State Wildlife Action Plan for New Mexico

Intermountain Arroyo Riparian Scrub

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Intermountain Arroyo Riparian Scrub

SWAP Habitat

Intermountain Arroyo Riparian Scrub

NVC Name

Great Basin and Intermountain Xero-Riparian Scrub (M095)

SWAP General Vegetation Type

ARROYO RIPARIAN

Habitat Size

12 square miles

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Intermountain Arroyo Riparian Scrub

Intermountain Arroyo Riparian Scrub occurs at 1,600–2,475 m (5,250–8,120 ft) elevation in the Colorado Plateaus and Southern Rockies ecoregions. It occurs within and along the edges of ephemeral, cold-desert washes.

This is primarily an open shrubland habitat with patches of vegetation dominated by big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens), shadscale saltbush (A. confertifolia), skunkbush sumac (Rhus trilobata), or rubber rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa).
Herbaceous cover is generally sparse, although disturbance-tolerant species, such as foxtail barley (Hordeum jubatum), tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus), and western tansymustard (Descurainia pinnata), along with non-native annuals like cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) and prickly Russian thistle (Salsola tragus), can sometimes be abundant.
This habitat is associated with flash flooding and rapid sheet and gully flows that scour channel bottoms. Vegetation is sparse due to the high impact of flooding and the lack of moisture between flood events.

Threats and Conservation Actions

ECOREGION

THREAT

Result for: All

Invasive and Other Problematic Species, Genes, and Diseases

As needed, gather additional information regarding the distribution of tamarisk (Tamarix spp.) and other exotic plants in riparian habitats (e.g., NHNM 2023). Determine the impact of exotic plants, and their removal and reduction, on SGCN and their habitats. Create and implement site-specific plans, with measurable goals and objectives, to restore the historic structure and composition of riparian habitats while minimizing negative impacts on SGCN and soil health (Wagner 2023). Prioritize removal of monoculture stands of non-native plants (e.g., Johnson et al. 2018) and ensure that sufficient native riparian vegetation is locally available to SGCN and that local hydrological conditions support native vegetation regrowth. Since pollinating insects may use exotic riparian plants (e.g., Pendleton et al. 2011), minimize impacts of removing these plants on pollinating insect SGCN, including by avoiding herbicide application when plants are in bloom and treating the focal area in stages. Include post-implementation monitoring and maintenance for all riparian restoration projects. Document and report restoration approaches used, including successes and failures (Shafroth et al. 2008, Sogge et al. 2013). Potential collaborators: BLM, BOR, NPS, NRCS, USACE, USFS, USFWS, NMDA, SFD, SLO, SWCDs, universities, non-profit organizations, private landowners.

Agriculture and Aquaculture Climate Change and Severe Weather Energy Production and Mining Human Intrusions and Disturbance Invasive and Other Problematic Species, Genes, and Diseases Pollution

Assess the synergistic effects between climate change and other threats to SGCN and their habitats (e.g., Friggens et al. 2019, Parks et al. 2019). Incorporate appropriate climate adaptation strategies and frameworks into projects designed to address these synergistic effects. This may include enhancing connectivity (CEQ 2023), facilitating a species’ innate adaptive capacity (Thurman et al. 2022), enhancing genetic diversity (Powell 2023), considering local adaptation (Meek et al. 2023), or considering whether it is most appropriate to resist, accept, or direct ecosystem transformation (Lynch et al. 2021, Stevens et al. 2021). Projects should acknowledge ecosystem dynamism and incorporate indigenous knowledge (e.g., Roos et al. 2022, Eisenberg et al. 2024), nature-based solutions (Warnell et al. 2023), and experimentation (Guiterman et al. 2022) when appropriate. Potential collaborators: BLM, NPS, USFS, USFWS, USGS, universities, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Agriculture and Aquaculture Climate Change and Severe Weather Energy Production and Mining Human Intrusions and Disturbance Invasive and Other Problematic Species, Genes, and Diseases Pollution

Collaborate with interested and willing land managers and private landowners to designate protected areas or implement conservation easements for lands that encompass important SGCN habitats. Potential collaborators: BLM, NPS, NRCS, USFS, USFWS, SLO, non-profit organizations, private landowners.

Invasive and Other Problematic Species, Genes, and Diseases

Consider the impact of honeybee (Apis spp.) apiaries on wildlands and restrict their placement in areas where native bee SGCN occur. Honeybees can pose a disease spillover risk for wild bees (Tehel et al. 2016). Potential collaborators: universities, non-profit organizations, private landowners.

Invasive and Other Problematic Species, Genes, and Diseases

Continue current efforts to prevent the infestation of aquatic habitats in New Mexico by zebra (Dreissena polymorpha) and quagga mussels (D. bugensis) and other aquatic invasive species. This includes informing anglers and boaters on the importance of not introducing invasive and other problematic species and providing them with information on how to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. Potential collaborators: BLM, BOR, USACE, USFS, NMED, NMSP, universities, non-profit organizations.

Invasive and Other Problematic Species, Genes, and Diseases

Design and implement protocols for early detection of invasive and problematic species, including feral ungulates, and diseases. Quickly respond to detection. Potential collaborators: BLM, NPS, NRCS, USFS, USFWS, NMDA, NMED, SLO, universities, private landowners.

Pollution

Determine effects of, and implement actions to mitigate negative effects from, agro- (e.g., neonicotinoids, other pesticides) (Sanchez-Bayo 2021, EPA 2023) and petrochemicals, synthetic chemicals (e.g., per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances [PFAS]), microplastics, urban runoff, and other pollutants (e.g., sewage, nutrients, toxic chemicals, sediment) on SGCN, especially fish and pollinating insects, and their habitats. This includes solid waste that may entangle wildlife. Potential collaborators: EPA, NMDA, NMED, universities, local governments, municipalities, private industry.

Climate Change and Severe Weather

Determine how regional and global climate change will affect SGCN, vegetation patterns (e.g., Davis et al. 2019, Coop et al. 2020, Guiterman et al. 2022, Davis et al. 2023), and community (e.g., Rosenblad et al. 2023) and ecosystem processes and dynamics, including disturbance regimes. This includes identifying SGCN (e.g., Glick et al. 2011) and associated habitats that are most likely to be negatively affected by climate change, including impacts on travel corridors, habitat connectivity, and species and habitat ranges. Identification of environmental conditions or thresholds that could limit SGCN is especially important. Potential collaborators: BLM, NPS, USFS, USFWS, USGS, EMNRD, SLO, universities.

Agriculture and Aquaculture

Determine how timing, intensity, and duration of livestock grazing affect SGCN and their habitats, including the interactions among grazing, fire, and the spread of invasive and problematic species and among grazing, soil erosion (e.g., Pilon et al. 2017), and native riparian vegetation growth (e.g., Lucas et al. 2004). Potential collaborators: BLM, NRCS, USFS, NMDA, SLO, universities, private landowners, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Related Resources

Terrestrial Habitats section in SWAP document