A cool, overcast Tuesday morning brought about prime conditions to take a trip out into the field with CEHMM.
My guides for the day were Operations Manager and Wildlife Biologist Matt Mathis and Public Relations Manager Mary Garwood. They took me out on location to view some of the work CEHMM conducts. Previously, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Mathis, Garwood, and their Executive Director, Emily Wirth, to learn more about the different services and programs CEHMM provides.
Our first stop during this outing was to check pitfall traps for the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard (DSL) near Loco Hills, NM. We didn’t head into the heart of the Lesser Prairie Chicken (LPC) habitat, as that is out by Milensand, NM, and time did not permit traveling that far. Next, we went out past Loving, NM, to see some Special Status Plant Species (SSPS) survey work being done. Field Technicians walk several miles daily looking for the Scheer’s Beehive Cactus. Lastly, we drove to private land with the Black River running through it to observe the Texas hornshell mussel habitat and learn about the monitoring work there.
Living up to its name, the DSL can be found in the sandy, rolling dunes amidst various scrub brush. Within these dunes is a host of vegetation like Shinnery Oak, Little and Big BlueStem grasses, and mesquite bushes. CEHMM is actively working on eradicating mesquite in some program areas to assist in creating a habitat for the LPC. So far, 100,000 acres of mesquite have been treated and 20,000 acres removed. Once the mesquite is treated, it can be removed and mulched two years later by a skid steer, thus removing the visual obstacles to the LPC.
While checking pitfall traps, we did not encounter any DSL but saw some Uta Stansburiana. Field Technician Matthew Creswell and Range Conservation Scientist Erica Gutierrez demonstrated the process for documenting a DSL. Recordings include information like environmental conditions, weights and measurements, photographs, and GPS location.
CEHMM BY THE NUMBERS
- 160 acres of roads & well pads reclaimed to reduce fragmentation
- 140 miles of fencing projects to improve grazing
- 52 water sources for use by ranchers and wildlife
- 23 solar pumps installed on windmills to improve efficiency
- 19 years CEHMM has been incorporated (20 years in May of 2024)
- 27 employees
We met with Field Technician Lanette Irby and Senior Field Technician Meghan Veliz at the following location. Along with a handful of others, they are working on 1,900 miles of SPSS survey, being done on foot. Technicians aim to cover five miles daily, looking for Scheer’s Beehive Cactus, raptor nests, burrowing owl nests, and deep ravines. Veliz shared that “it’s important to have a good plan and be able to roll with the punches. Unexpected things can happen while in the field.”
Extreme temperatures in the Chihuahuan Desert require planning and preparation for working in the field. Hazardous conditions exist for those that work in the desert, including snakes, pokey bushes, and the unrelenting sun. Protective equipment, like snake guards, FR clothing, and H2S monitors, are worn to keep techs safe while on site.
The last location we visited was on private land to see Texas hornshell mussel habitat. The Black River runs through this ranch and hosts the Texas hornshell mussel. Ongoing research with a few universities on the tolerance levels of the Texas hornshell is being conducted at this site. Field Technician Austyn Chester showed us the data logger used to collect data like dissolved oxygen and measure the open air versus underwater. He also explained that there are two occupied sites at this location and two unoccupied sites to gain a comparison of that location and what difference it makes to their habitat during extreme flow events. The hornshell agreements involve adaptive practices that constantly evolve using the best available science to protect the species. The monitoring currently happening on the species will further its protection.
In short, CEHMM is here to help keep landowners and industry working by providing access to environmental services and conservation programs. When conservation measures are fully implemented, threats to the species are reduced or eliminated. This small and dedicated staff works diligently to ensure enrollees and all partners involved receive the most accurate services for their needs.
Texas Hornshell Mussel Program (NM and TX)
- 30 oil and gas companies
- 9 ranches
- 5 water users
- 890,000 acres
Lesser Prairie Chicken Program (NM only)
- 103 enrolled ranches, covering 2.3 million acres
- 92 industry enrollees, covering 2.2 million acres (with some overlap)
Article written by Michele Robertson and originally published in Focus on Carlsbad 2023 Fall edition.
