The Park has 59 developed campsites, 10 of which accommodate RVs and have electric hookups. The sites with electric hookups also have shade shelters with picnic tables. The Park has two walk-in sites that are set back from the road, and people carry their camping equipment from the parking area near the road to the sites. Eight sites are available for reservation, three of which have electric hookups. The reservation sites are often booked in the spring and fall.

Total Sites: 59



Camp Host and Volunteer Sites: 3 Sites with water and 30 amp electric: 5 Sites with water and 50 amp electric: 3 Sites with water, 30 amp electric and sewer hookups: 3 Sites with water, 50 amp electric and sewer hookups: 1 Reservation sites with electric: 2 Reservation sites without electric: 6 Sites without water or electric: 34 Walk-in sites: 2

Day Use Areas The Park has two day use areas. The Orion Group Area is about 0.25 miles north of the visitor center and is available for both day use and camping. It is close to the observatory and the group campfire area. A vault toilet is available less than 100 yards away. Observation Point has one picnic table under a 15’x15’ shelter and benches in the overlook area.

Interpretation The Park hosts several astronomy programs, or “star parties”, during the year. The region is known for its clear night skies, and in 2005, SPD established its first astronomical observatory at the Park. The observatory is a 12’ x 16’ building with a roof that rolls back. It is equipped with a 14″ Meade LX-200 telescope. The facility is powered with solar panels. In addition to star parties, the Park sometimes hosts guided nature walks and other interpretive events such as “Going Batty”, which teaches visitors about bats, and “Snake, Rattle and Coil”, which teaches visitors about rattlesnakes. “Desert Camo” informs visitors about the ability of wildlife to blend into their natural surroundings. The Park also has a program concerning the adaptability of coyotes. The “Coffee with the Ranger” program, which enhances ranger-visitor communication, is held throughout the year. The visitor center has displays that feature the Park’s geology, information about Mimbres pottery, and plants and animals that can be found in the Park. The botanical garden, located to the west of the visitor center, has many of the species that are found in the area such as ocotillo, agave, yucca, and numerous species of cactus.

Events In late February, the Park hosts the “Rumble in the Rocks” mountain bike festival, which is a non-competitive event that features rides suited for mountain bikers of all abilities. In 2015, the event attracted around 50 people. The Park has held an annual Boulderfest the last weekend in October since 2004. The event attracts hundreds of people from around the country. Participants free climb the boulders and compete to see how many boulders they can climb during the two day event. This type of climbing is also known as bouldering and does not involve the use of harnesses, ropes, or bolts.



Trails In 2004 and 2006, Youth Conservation Corps crews built approximately 3.5 miles of trails along the perimeter of what was then the Park’s boundary. This trail eventually became known as the Hydra Trail. When SPD obtained the parcel containing Table Mountain, a casual use trail emerged that leads to the top of the mountain, which has expansive views of the surrounding area. SPD will reroute and improve this trail where necessary to prevent erosion issues. SPD also plans on constructing more trails over the next few years.

Climbing Although there are no official climbing areas in the Park, people come to free-climb the boulders, and the Park has become internationally known for its bouldering. Climbers are not allowed to chip, bolt, or use any other type of fixed protection in accordance with NMSA 1978, Section 16-2-32 and 19.5.2.9 NMAC.

PARK FACILITIES

ADA Accessibility The visitor center, comfort station, and group shelter are ADA accessible. The RV campground has two ADA accessible sites, which also have electric and water hookups.

Visitor Center SPD completed construction of the visitor center in the summer of 1997 and held a dedication ceremony on April 25, 1998. The building was designed to blend into the landscape by using materials that mimic the natural surroundings in order to reflect a sense of the area. The visitor center has restrooms with showers and an exhibit area, which features displays of the Park’s past and present natural history, geology, and the area’s cultural history.

Maintenance Shop The maintenance shop is approximately 0.03 miles southwest of the visitor center. The building is 1,800 square feet and has heating and air conditioning. It stores the Park’s maintenance equipment, UTV, and tools.

Staff Housing Two doublewide trailers are adjacent to the maintenance shop and serve as employee housing. Both of these buildings are around 13 years old and are in fair condition.

