Over 30 Years of Brush Management on the Elkhorn Ranch

Ranch owners in the Alter Valley of Southern Arizona have worked with the US Natural Resource Conservation Service since 1984 to scientifically monitor range vegetation and conduct brush management to care for the 600,000 plus acre watershed surrounding the Ranch. Mechanical removal was conducted in 1984 – 1990 on 1,000 acres of shrubland, and cleared trees were piled to slow down water flow. Though only covering 10% of the Ranch, the project has had a noticeable impact on rangeland condition, including signs of improved productivity and increased native perennial grass cover. Aerial imagery analysis in 2017 showed an increase in woody cover from 1% to 5%.