BLM Plans Safety and Access Improvements at San Pedro House

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SIERRA VISTA, Ariz. – The Bureau of Land Management’s Tucson Field Office will construct a permanent fence near the San Pedro House located in the BLM-administered San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area near Sierra Vista along Highway 90. The work will occur where a temporary fence was previously installed to protect the visiting public from falling branch hazards from a large Cottonwood tree. Some of the trails in the nearby Demonstration Garden will be surfaced with crushed stone to improve accessibility. The work is planned from Jan. 11 ― Feb. 11.

“The work is necessary to ensure that the public continues to safely visit the San Pedro House and enjoys improved access to the popular area,” said Tucson Field Manager Jayme Lopez.

During the work, the area around the fence, including the Demonstration Garden, will be temporarily unavailable to protect public safety. Temporary fencing will remain, and signs will be posted notifying the public of the work and associated hazards. Access to the popular San Pedro Trail will remain available during construction.

For further information contact the Field Manager, 3201 E. Universal Way, Tucson, Arizona 85756-5021; (520) 258-7200, or Email: blm_az_tfoweb@blm.gov.

Bureau of Land Management Risk Management Worksheets for FSPR Volunteers

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The Bureau of Land Management has provided Risk Managment Worksheets (RMW) for the current fiscal year.  Volunteers are asked to review the RMWs for the volunteer duties they expect to perform.

Read All About It! The Fall/Winter 2020-2021 River Roundup is here!

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Here’s what’s happening!

Fall/Winter 2020-2021 River Roundup

In This Issue: President’s Report… Renovations at San Pedro House… Dutch Nagle’s Passing… Damage to Fairbank Cemetery… Ramsey Canyon Christmas Bird Count… Capt Tovar’s 1776 Battle of Las Mesitas… Candidate Positions on the River’s Future… Google Earth Views of San Pedro River Meanders… Members… Contacts

All FSPR events cancelled (COVID-19 response)

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While businesses in the state gradually reopen during the coronavirus (COVID-19) response, in Cochise County the Friends of the San Pedro River continue to share the same concern of contracting or spreading the virus as many of you. The Friends of the San Pedro River recommend precautionary measures to protect our community and in doing so already have implemented such measures.

Out of an abundance of caution, we have cancelled all upcoming FSPR walks and other activities until further notice. Call 520-459-2555 or email fspr@sanpedroriver.org, if you have further questions or concerns in this regard.

FOR ALL ACTIVITIES

Please follow guidance from Federal and State authorities on how to prevent this virus. You may find the latest guidance to prevent the spread of the virus at these following websites.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html

https://www.cochise.az.gov/health-and-social-services/covid-19-info-0

http://azhealth.gov

MODIFIED ACTIVITIES

Docent-guided Walks

All FSPR interpretive walks and events are cancelled indefinitely.  If you choose to go outdoors on your own in the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area or elsewhere, remember that social distancing is important to prevent the spread of the virus.

This directive also applies to any events involving carpools or bus transport hosted by docents of the Friends of the San Pedro River (e.g. the cancellation of visits by school children bused to the river as part of the FSPR Education Program).

Bookstore Operations

Effective immediately, San Pedro House and Fairbank School House will be closed until further notice owing to concerns of community spread of infection.

List of volunteer services for VSA form

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In order to complete the revised BLM Volunteer Service Agreement form (also available in hardcopy) for fiscal year 2020 starting October 1, 2019, volunteers should check each of the boxes listing the services they plan to provide during the course of the year and then send email to fspr@sanpedroriver.org about how to submit the form.  The volunteer roles associated with those services are described in the pages below:

Agents of Discovery Ready for Use!

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We are happy to announce that the first phase of a project we have been working on with the BLM is complete. Here is our release explaining it. Check it out!
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Looking for entertaining, educational things for your kids to do outside? We have a suggestion: Agents of Discovery.