Utilities

Utility Providers

Water Three wells within the Park Electricity PNM Propane Griffin’s Propane Solid Waste Removed by Park staff and taken to landfill Wastewater Septic tanks and leach fields within the Park



Telephone CenturyLink

PARK MANAGEMENT

The Park is open year-round. The visitor center is typically open from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, and in the summer the visitor center is open from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. The gate at the Park’s entrance is closed from 9 pm to 7 am.

Staffing The Park manager and Park ranger are the law enforcement officers for the Park. The Park also has one other full-time employee and one seasonal employee.

Partners and Concessions The Park has not had a friends group in over a decade and does not have a concessionaire at this time.

Volunteers The Park typically has three volunteers during the spring and fall. In summer and winter, the Park will have one or two volunteers. Park volunteers stay at RV campsites in the Park and perform tasks such as welcoming visitors at the visitor center, conducting routine maintenance, hosting interpretive programs, and lending help when the Park is hosting events and groups.

Budget



Visitation

From FY2008 to FY2014, the Park’s visitation declined by about 8%. This may be due to a region-wide trend of reduced visitation to this part of the state. Gila Cliff Dwellings saw a large drop in visitation during this time period, partially due to fires and flood damage in the area. Silver City and Deming both had reduced revenue from lodgers’ taxes over the same time period.



Contrary to most other State Parks, visitation to the Park drops off during the summer months. Park visitation is lowest during December, January, and February, which is typical of most State Parks.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

“Issues” are concerns, problems, threats, or opportunities. The issues were raised by individual staff, during the group planning workshops, by stakeholders, or by the public. Not all issues will result in an action. Some issues may be beyond SPD’s control or may not be a priority during this planning period. The proposed actions (shown with ) are also listed in the “Action Plan” following this section. After the public comment period, the final action items were prioritized using the criteria developed in the Strategic Operations and Sustainability Plan (SOS). Some actions will require further research, evaluation, planning, or design before they can be implemented. Each action is contingent upon available funding and other resources, and there is no guarantee that it will be feasible or that it can be funded and implemented in the proposed timeframe.

Park Resource Recommendations Erosion Control Erosion has degraded several areas in the Park. The areas that have experienced the most erosion are in the vicinity of the northwestern campgrounds. Some of the campsites and the driveways leading to them have ongoing erosion problems due to the amount of impermeable surface in the vicinity of the boulders. This surface speeds the rate and amount of runoff, which leads to accelerated erosion. After passing through the campgrounds, the runoff crosses the road in several areas and has created large gullies and headcuts. SPD should form and implement a plan to address erosion issues in the Park. The plan is likely to include the closure or reconfiguring of some sites and driveways due to erosion problems and gullying in some areas. SPD may add erosion control structures in the vicinity of other sites, create concrete “raceways” across the main loop road to prevent gullies forming across the road, and address the headcuts that are forming on the outside of the main loop road. Erosion control measures may also include the reclamation of some redundant roads and areas that are currently bare ground, re-grading roads, and transplanting vegetation.

Design and implement an erosion control plan for the Park, particularly in the campgrounds and roadways surrounding the rocks.

Restoration The Park has gained 2,255 acres over the past 10 years, which has more than quadrupled its original size. Some of the parcels that SPD obtained had been grazed by livestock for decades, which has left a legacy of ecologically degraded areas. SPD has the opportunity to restore some areas to benefit wildlife. A dirt stock pond southeast of Table Mountain typically contains around an acre of surface water and is apparently spring-fed. The pond experiences heavy use by cattle , which has prohibited the growth of vegetation along the perimeter of the pond, compacted the soils in the area, and is responsible for the eutrophication of the water in the pond, which negatively impacts aquatic species diversity. If SPD planted native vegetation along the perimeter of the stock pond and kept the cattle out, the area would be highly valuable to both wildlife and visitors. Trespass cattle are often a problem in the area despite the efforts of Park staff to fence the cattle out of Park property. It may be necessary for SPD to add or replace fencing that would keep livestock out of the area but would still allow the passage of wildlife such as deer, pronghorn, coyote, and rabbits.



Vegetate the perimeter of the stock pond with native species. Repair and manage fence and cattle incursions to reduce damage to the perimeter of the pond.

