ABQjournal: Local Biologists’ Vision of Restored Rio Grande Valley Taking Hold
By Tania Soussan
Journal Staff Writer

Cliff Crawford has been talking about a Rio Grande bosque made up of scattered groves of cottonwoods and willows separated by open, grassy savannas for years.

Now, with tree thinning and restoration projects gathering momentum and creating change in the bosque, Crawford’s vision seems attainable. …

There are other benefits of restoring a more open bosque, including making trees less vulnerable to disease and saving water.

“What we’re focused on here is ecosystem function,” Grogan said. “We’re trying to make the bosque more resilient.”

Stands of trees in the bosque now are typically 10 to 15 feet apart, but they should be 40 feet apart, said Yasmeen Najmi of the conservancy district.

Thinning out the trees and replanting young cottonwoods and shrubs to emphasize patchiness with different ages and species of natives is a priority.