TITLE Bosque Ecosystem Monitoring Program How Young Citizen Scientists Contribute to the Rio Grande’s Ecological Health Audrey Kruse ~ Education Coordinator

Science, education, and stewardship What is BEMP? (Bosque Ecosystem Monitoring Program) Science, education, and stewardship … of the Rio Grande and its watershed … through long-term, hands-on student research … of ecosystem response and function … to inform public policy

“bosque” Spanish word for forest and… specifically refers to the riparian ecosystem around the Rio Grande in central New Mexico Albuquerque, NM

The bosque used to be a flood-dominated ecosystem – where yearly spring snowmelt made cottonwood forest regrowth possible. Now, with dams, levees, and other human interventions – water in Rio and water table is dramatically decreased Instead of domination of native species (yerba mansa) we see a domination of exotic and invasive species like tumble weed. Fires are a new anthropogenic disturbance on the bosque landscape as a result of dry forests and proximity to civilization BEMP studies the bosque’s functionality … … and resilience for the future. 4

Science at BEMP

Every Month BEMP monitors… Depth to groundwater Litterfall Precipitation Core of what BEMP is founded upon – Monthly Monitoring: simplistic and yet informative data set. 6

Basic BEMP site layout N S W 200 meters 100 meters A C B 4 3 2 1 E G D North 200 meters 100 meters A C B 4 3 2 1 E G N W S D 8 7 6 5 F 12 11 10 9 I H 16 15 14 13 J 20 19 18 17 open canopy Vegetation plot 1, 2, etc. Pitfall traps Litterfall tub Rain gauge Groundwater well N, E, C, S, W

Science throughout the year: Surface active arthropods Woody debris/fuel load River, ditch, groundwater chemistry Vegetation cover Tamarisk leaf beetle Cottonwood sex & DBH

Started with our first site: 1997 Now have almost 20 years of continuous monitoring – 3 Pueblo sites in North, 16 sites around ABQ, 9 South of ABQ, and 1 in Las Cruces

Citizen Science Data Credibility Federal Agencies State Agencies Bureau of Indian Affairs Local Government BEMP is unique – land managers actually USE data Ground water wells help the Army Corps determine how much water in the river vs. in the ditches and agricultural drains. Army Corps chooses to contract its groundwater data collection with BEMP and isn’t super interested in the fact that its collected by students – data is credible.

Water table and restoration implications Data Trends Water table and restoration implications 2012 annual mean depths to groundwater

Data Trends Removal of exotics (clearing) without subsequent flooding leads to increased exotic understory Forbs and grasses: native (green) exotic (purple) Sites:

Flooding is still key driver of native recruitment and establishment Data Trends Flooding is still key driver of native recruitment and establishment Sites:

Education at BEMP

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Classroom Education Annually – over 10,000 K-12 + college students and their teachers work with BEMP 40+ public, charter, independent, parochial, tribal schools throughout New Mexico We offer 10 different classes for all ages: all place-based & focused on the bosque ecology Students are from underserved communities, in a state that ranks 50th in Education NM ranks 50th in Education in 2016 – Kids Count Data Book Annie E. Casey Foundation (out of 51)

High School Research Opportunities 18

Professional Presentations Students and teachers have won national awards and recognition for the BEMP work

Stewardship at BEMP

The Cottonwood Wrapping Project 21

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Questions? audrey.kruse@bosqueschool.org www.bemp.org @ BEMPinItUp