| Chama River Gorge/Golondrina Mesa | |
| Status: | Identified | Area: | 27000 acres (10927 hectares) |
| County: | Rio Arriba | Elevation: | 6500-7500 feet (1980-2290 meters) |
| Town: | Tierra Amarilla | Location: | 36°25’N, 106°37’W |
| Ownership | Bureau of Land Management, 226 Cruz Alta Road, Taos, NM 87571, 505-758-8851 Santa Fe National Forest, 1474 Rodeo Road, Santa Fe, NM 87505, 505-438-7840 Carson National Forest, 208 Cruz Alta Road, Taos, NM 87571, 505-758-6200 |
| Habitats | Forest, Wetlands (river), Desert |
| Land-use | Rangeland, Recreation (hunting, fishing, rafting), Water management |
| Threats | Recreation |
| Site Criteria | State conservation species (D1) |
| Site Description | The Rio Chama is a major tributary of the Rio Grande. For 31 miles, it flows through a canyon (at times 1500 feet deep) and through designated wilderness. The river has towering cliffs, heavily wooded canyons, archeological sites, and dinosaur tracks. The Rio Chama was designated Wild and Scenic in 1988 and runs through six miles of the wilderness. Colorful sandstone bluffs and rock formations rise to high rims on both riverbanks. Water levels reflect releases from El Vado Lake Dam. With access limited, most people don't visit the grassland that dominates the upland portion of the area. Varying elevations in the canyon and on the mesa provide a wide range of vegetation, from the riparian corridor to mid-elevation piñon-juniper to high altitude ponderosa pine and fir. Grass and sage plains occupy much of the land above the canyon rim. Mammals include mule deer, black bear, elk, coyote, and mountain lion. Most of the wilderness lies in Santa Fe National Forest, with a portion in Carson National Forest. There are a few private in-holdings in the area. |
| Birds | Cliffs and side canyons of the river and mesa
provide habitat for nesting raptors. This stretch of the Chama provides a
high-quality stream and other than rafters has very little human disturbance.
Golondrina Mesa provides and excellent example of Ponderosa Pine forest in
excellent condition. The area thus provides relatively undisturbed bird habitat
containing riparian, piñon-juniper, cliff face, and pine forest. Raptors living here include Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, American Kestrel, Prairie Falcon, Golden Eagle, Bald Eagle and Peregrine Falcon. Note: Dusky Flycatcher, Plumbeous Vireo, Pygmy Nuthatch, Western Bluebird, Grace's Warbler data repeated for 1995-1998. |
| Conservation Issues | Recreational increase (rafting) could have an adverse impact on the habitat. |
| Conservation Plan | |
| Monitor(s) | None assigned. |
| Nominator | Christopher Rustay, 1824 Stanford Drive NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87106 |
| Sources | Breeding Bird Survey for Santa Fe National Forest. (SNF) |
| Links |
Chama
River Canyon Wilderness Santa Fe National Forest Carson National Forest New Mexico Wilderness Alliance |
| Directions | Turn west off US-84 just north of Tierra Amarilla onto NM-112, drive southwest about 15 miles, then turn left on the short spur road to El Vado Ranch. This is the rafting put in. Return to US-84, turn right, and drive south about 27 miles. About 1.5 miles south of the turnoff to Echo Amphitheater Campground, turn right onto USFS-151. Follow this dirt road 5 miles southwest to the Big Eddy. This is the rafting takeout. |
| Species | Year | Status | Population | Sources | Criteria |
| Bald Eagle | 99 | Winter | 40-50 individuals maximum | D1 | |
| Dusky Flycatcher | 99 | Breeding | 7 individuals maximum | D1 | |
| Grace's Warbler | 99 | Breeding | 41 individuals maximum | D1 | |
| Plumbeous Vireo | 99 | Breeding | 23 individuals maximum | D1 | |
| Pygmy Nuthatch | 99 | Resident | 41 individuals maximum | D1 | |
| Western Bluebird | 99 | Resident | 32 individuals maximum | D1 |
