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Texas Big Bend and the Davis Mountains April 22-29, 2017
Texas Big Bend and the Davis Mountains Participants: Anne, Craig, David, Frank, Hilary, Jan, Joan, Judith, Lori, Linda, Neil, Skip and Stephen April 22-29, 2017 GUIDES Woody Wheeler and Lynn Tennefoss Sunset through "The Window" at Chisos Basin, Big Bend National Park Day One: El Paso to McNary Reservoir, Balmorhea State Park and Fort Davis Appropriately, we started this journey on Earth Day. We departed from El Paso on an unusually cool but sunny day – ideal for travelling. El Paso and its suburbs swiftly gave way to the vast expanses of the Chihuahuan Desert. An hour east, and well into the desert, we exited off the freeway at McNary Reservoir. At the exit underpass, we found a small colony of Cave Swallows searching for nest sites. This was a life bird for many in our group. Nearby, we pulled into the completely unassuming McNary Reservoir. From below it appears to be a scrubby, degraded bank. Upon cresting the bank, however, there is a sizeable reservoir. Here we found Clark’s Grebes performing a small portion of their spectacular mating dance that resembles a synchronized water ballet. Western Grebes were also nearby, as were a variety of wintering waterfowl and an unexpected flock of Willet. Gambel’s Quail perched conspicuously and called loudly from the shore. Just as we were about to depart, Lynn spotted a lone Ruddy Duck bringing our total to 17 species of Gambel's Quail birds at our first stop. We stopped for lunch at a colorful Mexican restaurant in Van Horn that has hosted a number of celebrities over the years. -
Oaks of the Chihuahuan Desert Region
International Oaks by Michael Martin Melendrez Los Lunas, New Mexico resented below are 23 species of white oak, six of black • oak, and two intermediate or golden oaks, found in the southwestern United States (primarily New Mexico, Ari zona, and western Texas). These nutnbers tnay be disputed by some oaks students. Differences of opinion exist as to the true boundaries of the Chihuahuan Desert the potential hybrid sta tus of sotne of the oaks, and their delineation. Also new oaks not previously known to occur in the area are continually dis covered. Counting the additional oaks found in the adjacent Mexican State of Chihuahua, there are n1ore than 60 species. The Chihuahuan Desert Region is truly The Land o.fOaks. The production nursery industry of our area has started, on a small scale, the introduction of oaks with a limited species selec tion. Unfortunately the southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) usually is the first one to be grown and sold, and it is commonly promoted as the best oak for the desert cit ies of the Southwest. The species of oak na < Guy & Edith Sternberg tive to this arid part of Author ,\1/ichae/ i\1/elendrez standing below Q. ari zonica the country are 1nuch in Catwalk Can• l'0 /1, Gila National Forest. New Mexico. contd. on pg. 22 International Gales • • • contd. from pg. 21 better adapted here, and thus tnake bet ter choices for shade trees than the southern live oak. • At our nursery production progran1 in Los Lunas, New Mexico, at 4,900 feet el evation and USDA Zone 6b, the native oaks outperform the southern live oak in speed of growth, heat tolerance in a con tainer, and over-wintering success. -
Nonexplosive and Explosive Magma/Wet-Sediment Interaction
Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 181 (2009) 155–172 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jvolgeores Nonexplosive and explosive magma/wet-sediment interaction during emplacement of Eocene intrusions into Cretaceous to Eocene strata, Trans-Pecos igneous province, West Texas Kenneth S. Befus a,⁎, Richard E. Hanson a, Daniel P. Miggins b, John A. Breyer a, Arthur B. Busbey a a Department of Geology, Texas Christian University, Box 298830, Fort Worth, TX 76129, USA b U.S. Geological Survey, Denver Federal Center, Box 25046, Denver, CO 80225, USA article info abstract Article history: Eocene intrusion of alkaline basaltic to trachyandesitic magmas into unlithified, Upper Cretaceous Received 16 June 2008 (Maastrichtian) to Eocene fluvial strata in part of the Trans-Pecos igneous province in