Canon Bonito, a Beautiful Canyon it is!

Prepared for a long journey, we embarked north in our two packed to the rim vans to the town of Wagon Mound to meet our guides, Kirk and Tamara Gadzia of the Quivira Coalition and rancher Mike Reardon. Interestingly, we noted that the rock formations of the region (including the "wagon mound") was made of basalt, just like in Hawai`i!

Quivira Coalition is a non-profit organization that works to improve the health of lands and restore natural systems. At Canon Bonito, a ranch owned by Mike Reardon, the process of restoration is gradually taking place. Over the past 15 years, steps have been taking to re-route the water to restore creeks and allow more than a 100 species of groundcover plants and trees to take root again.

Here is Mike, a visionary rancher who is in it for the long-term, a perspective that is important to have when involved in restoration. He still ranches but in a non-conventional way.

Kirk described how fire, a natural process in this region, is necessary for restoration to take place.  Without it, trees can become too crowded and grow to be unhealthy and vulnerable to big, uncontrollable fires that are detrimental.

The trees behind Tamara have come up naturally along a creek. This creates shade and a corridor for wildlife.

 

Tamara showed us "before and after" photos of the restoration process just by moving rocks around. They were impressive!  Education and outreach is a big part of their work.

Once the habitat comes back, then more animals will follow. Elk are beginning to return. As are the people who appreciate biodiversity and the health of our natural systems.