species diversity of the bosque. and each contributes to the rich productivity zone is finely tuned to its specific water regime, tornillo and four-wing saltbush. Each vegetation more drought-tolerant species like arrowweed, and the incidence of flooding decreases, we find canopy. Moving up shore, as the water table recedes cottonwood and willow trees form a dense, shady zone of regular seasonal flooding, water-loving On the banks, above waterline but within cattails and rushes grow in the shallower margins. waters of a pool or stream. Emergent plants like Truly aquatic plants and animals live in the deepest A bosque encompasses a mosaic of types. Southwest. word to refer riparian woodlands of the called these places “bosques,” and we still use their of such . Spaniards who explored the region Springs and seeps, streams rivers form the core different from that of the surrounding desert. quantities sufficient to support vegetation very wherever water is present on or near the surface in of surprising lushness. Green oases materialize Yet within these arid expanses are found pockets vegetated landscapes that we call . coupled with high evaporation foster sparsely By definition, a desert is dry place. Low rainfall A Verdant Forest Thrives in the Desert

beauty. recall some of their former vitality and verdant underway to restore these unique ecosystems and and expanse. Fortunately, in many areas efforts are contributed to the steep decline of bosque health trees for firewood and building materials have all flood control, livestock grazing and the felling of diversion for irrigation, stream channelization impacted by human activity in recent times. Water The bosques of the Southwest have been heavily breeding and wintering grounds. thousands of birds on their way to and from the site of extensive bosques, is a major flyway for for migratory birds. The Valley, once In addition, bosques provide very important habitat found almost exclusively in riparian areas. muskrats, and birds like vermilion flycatchers are water supply. Some mammals like beaver and course, and certain amphibians require a steady but some make it their permanent home. Fish, of to the bosque in search of food, water and shelter, Many animals from the nearby desert are attracted

Educational programs of the Texas Forest Service are disability, religion, age, or national origin. open to all people without regard race, color, sex, www.cerm.utep.edu/riobosque/ call Find out how you can participate: community involvement for success. The Rio Bosque project relies on Friends of the Rio Bosque, El Paso, TX. ©2004 by the Epson El Paso. Printing generously provided by Illustration by David Nakabayashi Edited by John Sproul Text by Maria A. Trunk administered by the Texas Forest S by a USDA Urban Forestry Grant Brochure Series was made possible The Rio Bosque Educational found in our river valley. of the unique and valuable ecosystems once working to bring back meaningful examples in a new way. Here, a diverse partnership is Park, the environment is still changing, but are virtually gone. At Rio Bosque Wetlands productive natural habitats, but today they Norte region. They were the area’s most the banks of Rio Grande in Paso del Wetlands and riverside forests once graced 915-747-8663 or visit ervice.

El Paso, Texas Park Wetlands Rio Bosque WHAT IS A BOSQUE? What is a Bosque? This illustration represents an idealized cross-section of the different habitat types found at Rio Bosque Wetlands Park. It highlights the close relationship between water above and below the ground surface, and the impact that very slight elevation changes can have on the kinds of plants and animals living in an area.

A Glossary of Wetlands Vocabulary Groundwater: Water beneath the Earth’s surface; water Riparian area: The land adjacent to streams, rivers, Water table: The upper level of the groundwater; the that flows or seeps downward and saturates soil or rock, or other bodies of water that directly affects, or is level below which the soil is saturated with water. In Bosque: A riparian woodland of the southwestern supplying springs, wells and aquifers. affected by, the water; a unique habitat that exists in a wetland the water table may be at or near the ground mutual balance with the river channel. surface. United States. Habitat: Home; the type of environment in which an Diversity: The number of different kinds of organisms organism usually lives. Stream: A body of water flowing in a natural channel Watershed: Any area of land that surrounds and drains and containing water at least part of the year. The precipitation into a common body of water, whether and the relative abundance of those organisms in a given Hydrologic cycle: The ongoing movement (recycling) area. “stream” at the Rio Bosque is designed and managed it be a stream, river, lake, or ocean. of water between the atmosphere, the land, freshwater to emulate the natural flow of the historic Rio Grande Ecosystem: All organisms and their nonliving systems and the oceans. The process usually follows as closely as current conditions allow. Wetland: A lowland habitat, such as a marsh, swamp, environment within a defined area; the sum of the the path of: condensation, precipitation, runoff, soil or bog that has periodically waterlogged soils or is interactions and energy transfers between a given set absorption, evaporation, evapo-transpiration from Upland: A well-drained, sloping area uphill from a covered with a shallow layer of water, yet it still of organisms and their environment. plants, and release through combustion and animal wetland. permits standing vegetation. It is an area where land respiration. Wetlands mediate the hydrologic cycle by and water meet, that is wet for an ecologically Floodplain: Any area near a body of water that is, or making water available to lifeforms that would have significant part of the year. was, occasionally or periodically flooded. otherwise missed out as water sped along to the ocean.