West Texas produced Accepted 22 December 2008 an array of features recording both nonexplosive and explosive magma/wet-sediment interaction. Intrusive Available online 13 January 2009 complexes with 40Ar/39Ar dates of ~47–46 Ma consist of coherent basalt, peperite, and disrupted sediment. Two of the complexes cutting Cretaceous strata contain masses of conglomerate derived from Eocene fluvial Keywords: deposits that, at the onset of intrusive activity, would have been N400–500 m above the present level of phreatomagmatism peperite exposure. These intrusive complexes are inferred to be remnants of diatremes that fed maar volcanoes during diatreme an early stage of magmatism in this part of the Trans-Pecos province. Disrupted Cretaceous strata along Trans-Pecos Texas diatreme margins record collapse of conduit walls during and after subsurface phreatomagmatic explosions. -
Grants in Action by STEVE WAGNER
NO AMOUNT OF MONEY Grants in Action BY STEVE WAGNER VOLUNTEERS FIND PERSONAL REWARDS IN A WORK PROJECT INSPIRED BY DESERT BIGHORN SHEEP, BUT WHICH BENEFITS ALL KINDS OF WILDLIFE. REPRINTED FROM GAME TRAILS SUMMER 2015 NO AMOUNT OF MONEY irty, smelly and exhausted, Charlie Barnes has never been more gratified. D The DSC Life Member from Trophy Club, Texas, lays down his tools, pulls off his work gloves, draws a deep breath of desert air and bellies up to a tailgate, where a troop of equally sweaty-but-satisfied volunteers is gathering around a cooler of liquid refreshment. Sipping through dry, grinning lips, they gaze upon their collective handiwork. Together, they’ve just finished a project that changes the landscape, both literally and figuratively, for wildlife in the arid Trans-Pecos region of west Texas. Soon, many kinds of species will be sipping here, too. A new guzzler – a device to catch, store and dispense rainwater for thirsty critters – now stands ready for the next downpour. Ready to help the habitat overcome its harshest limitation. “This place has everything it needs to be great habitat for wildlife, except for water, and we just solved that problem,” says Barnes. “Building a guzzler is doing something good for the future, and there’s no amount of money that could replace what I get out of being a part of it.” He explains, “I’m a member of 11 different conservation groups and I volunteer This Reservoir stores rainwater for the dry season. for a multitude of tasks. I help raise money, organize banquets and serve on committees and boards. -
Foundation Document Big Bend National Park Texas May 2016 Foundation Document
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Foundation Document Big Bend National Park Texas May 2016 Foundation Document Unpaved road Trail Ruins S A N 385 North 0 5 10 Kilometers T Primitive road Private land within I A Rapids G 0 5 10 Miles (four-wheel-drive, park boundary O high-clearance Please observe landowner’s vehicles only) BLACK GAP rights. M WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA Persimmon Gap O U N T A Stillwell Store and RV Park Graytop I N S Visitor Center on Dog Cany Trail d o a nch R 2627 TEXAS Ra a u ng Te r l i 118 Big Bend Dagger Mountain Stairway Mountain S I National Park ROSILLOS MOUNTAINS E R R A DAGGER Camels D r Packsaddle Rosillos e FLAT S Hump E v i l L I Mountain Peak i E R a C r R c Aqua Fria A i T R B n A Mountain o A e t CORAZONES PEAKS u c lat A L ROSILLOS gger F L S Da O L O A d RANCH ld M R n G a Hen Egg U O E A d l r R i Mountain T e T O W R O CHRI N R STM I A Terlingua Ranch o S L L M O a e O d d n U LA N F a TA L r LINDA I A N T G S Grapevine o d Fossil i a Spring o Bone R R THE Exhibit e Balanced Rock s G T E L E P d PAINT GAP l H l RA O N n SOLITARIO HILLS i P N E N Y O a H EV ail C A r Slickrock H I IN r LL E T G Croton Peak S S Mountain e n Government n o i I n T y u Spring v Roys Peak e E R e le n S o p p a R i Dogie h C R E gh ra O o u G l n T Mountain o d e R R A Panther Junction O A T O S Chisos Mountains r TERLINGUA STUDY BUTTE/ e C BLACK MESA Visitor Center Basin Junction I GHOST TOWN TERLINGUA R D Castolon/ Park Headquarters T X o o E MADERAS Maverick Santa Elena Chisos Basin Road a E 118 -
Texas Treasures: Wetlands
TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE Wet la nd s a vanishing treasure? Wetlands are more important than you might imagine. They are one of Texas’ most valuable natural treasures. Wetlands provide flood protection, improve water quality and provide millions of Imagine... dollars in economic benefits each year. Yet, Texas has lost more than half of its wetlands in the past Rivers laden with silt 200 years. Texas wetlands have been drained, filled, used as dumps and generally misunderstood. and debris Migrating birds without a place to rest Young fish without food and shelter Imagine Texas without wetlands WETLANDS ARE THE TYPICAL WETLAND FEATURES: IN-BETWEEN PLACES WHERE THE WATER MEETS THE LAND. THEY ARE LARGE AND SMALL, PERMANENT AND ONLY OCCASIONAL, ON THE COAST OR IN THE DESERT. WETLANDS ARE SHORELINES, L WATER that stands or flows L PLANTS that have L SOILS that develop in oxygen- MARSHES, MUDDY SWAMPS OR gently through low areas for at least adapted to life in wet poor conditions and are saturated STREAM BANKS. part of the year environments for at least part of the year WETLANDS ARE MORE THAN SIMPLE SWAMPS OR PONDS. THEY ARE COMPLICATED COASTAL WETLANDS ECOSYSTEMS THAT WORK FOR Salt water or a combination of salt and fresh ALL LIVING THINGS EVERY DAY, water mixed together Playa Lakes ALL THE TIME. Plants that have adapted to changes in salinity Bottomland Hardwoods LIFE GATHERS AROUND Coastal shorelines, shallow bays and inlets, swamps, marshes, mud flats and deltas Riparian & Spring-fed WETLANDS, AND WETLANDS Trans-Pecos Springs & Wetlands SUPPORT LIFE. FRESHWATER WETLANDS Riparian Rainfall, springs, rivers and other sources Wetlands TEXAS WETLANDS ARE Plants that survive fluctuating water Coastal Marshes & conditions ONE OF OUR MOST PRECIOUS Prairie Depressions AND THREATENED Riverbanks, streamsides, lake shores, floodplains, bottomlands, marshes, seeps, ENVIRONMENTAL TREASURES. -
Species List
1 P.O. Box 16545 Portal, AZ. 85632 PH: (866) 900-1146 [email protected] www.naturalistjourneys.com Big Bend & Davis Mountains April 19-26, 2014 Guide: Woody Wheeler with six participants: Susie, Camille, Kathy, Trina, Les, and Mike SPECIES LIST Birds Gadwall Anas strepera–– At McNary Reservoir “Mexican Duck” (Mallard) A. platyrhynchos––pair seen well at small pond on Nature Conservancy preserve in Davis Mountains Blue-winged Teal A. discors–– 2 seen in same pond at TNC preserve, Davis Mountains Northern Shoveler A. clypeata––at McNary Reservoir Green-winged Teal A. crecca–– In roadside ponds between Ft. Davis and Alpine Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis–– In breeding plumage at McNary Reservoir Scaled Quail Callipepla squamata–– Coveys en route to and from Big Bend, Dugout Wells, Rio Grande Village and at Christmas Mountains Oasis Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps–– Several at McNary Reservoir Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis–– One at McNary Reservoir, frequently diving Western Grebe Aechmophorus occidentalis––at least 2 at McNary Reservoir Clark’s Grebe A. clarkii–– One well lit in sunshine at McNary Reservoir Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus – One spotted in flight at Rio Grande Village Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus – Several over McNary Reservoir American White Pelican Pelicanus erythrorhyncros – Ten flew overhead in formation above McNary Reservoir Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias–– Several on Rio Grande River Great Egret Ardea alba–– Several at McNary Reservoir Snowy Egret Egretta thula–– A half-dozen perched conspicuously at McNary Reservoir Green Heron Butorides virescens–– Beautiful look at one perched on snag along Nature Trail board walk at Rio Grande Village, Big Bend N.P. -
West Texas Geological Society Publications and Contents Purchase from West Texas Geological Society
