class=HTMLBody ; Rancher Jim Crosswhite makes his living raising cattle, which requires attention to the land. Improving habitat helps increase the water supply and water quality in his streams, thus increasing livestock production. With this approach toward riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.
Learn more about riparian areas, few would dispute the endangered species recovery value of the 2.5 miles of Nutrioso Creek that wind through his property called the EC Bar Ranch, located in the White Mountains of eastern Arizona .
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class=HTMLBody "It makes economic sense to me as a rancher to have a sustainable water supply. The mechanism for attaining that is to restore native vegetation in the growing season, practice dormant season grazing, and other Best Management Practices. This approach benefits my livestock business while improving wildlife resources," said Mr. Crosswhite.
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class=HTMLBody Mr. Crosswhite is working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through its Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, which awards grants and provides technical assistance to private landowners seeking to create or restore wildlife habitat. The Service recognizes that habitat improvement efforts might result in the attraction of threatened or endangered species. In order to relieve landowners from the regulatory concerns that can accompany endangered species and encourage landowners to assist in species recovery, the Endangered Species Act allows the Service to permit the measured incidental "take" of protected species.
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class=HTMLBody "We are too frequently barraged by anecdotes plotting ranching against endangered species protection," Arizona Ecological Services Field Supervisor Steve Spangle said. "Crosswhite is one of many ranchers committed to demonstrating that the goals of sustainable livestock production and species recovery can be met on the same plot of land. Were anxious to support such efforts."
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class=HTMLBody The Service is prepared to match Crosswhites investment with a $25,000 grant to restore riparian habitat on Nutrioso Creek on the 400 acre Apache County cattle operation he purchased in 1996. The money will be spent planting more than 10,000 willows, cottonwoods, alders and other native riparian plants and constructing fencing to better manage cattle and elk. These efforts are designed to stabilize soils, develop the floodplain, increase water quality and ultimately improve habitat for aquatic species and wildlife, while also benefiting ranching economics.
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class=HTMLBody Additionally, Crosswhite and the Service are preparing a Safe Harbor Agreement that will protect him from regulatory responsibility if the Little Colorado spinedace or southwestern willow flycatcher, federally threatened and endangered species, increase on his property as a result of his projects. "Crosswhite is committed to improve habitat that will contribute to recovering the spinedace and flycatcher for 50 years. Such incremental private landowner efforts are playing a vital role in restoring species for future generations,
