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Students seek
solutions to stop invasive plants |
By Bob Morris
Staff writer, The Raton Range
 |
Springer High School science teacher John Vlaun, right, talks to
some of his students about options to remove invasive plants as
he and the students check property six miles west of Springer
along the Canadian River.
Range photo by Bob Morris |
A project to
remove salt cedar plants along the Canadian River is receiving
assistance from some area high school students - who as adults will be
the ones to potentially deal with future water issues that can be
affected by such invasive plants.
Springer and Mosquero high school students last week were along the
river on a property six miles east of Springer to determine what can be
done to help remove salt cedar, also called tamarisk, and other invasive
plants. The efforts to remove such plants are part of the Canadian River
Riparian Restoration Project.
John Vlaun, Springer High School science teacher, started the effort
with his own students, and then Mosquero's students became involved. He
said he got the idea after seeing a display at the Colfax County Fair
about the project and wanted to see how his students could become
involved.
"Everywhere I go, I try to set up a project like this," in which
students can get some actual experience in applying what they learn in
science class, Vlaun said.
Students from both high schools joined Mike Delano, who works for the
U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Resource Conservation
Services, to go through a process of identifying what needed to be done
to remove invasive plants and what alternatives were available to
accomplish the task.
The students identified salt cedar and other invasive plants, and
discussed what plants would be beneficial to the property and help
promote wildlife, and how to remove invasive plants without affecting
the soil and water.
Jack Chatfield, Canadian River Riparian Restoration Project manager,
said plans are to have a contractor use chemicals that block the plant's
ability to produce leaves, thus preventing it from performing
photosynthesis, the process by which plants stay alive.
What the students will do, Chatfield said, is come up with plans for how
the salt cedar will be removed, and set goals for how native plants will
be restored, how soil erosion will be controlled and how the lands will
be maintained. The maintenance plan the students must develop is to
ensure native plant life thrives and wildlife can be promoted. The
student-created plans will then be implemented, Chatfield said.
And because the property owner of the land targeted by the students is
concerned about the effect of the chemicals on water and soil, the
students will take water and soil samples to ensure the quality of both
is not affected, Vlaun said.
Vlaun said he wanted to have his students involved with the project
because it would allow them to understand the importance of science in a
way that reading a textbook can't convey.
"This is a perfect opportunity to teach the kids how what they learn in
the classroom" can be applied to real life, Vlaun said. "As a teacher, I
decided I wanted to give my kids exposure to real life, to field work."
Vlaun said students, when they get older, don't always remember
everything they learned from a textbook, but they do remember activities
they did. He noted Delano told the kids they will "remember this" when
they get older.
"It is much longer lasting, because it gives them a good opportunity to
apply what they are learning in the classroom," Vlaun said.
Another benefit, Vlaun said, is when students apply to colleges or for
scholarships - they will be able to cite their involvement with the
project.
"I think it gives my students an edge in (college) admissions," he said.
Vlaun added Chatfield has been "extremely supportive" of the students'
involvement with the project. He noted it's important for the local
communities to understand the importance of clearing the salt cedar and
how it will impact the land and water.
Chatfield said the students' involvement with the project allows those
involved to "pass the knowledge to the next generation" so, when they
become adults, they will know what needs to be done to ensure native
plant life thrives and thus help promote wildlife along the Canadian
River.
The reason for the salt cedar removal is because the plant spreads
rapidly and consumes a lot of water, as much as two to 12 acre feet of
water per year. Salt cedar also makes the soil salty, and combined with
the amount of water it consumes, other native plants are crowded out.
Additionally, the amount of water salt cedar consumes can affect water
supplies for humans and animals.
Chatfield said that prior to the students visiting the property to come
up with plans, he and others gave presentations to the students about
the project and what is to be accomplished. He said future plans are to
have scientists from New Mexico State University's Range Improvement
Task Force - who are using their expertise to help with the project -
come to the schools to share their knowledge about how to restore native
plant life along the river.
"They work on appropriate ways to restore native vegetations," Chatfield
said regarding the scientists, so their knowledge will help the
students.
Vlaun noted the students "have the most stake in this" because they will
be those people who will have to address water issues in future years.
By getting the students involved with this project, they will better
understand how issues such as salt cedar removals are important to
addressing water issues, Vlaun said.
"One of the reasons (Chatfield) likes having the kids involved is they
are the future stakeholders," Vlaun said. "He was extremely excited to
have the opportunity to incorporate youth from northern New Mexico."
The efforts to involve students aren't stopping with Springer and
Mosquero schools. Vlaun said his students have already asked about
giving presentations about the project to other school districts and
getting those students involved as well. Chatfield added Shari Zimmer,
with the High Plains Regional Education Cooperative, has offered to get
the cooperative involved and will encourage its member districts from
throughout northeast New Mexico to be involved. |
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