THE PLACE: The New Mexico portion of this river is owned almost entirely by the Bureau of Land Management, which has worked to remove salt cedar and other exotics and has planted several hundred cottonwoods and willows. As a result, the riparian area is gradually reverting to the conditions that have historically prevailed.

We will leave our cars at the mouth of the Delaware, where it empties into the Pecos, and ferry people to the highway bridge. From there we will walk back to the cars, noting the changes in the river as we go. The area has important paleontology (a mammoth was found here), history (the Butterfield Stage ran along the river’s edge), and biology (many rare and restricted species for New Mexico are found here).

We will document the occurrence of plants and animals, as well as any surviving stands of salt cedar for eventual removal by BLM. If time permits, we will explore the lower part of the Pecos River to the state line and visit the point of lowest elevation in New Mexico.

Maximum Participants: 15

Hike Leader: Steve West, stevewest@nmwild.org, 505-302-6187

Hiking Distance: 4−5 miles

Elevation Range: 2800 to 2900 feet

Diff iculty: easy to moderate

REGISTER for this event. There is a $5.00 administrative fee due upon registration.