Faywood Cienega is a unique wetland in the Chihuahuan Desert that provides valuable habitat to many species of flora and fauna. It is possible that restoration could help improve this ecosystem. Active restoration treatments could include the removal of a decades-old berm that was constructed up-stream (northeast) of the cienega and altered the area’s hydrology. The berm was breached by storm water runoff, which created a gully with highly erodible banks. SPD could also remove a few invasive tamarisk that established near the berm. The area upstream of the berm is also experiencing some erosion issues due to storm water runoff and may also benefit from erosion control measures. Some erosion control structures could slow the flow of water to promote infiltration and increase soil moisture and plant growth. Other structures could be installed to prevent headcuts, which can lower the water table. However, due to the unique and ecologically valuable nature of the Faywood Cienega and the species that inhabit it, passive restoration may be the most beneficial and least disruptive treatment, since the ecosystem appears to be relatively stable. SPD should create a monitoring program to study the wildlife and the hydrology of the area while educating visitors about monitoring methods and the value of wetlands in the Chihuahuan Desert. The program would also determine whether some active restoration should take place in the vicinity or whether passive restoration in this area is the best approach.

Monitor and evaluate the Faywood Cienega area to educate visitors and determine management options.

Recreation Recommendations Trails Within the next year, SPD plans to construct a 1.62 mile trail from the northeast corner of the Hydra Trail to a scenic overlook at the top of Table Mountain. The majority of this trail already exists, but some areas need to be improved or rerouted. SPD will evaluate, and may designate, one or two areas near the overlook for use as undeveloped campsites for backpackers. SPD also proposes to construct the Faywood Cienega Trail within the next year. This trail would start on the west side of the road to the visitor center and make a loop around the wetland at the southwestern corner of the Park. Two bird blinds along the loop would provide excellent bird watching opportunities. This trail would be 1.56 miles. SPD proposes to build another trail after construction of the Faywood Cienega Trail and the Table Mountain Trail. This trail would go from observation point, which is connected to the Hydra Trail, to an area across from the planned Faywood Cienega Trail. SPD may also construct bird blinds along this trail. The trail would be approximately 2 to 2.25 miles. Once these three trails are completed, the Park would have a total of 10.9 miles of interconnected trails. Construct the Table Mountain Trail, Faywood Cienega Trail, and the trail that will connect the Hydra

Trail to the Faywood Cienega Trail.

Camping



The Park currently has 10 RV campsites with electric and water hookups. Three of these sites are occupied by camp hosts and volunteers. Because the electric sites are solidly booked in both spring and fall, SPD proposes to create two electric sites for volunteers near the staff residence and shop area. These sites would increase visitor capacity at the RV campground and would also add security to the shop area. These sites would have electric, water, and sewer hookups, and they may be partially powered by solar panels on the shop. Create two new volunteer sites near the shop.

Since the RV area is very popular and usually full in spring and fall, SPD could add RV sites along an existing road to the west of the RV campground. SPD would try to add sites in areas that are already disturbed in an attempt to minimally impact resources. The sites may have electric and water hookups. Create RV campsites in an area to the west of the existing RV campground.

Interpretation SPD could increase visitation and improve the experiences of visitors by providing more interpretive materials, programs, and events. The Park could provide visitors with bird watching brochures and updated trail maps for self-guided interpretation. Signs identifying the different plant species growing in the botanical garden would also aid in the education and enjoyment of visitors. Park staff could also host more groups, such as scout troops, and hold archery events, which are quite popular in the area. Expand the interpretive and recreational offerings that the Park provides visitors.

Facilities Recommendations Group Shelter and Observatory Area The group shelter is a popular place for visitors to enjoy picnicking and holding events, but wind can disrupt group events and blow litter around, especially during the spring, which is the Park’s busiest time. SPD can put walls around the group shelter, which would protect people from the wind and make events and picnicking more enjoyable. Additional upgrades could make the group shelter more desirable for visitors to rent. SPD should also run electricity from the campground to the group shelter. Visitors and staff would have access to power outlets in the shelter, which would be useful during gatherings and events. Adding LED lights in the group shelter would also be useful. Place walls on the sides of the group shelter to block the wind. Add electricity to the group shelter. Add LED lights to the group shelter.