The Bureau of Land Management, with the assistance of Friends of the San Pedro River, has developed an augmented reality game for your cell phone for use at the San Pedro House. With this app, you go to the site and explore it, looking for challenges. The GPS in your phone helps you locate the challenges, each one of which is a different activity. The goal is to get kids outdoors, engage their curiosity, and learn about nature and history from within the familiar technical environment of their cell phones. The game is called Agents of Discovery.

How to play:
1. At home, or where WIFI is available, download the free “Agents of Discovery” app from Google Play or the Apple App Store to your mobile device.
2. Visit the San Pedro House at 9800 E Highway 90.
3. Open the “Agents of Discovery” app on your phone, select “Missions”, and then select the “San Pedro House” Mission. You can also login to create an account where you can save your activity.
4. HAVE FUN!

It is recommended that parents accompany children while playing this game. Until the San Pedro House Nature Store reopens and volunteers are present to help you, refer questions to: email fspr@sanpedroriver.org, or call 520-459-2555.

 

Online Opportunities for Birders and Nature Lovers

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The last several months have seen the cancellation of guided bird and nature walks in our area as well as the cancellation of events such as the Southwest Wings Spring Fling and Summer Festival.  Fortunately, great challenges can also lead to great opportunities.

Accordingly, SWW has commissioned local videographer Mike Foster to create a virtual birding and wildlife tour from the top of the Huachuca Mountains to the San Pedro River, not forgetting Whitewater Draw and other area birding and nature hotspots.  This “Sky Islands” video highlights many of the unique birds and mammals in our area, including the Elegant Trogon.  Please click here to enjoy this 22-minute video.

Another organization offering the opportunity for birders and nature lovers to indulge in their favorite pastimes is the Sky Islands Alliance.  Online volunteers can assist the SIA in identifying the many birds and mammals captured on their Borderlands Wildlife cameras.  To learn more, please click here.

Read All About It! The Winter/Spring 2020 Edition of the River Roundup is here!

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Here’s what’s happening!

Winter/Spring 2020 Edition of the River Roundup

In This Issue: President’s Report… Site Hosts… Lucy’s Warbler Nest Box Project… Work Day… Beaver Relocation… Charleston Cemetery… National Public Lands Day… Hands Across the River… Borderlands Festival… Murray Springs Clean-up… Vance Attack!… Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary… South Fairbank… Hummer Banding… EOP Walks… Woodcutting Part 3… Members… Calendar… Contacts

Volunteer for Wet-Dry Mapping planning!

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Volunteers needed!

Help with Wet-Dry Mapping planning and preparations

Dear Friends,
 
There are two different volunteer opportunities associated with the upcoming Wet-Dry Mapping of the San Pedro River in middle June.  One role is a smaller commitment of time, while the other is more expansive and involves taking on greater responsibility.
First, the Friends are looking for an additional volunteer to help with team packet preparation and in addition meal planning and setup for the dinner for Wet-Dry teams that attend the training event the evening prior to mapping in the field.  This volunteer position reports to the Friends and involves a total of 5-10 hours of time between now and the June mapping event.
 
The second and larger role involves coordinating volunteers between now and June who will join teams in the field in the SPRNCA and upper San Pedro Valley tributaries the day of the mapping event.  See the volunteer position description.  Attendance at several planning meetings is also required.  This position involves a commitment of roughly 50 volunteer hours between now and June.  This volunteer reports to The Nature Conservancy Wet-Dry Mapping event coordinator Brooke Bushman.
 
The actual Wet-Dry Mapping of the San Pedro River will take place on Saturday, June 20, 2020.  The Wet-Dry Training at San Pedro House is scheduled for the day before, namely Friday evening, June 19.
 
If you are interested in one of these two volunteer opportunities, please email fspr@sanpedroriver.org to indicate which one, how much time you could devote between now and June, and what travel or other commitments you have in the next few months.
 
On behalf of the Friends, THANK YOU to all volunteers supporting the river!

The Friends of the San Pedro River