West Texas Geological Society Publications and Contents Purchase from West Texas Geological Society: http://www.wtgs.org/ 77-68 Geology of the Sacramento Mountains Otero County, New Mexico Regional Distribution of Phylloid Algal Mounds in Late Pennsylvanian and Wolfcampian Strata of Southern New Mexico James Lee Wilson Growth History of a Late Pennsylvanian Phylloid Algal Organic Buildup, Northern Sacramento Mains, New Mexico D.F. Toomey, J.L. Wilson, R. Rezak Paleoecological Evidence on the Origin of the Dry Canyon Pennsylvanian Bioherms James M. Parks Biohermal Submarine Cements, Laborcita Formation (Permian), Northern Sacramento Mountains, New Mexico John M. Cys and S.J. Mazzullo Carbonate and Siliciclastic Facies of the Gobbler Formation John C. Van Wagoner The Rancheria Formation: Mississippian Intracratonic Basinal Limestones Donald A. Yurewicz Stratigraphic and Structural Features of the Sacramento Mountain Escarpment, New Mexico Lloyd C. Pray Conglomeratic Lithofacies of the Laborcita and Abo Formations ( Wolfcampian), North Central Sacramento Mountains: Sedimentology and Tectonic Importance David J. Delgado Paleocaliche Textures from Wolfcampian Strata of the Sacramento Mountains, New Mexico David J. Delgado Introduction to Road Logs Lloyd C. Pray Alamogordo to Alamo Canyon and the Western Sacramento Mountains Escarpment Field Guide and Road Log “A” Lloyd C. Pray Supplemental Field Guide to Southernmost Sacramento Mountains Escarpment – Agua Chiquita and Nigger Ed Canyons Lloyd C. Pray Alamogordo to Indian Wells Reentrant Field Guide and Road Log “B” Lloyd C. Pray Guide Locality B-1-West End of Horse Ridge John C. Van Wagoner 1 Field Guide and Road Log “C” Lloyd C. Pray Plate Shaped Calcareous Algae in Late Paleozoic Rocks of Midcontinent (abstract): James M. -
Geochronology of the Trans-Pecos Texas Volcanic Field John Andrew Wilson, 1980, Pp
New Mexico Geological Society Downloaded from: http://nmgs.nmt.edu/publications/guidebooks/31 Geochronology of the Trans-Pecos Texas volcanic field John Andrew Wilson, 1980, pp. 205-211 in: Trans Pecos Region (West Texas), Dickerson, P. W.; Hoffer, J. M.; Callender, J. F.; [eds.], New Mexico Geological Society 31st Annual Fall Field Conference Guidebook, 308 p. This is one of many related papers that were included in the 1980 NMGS Fall Field Conference Guidebook. Annual NMGS Fall Field Conference Guidebooks Every fall since 1950, the New Mexico Geological Society (NMGS) has held an annual Fall Field Conference that explores some region of New Mexico (or surrounding states). Always well attended, these conferences provide a guidebook to participants. Besides detailed road logs, the guidebooks contain many well written, edited, and peer-reviewed geoscience papers. These books have set the national standard for geologic guidebooks and are an essential geologic reference for anyone working in or around New Mexico. Free Downloads NMGS has decided to make peer-reviewed papers from our Fall Field Conference guidebooks available for free download. Non-members will have access to guidebook papers two years after publication. Members have access to all papers. This is in keeping with our mission of promoting interest, research, and cooperation regarding geology in New Mexico. However, guidebook sales represent a significant proportion of our operating budget. Therefore, only research papers are available for download. Road logs, mini-papers, maps, stratigraphic charts, and other selected content are available only in the printed guidebooks. Copyright Information Publications of the New Mexico Geological Society, printed and electronic, are protected by the copyright laws of the United States. -
Geology at the Crossroads
BIG BEND RANCH STATE PARK 4 Geology at the Crossroads By Blaine R. Hall Blaine R. Hall Crossroads: Intersection, Road, and the Oso Loop passes Junction, Gathering Place. Big directly through it. Bend Ranch State Park (BBRSP) has been all of these for at least Basin and Range Trend. the last 11,000 years as Native 4 The fourth geological event Americans, ranchers, miners, s n i a t is marked by development of the freighters, travelers, and now park n Basin Rocky u and Mountains o Basin and Range Province. The visitors have lived and traveled M Range n ia here. The scenery is magnificent h map illustrates how the Basin ac Ouachita Mountains al pp and Range is characterized by and the landscape varies from river A lowlands, through deep canyons, Trans-Pecos north-trending mountains and Volcanic Field Buried across high plateaus, and up steep intervening sediment-filled valleys Marathon Llano Basin Uplift mountains. Ultimately all of this Buried or basins, which began forming is controlled by the character and about 25 Ma. These uplifted variety of the underlying geology ranges and down-dropped basins and the processes that created it are separated by parallel faults. over millions of years. This deformation is due to the E D 1 N 3 A Adapted by Blaine R. Hall But why a crossroads of geology? R G west-to-east stretching of the O A look at the geological map above I Big Bend R earth’s crust that may have 2 Trends of four major geological can answer that question just by Ranch been caused by relaxation of the State Park Big Bend events converge at the park. -