Events in the Park, such as star parties, are very popular, and the group area lacks the capacity to host large groups. It would be easier to host events if SPD built an amphitheater with seating for up to 50 people and expanded parking in the area. The amphitheater could be equipped with a projection screen and supporting electronics, which could be hooked up to the observatory’s telescope. A photovoltaic system on the roof of the group shelter could power the amphitheater. SPD could designate an area behind the vault toilet for event parking and minimize the impact of traffic along Park roads. Build an amphitheater powered by a photovoltaic system near the observatory. Add a parking area to the east of the group area’s vault toilet.

Visitor Center



The visitor center does not have the capacity to accommodate Park staff and large groups. Four people currently share the Park office, which is less than 270 square feet. SPD could build an addition onto the east side of the visitor center that would include additional office and storage space and an indoor classroom. The classroom would increase the Park’s capacity to host a variety of interpretive events. The addition could also have solar panels on the roof, which would increase the Park’s energy efficiency. Build an addition onto the visitor center with office, storage, and classroom space and conduct

needed improvements to the existing structure. The parking area around the visitor center is gravel, which can be difficult for some people to walk on and requires frequent maintenance. SPD should pave the parking area to make the visitor center easier for visitors to access and decrease the amount of maintenance required by Park staff. Pave the area around the visitor center.

Shop The shop cannot house all of the Park’s equipment. SPD should expand the interior of the shop by adding walls and a bay door to the shop’s current carport and build a new carport adjacent to the building. The new carport could have solar panels on the roof to increase the Park’s energy efficiency. Expand the current shop and build a new carport with solar panels.

Management Recommendations Park Entrance The Park’s boundary is now around 1.4 miles south of where it was prior to the recent property acquisitions. SPD needs to move some signs and the pay station to an area south of the planned trailheads near Faywood Cienega so they are at the new boundary. SPD would construct a pull-out for pay station access. This pullout could be large enough to accommodate parking for the trailheads as well. SPD may also move the Park entrance to this area and build a rock entrance structure similar to the one at the current entrance. SPD would need to coordinate with NMDOT on this project. Work with NMDOT to move the Park entrance to align better with the Park’s current

boundaries. River Ranch DGF purchased a portion of the River Ranch, on the Mimbres River, in 2014 through a conservation easement established by Gene and Elisabeth Simon. The ranch borders the Park, and the ranch house is approximately 3.2 miles east of the visitor center. It was the Simon’s wish that the River Ranch be preserved for wildlife and conservation purposes. The last free-flowing stretch of the Mimbres River flows through the ranch, which has more than 1,000 acres, 38% of which is riparian habitat. Fremont cottonwood, velvet ash, and Arizona walnut are common in the riparian zone, which supports 23 species of greatest conservation need, according to a DGF investigation of the area. The ranch includes a 3,200 square foot residence, a 1,280 square foot modular guest house, and a few out buildings that range in size from 1,600 square feet to 600 square feet. DGF currently manages all facilities and has staff presence at the ranch. The property provides a unique opportunity for DGF and SPD to work together on collaborative programs at the ranch. The ranch could accommodate many outdoor recreation activities such as wildlife viewing, fishing, and archery. DGF and SPD could also cooperatively host conservation



education programs for youth and adults, such as wildlife identification, citizen science ecological monitoring, and habitat restoration and management programs. Work with DGF to develop and implement a plan for collaborative programming and partnership

at the Mimbres River Ranch facilities. DGF currently owns 52 acres of land adjacent to the southeast portion of the Park on the north side of State Road 61, which DGF acquired as a part of the River Ranch Wildlife Management Area. SPD should acquire this land so that the Park’s boundaries are consistent with the north side of State Road 61. If SPD purchased this land, the Park would not have to purchase, install, and maintain an additional 0.5 miles of fence. It is possible that DGF would be willing to work with SPD to dispose of this property in order to simplify its boundaries as well. Work with DGF to obtain 52 acres of land adjacent to the Park.

SPD hopes to establish closer ties with DGF and other government entities and local organizations near the Park in order to foster public and interagency communication and to lay the groundwork for potential partnerships and future collaborations. Establish working relationships with DGF, other government entities, and local organizations.

The Park has not had a friends group for over a decade. Friends groups can help the Park by raising funds, volunteering on projects, helping with events, and helping staff with tasks during busy times. Create a friends group for the Park.



