Wrapup of Fall 2019 Fieldtrip/Campout

Twenty-three people visited St. David Cienega to see these rare plant communities there endangered by nearby development. We were fortunate have multiple perspectives on the site, including Liz Makings, Vascular Plant Herbarium Collections Manager at Arizona State University and one of the field trip participant who used to ride a horse through there as a child. We talked about habitat for rare species, fire, and grazing. We then visited Murray Springs with Dr. Vance Haynes, who directed the original investigations of this early man site and another participant who worked with him. Something happened 12,800 years ago—certain large mammals disappear from the record, along with evidence of the Clovis people who hunted them—and this is demarked by the famous “black mat”. Water Sentinel volunteer Jayne Knoche showed us one of several monitoring wells there and shared results from this Sierra Club monitoring program. We camped at the beautiful Gray Hawk Ranch, and enjoyed a roaring campfire. Our host Sandy Anderson showed off an area that was a former gravel pit the following day. You’d never guess! On Sunday we also walked along the San Pedro discussing beaver and wildcats with Marcia Radke, Dr. Lisa Haynes, and others. What a fascinating group of people and places!

Liz Makings took some great photos on the trip as well. You may see them here.