BIRDS of the TRANS-PECOS a Field Checklist
TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE BIRDS of the TRANS-PECOS a field checklist Black-throated Sparrow by Kelly B. Bryan Birds of the Trans-Pecos: a field checklist the chihuahuan desert Traditionally thought of as a treeless desert wasteland, a land of nothing more than cacti, tumbleweeds, jackrabbits and rattlesnakes – West Texas is far from it. The Chihuahuan Desert region of the state, better known as the Trans-Pecos of Texas (Fig. 1), is arguably the most diverse region in Texas. A variety of habitats ranging from, but not limited to, sanddunes, desert-scrub, arid canyons, oak-juniper woodlands, lush riparian woodlands, plateau grasslands, cienegas (desert springs), pinyon-juniper woodlands, pine-oak woodlands and montane evergreen forests contribute to a diverse and complex avifauna. As much as any other factor, elevation influences and dictates habitat and thus, bird occurrence. Elevations range from the highest point in Texas at 8,749 ft. (Guadalupe Peak) to under 1,000 ft. (below Del Rio). Amazingly, 106 peaks in the region are over 7,000 ft. in elevation; 20 are over 8,000 ft. high. These montane islands contain some of the most unique components of Texas’ avifauna. As a rule, human population in the region is relatively low and habitat quality remains good to excellent; habitat types that have been altered the most in modern times include riparian corridors and cienegas. Figure 1: Coverage area is indicated by the shaded area. This checklist covers all of the area west of the Pecos River and a corridor to the east of the Pecos River that contains areas of Chihuahuan Desert habitat types. -
Structure and Dynamics of Surface Uplift Induced by Incremental Sill Emplacement
Structure and dynamics of surface uplift induced by incremental sill emplacement Craig Magee1, Ian D. Bastow1, Benjamin van Wyk de Vries2, Christopher A.-L. Jackson1, Rachel Hetherington3, Miruts Hagos4, and Murray Hoggett5 1Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College, London SW7 2BP, UK 2Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, IRD, OPGC, Laboratoire Magmas et Volcans, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France 3Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan 49931, USA 4Department of Earth Sciences, Mekelle University, P.O. Box 231, Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia 5School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Science, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK ABSTRACT are simple and, critically, non-unique (Galland, Shallow-level sill emplacement can uplift Earth’s surface via forced folding, providing 2012). To address these problems, analyses of insight into the location and size of potential volcanic eruptions. Linking the structure and actively deforming forced folds for which the dynamics of ground deformation to sill intrusion is thus critical in volcanic hazard assess- geological history can be reconstructed are ment. This is challenging, however, because (1) active intrusions cannot be directly observed, required. The Erta’Ale volcanic segment in meaning that we rely on transient host-rock deformation patterns to model their structure; the Danakil depression, a rift basin in northern and (2) where ancient sill-fold structure can be observed, magmatism and deformation has Ethiopia (Fig. 1A), is a superb natural labora- long since ceased. To address this problem, we combine structural and dynamic analyses of tory for studying the surface expression of active the Alu dome, Ethiopia, a 3.5-km-long, 346-m-high, elliptical dome of outward-dipping, tilted magmatism.