ACTION PLAN The table below summarizes the action items identified in the previous section. The action items have been prioritized using the criteria developed in the Strategic Operations and Sustainability Plan (SOS). This prioritization (shown on page 25) helps determine the order in which the items are implemented. All actions will be preceded by obtaining the necessary environmental and cultural survey clearances. Inclusion of an action item in this list is not a guarantee that the item will be implemented.



City of Rocks Action Item Score SheetMaintenance Safety/Regulatory Resource Protection Revenue Generation Efficiency Visitor Experience Urgency Total

2 1 2 2 2 2 2 13

Maintenance Safety/Regulatory Resource Protection Revenue Generation Efficiency Visitor Experience Urgency Total1 0 2 3 0 3 3 12

Maintenance Safety/Regulatory Resource Protection Revenue Generation Efficiency Visitor Experience Urgency Total-1 2 0 3 2 3 3 12










Maintenance Safety/Regulatory Resource Protection Revenue Generation Efficiency Visitor Experience Urgency Total-1 2 -1 3 -1 3 2 7








Maintenance Safety/Regulatory Resource Protection Revenue Generation Efficiency Visitor Experience Urgency Total-1 0 0 2 0 2 0 3

Maintenance Safety/Regulatory Resource Protection Revenue Generation Efficiency Visitor Experience Urgency Total0 -1 2 0 -1 2 0 2

Add a parking area to the east of the group area’s vault toilet.

Build an amphitheater powered by a photovoltaic system near the observatory.

Work with DGF to develop and implement a plan for collaborative programming and partnership at the Mimbres River Ranch facilities.

Work with NMDOT to move the Park entrance to align better with the Park’s current boundaries.

Work with DGF to obtain 52 acres of land adjacent to the Park.

Add LED lights to the group shelter.

Expand the current shop and build a new carport with solar panels.

Add electricity to the group shelter.

Restore the area near the south windmill to create a pond and plant with native vegetation.

Expand the interpretive and recreational offerings that the Park provides visitors.

Monitor and evaluate the Faywood Cienega area to educate visitors and determine management options.

Create RV campsites in an area to the west of the existing RV campground.

Place walls on the sides of the group shelter to block the wind.

Repair and manage fence and cattle incursions to reduce damage to the perimeter of the pond.

Design and implement an erosion control plan for the Park, particularly in the campgrounds and roadways surrounding the rocks.

Create two new volunteer sites near the shop.

Pave the area around the visitor center.

Vegetate the perimeter of the stock pond with native species.

Create a friends group for the Park.

Construct the Table Mountain Trail, Faywood Cienega Trail, and the trail that will connect the Hydra Trail to the Faywood Cienega Trail.

Build an addition onto the visitor center with office, storage, and classroom space and conduct needed improvements to the existing structure.

Establish working relationships with DGF, other government entities, and local organizations.



References Griffith, GE, J. Omernick, M. McGrawG. Jacovi, C. Canavan T. Schrader, D. Mercer R. Hill and B. Moran. 2006. Ecoregions of New Mexico. US Geological Survey, Reston, VA. LeBlanc, S. 1983. The Mimbres People: Ancient Painters of the Southwest. Thames and Hudson, London. LeBlanc, S. 2004. Painted by a Distant Hand: Mimbres Pottery from the American Southwest. Peabody Museum Press, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA. Lekson, S. 2009. A History of the Ancient Southwest. SAR Press, Santa Fe, NM. Lodgers tax revenue data found on the web at: http://bber.unm.edu/econ/ltr2014.html McLemore, V.T., 1997, City of Rocks State Park: New Mexico Geology. 19: 44-47. New Mexico Office of Natural Resources Trustee and New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office. 2013. Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment for the Chino, Cobre, and Tyrone Mine Facilities. Sivinski, R., P. Tonne. 2011. Survey and Assessment of Aridland Spring Cienegas in the Southwest Region. ESA Section 6 Report. Sivinski, R. 2003. Annotated Checklist of the Genus Allium (Liliaceae) in New Mexico. The New Mexico Botanist. Species listings found on the web at: http://www.bison-m.org Weather data found on the web at: http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?nm3157

http://bber.unm.edu/econ/ltr2014.html

http://www.bison-m.org/

http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?nm3157



Appendix

City of Rocks State Park Draft - Management Plan

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2016 city of rocks state park management plan€¦ · chihuahuan desert grasslands, which make up...

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