An Expression Of Concern At Bosque Del Apache

Guest Commentary
By Kale Batsell, Lu Ann Pavletich, and Phoebe Wood

Those of us who have lived in the area for decades, or moved here to enjoy its natural beauty, have become used to the rhythms of life in the central Rio Grande Valley: the first water in the irrigation ditches, the spring planting and fall harvests, the annual return of the migrating ducks, geese and sandhill cranes to the Bosque del Apache. For many years, we have been able to take the wonders of this national wildlife refuge almost for granted. We proudly show it off to our guests; its visitors contribute to the economy of Socorro County; it refreshes and inspires us and helps to bring new residents eager to share in the region’s special pleasures.
This year, however, many visitors have been denied the transforming, wondrous spectacle of thousands of wintering birds flying in and out of the refuge at sunset and dawn. Due primarily to the failure of this year’s corn crop at the refuge, the number of birds actually staying there is alarmingly low. They have been forced to wander up and down the valley, feeding where they can and the refuge has not been able to function as it should, as their sanctuary.
There are real reasons to care about this year’s crisis. Socorro County is one of the poorest in the state and the Bosque del Apache NWR is certainly one of its chief attractions. A survey cited in a recent Bosque economic impact statement indicates that 74 percent of visitors come to the area “specifically to visit Bosque del Apache NWR.” More than 43 percent of these visitors “stay more than one day in the area.” The money they spend on food, lodging and the other goods and services is crucial to the region’s economy. The potentially negative effect of a decline in Bosque’s reputation as a showplace, as one of the jewels of the national wildlife refuge system, cannot be over-stated.
The refuge is critical for the welfare of the geese, crane and waterfowl populations, and it has a long history of partnering with local farmers to grow corn for them on its lands, The birds can forage for foodstuffs in the wetlands in November when the weather is mild, but when the marshes freeze in the winter, birds need a more nutritious supplementary food – corn. In fact, the refuge estimates a need for about 1.5 million pounds of corn.
Current practices require a two-year cycle of rotation between alfalfa and corn, with one quarter of each unit being planted in corn. But the refuge’s farming program is in trouble for a number of reasons.
Corn is much more labor-intensive to grow and irrigate than alfalfa and is prone to damage from weeds and insects.
Recent declines in alfalfa prices increase the risk for the prospective farmer.
Fields upon which the refuge had long ago improved the drainage to reduce salinity may require further remediation.
Transporting the necessary equipment to and from the refuge is time-consuming and costly.
The fact that corn is no longer widely grown in the valley means that there are fewer farmers with the experience to be successful.
Certain steps are being taken to restart the farming program. According to a recent ad aimed at attracting local farmers, the refuge will help prospective farms “in the purchase of seed corn, fertilizer and corn-related pesticides.” The Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a two-year approval for the use of genetically modified corn on the refuge for this coming year.
Of even more importance to resolve, however is the issue of trust between the refuge and its farmers. In the midst of drought conditions in 2001, the regional director of Fish and Wildlife decided that the refuge’s water should be left in the river for the benefit of the endangered silvery minnow. The resulting hardship to the refuge farmers who had crops at state caused a deterioration in their relationship with the refuge and its government supervisors. Since then, the rules and regulations that farmers have to contend with, have made it difficult to convince them that farming on the refuge is a worthwhile endeavor. It is hard to understand, therefore, why the prospective farmers answering the refuge’s recent advertisement have also requested a meeting with the regional director of Fish and Wildlife. It is important that the refuge’s relative physical isolation not become an unnecessary bureaucratic isolation as well. At present, the refuge needs its farmers, and their partnership should be a fair one, a source of benefit and pride to both parties.
At the regularly scheduled meeting of the Friends of the Bosque board of directors on Jan. 16, Refuge Manger Tom Melanson summarized some of the steps the refuge is taking to relieve the crop problem this year and plans for the future, The refuge already has spread 3,000 pounds of the 300,000 pounds of corn it has brought down from Bernardo for supplemental feeding. The advertised meeting with local farmers offered hope that at least one farmer will sign a contract to farm a portion of the 1,049 acres currently available.
The refuge also is considering modifying its farming program to include a wetland/crop rotation. Other refuges have experimented with this process which involves flooding a parcel of land for two to four years in a wetland and then planting it. The crop in the newly replanted soil tends to require fewer pesticides and often offers greater yields. The Bosque is anticipating an initial outlay of $110,000 for an aerial survey of all lands within the historic flood plain and a detailed soil survey of all current agricultural lands in order to determine with portions of the refuge would be optimal for such a program. There would then be annual costs for seed, fertilizer, labor and fuel.
It is good to know that the refuge is taking the issues raised during this disappointing year seriously. As beautiful as it is, Bosque del Apache does not run itself. Its management and staff are the stewards of our resources and cannot be motivated simply by bureaucratic and procedural impulses but must feel a real passion for the area and what it has to offer. It is absolutely important that they design and implement a long-term plan to make sure that the birds are provided for.
Those serving in the regional Fish and Wildlife office also are the guardians of our refuge and its goals. We trust that they will do their best to help our refuge deal with all its issues, large and small, now and in the future.
Challenges unmet become chronic problems that lead to mediocre results, and we cannot afford another year like this one. For many of us, the Bosque is an emotional place, magical in its power to transform us through the experience that it offers, We in the community should remind ourselves that a well-run refuge continues to make this a special place to live and that it deserves our attention and support.

An Expression Of Concern At Bosque Del Apache