Environment | Information Bravo

Protect, Transform, Inspire: I was eager to understand how the Preserve functions off-the-grid, so Neil took us on a tour of the power generating equipment this morning. Near the Homestead are two large solar panels, the older around fifteen years old, and the newer including cells on the underside which enable the collection of reflected sunlight. In a nutshell, the solar panels convert sunlight into direct current, regulated by a charge controller, which charges a set of 12 4-volt batteries; the DC current is routed through an inverter which converts it to AC, suitable for powering residential systems. The Hart Prairie solution also includes a backup generator powered by diesel fuel; Neil said that it is rarely needed.

Locale: In its recent draft management plan for the Coconino National Forest, the Forest Service designated certain areas as “Research Natural Areas and Botanical and Geological Areas.” By definition, a botanical area’s priority desired condition is to protect the plants and plant communities for which it is designated; Fern Mountain Botanical Area preserves a high elevation riparian scrub community dominated by Bebb’s willow. This morning, I took a lot of flower photos, but botanizing wasn’t my goal when I set out to hike to the top of Fern Mountain. There isn’t really a trail from the cabins, so I simply walked around behind the buildings and then started climbing. The way was steep, but I scrambled up as quickly as I could and made it to the top in about thirteen minutes. The view was spectacular and worth the effort.

Weather: High 83, Low 56. Mostly sunny, afternoon thunderstorm

Creatures: Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus lateralis), Gray-Collared Chipmunk (Eutamias cinereicollis), Coyote (Canis latrans) vocalization

Itinerary: Hart Prairie Reserve, FR 151 to US 180 to Flagstaff, I-17 to Pulliam Airport, AA 3066 to Phoenix, AA 2020 to Charlotte

Excursions: Introduction to Living Off the Electric Grid, Fern Mountain

Reflections: Thank you all for an awesome week!

Blair Foust, Hart Prairie Preserve Manager, TNC
Neil Chapman, Northern Arizona Program Restoration Manager, TNC
Rachel Maurer, Senior Donor Communications Officer, TNC

Main Street Catering provided all our meals for the week, and they were uniformly delicious. Not every chef can prepare both vegetarian and carnivore dishes equally well, but this team pulled it off admirably. I appreciate the efforts that Dave and his crew made.

Images: View from Fern Mountain, starting from northeast, clockwise for 360 degrees (click on the 3 vertical dots at the top right to select slide show)

Protect, Transform, Inspire: Touching seven US states and two countries, the Colorado River is a poster child for the need for cooperation in natural resource usage and conservation. From its source high in the Rockies, the Colorado River journeys some 1,450 miles to its terminus in the Gulf of California, draining a total of 243,000 square miles. Though we often think of the Colorado River as a key player in the so-called western water wars, in fact, the 1922 Compact has worked remarkably well to mediate conflicts over water rights. Unfortunately, today the River faces an uncertain future, basically because demand for the water is already exceeding its supply. Together with other stakeholders, TNC and partners like the Sonoran Institute are actively working to protect healthy flow regimes where they are currently found, and to restore river flows where they are degraded. The hundred miles of the Colorado River Delta is one example where water has rarely flowed in the past fifty years. To address this issue, hydrologists came up with the concept of a “pulse flow,” or a temporary surge of water that mimics what happens naturally in a free-flowing river. An historic agreement between the United States and Mexico, called Minute 319, allowed water to be released from the Morelos Dam, which over the course of eight weeks in early 2014 slowly made its way to the sea. It’s a wonderful story, but the ending has not been written yet.

Weather: High 87, Low 54. Sunny

Creatures: Nuttal’s Cottontail (Sylvilagus nuttali), Prairie Dog (Cynomys gunnisoni)

Itinerary: FR 151 to FR 418 to FR 562, return by US 89 to US 180

Excursions: Lockett Meadow, Water Line Road

Speakers: Dale Turner, TNC, Restoring the Colorado River Delta (evening)

Reflections: Lockett Meadow Campground is at 8,600 feet; we gained 600 feet when we climbed to the Water Line Road, which is at 9,200 feet. I can believe that aspens (Populus tremuloides) are among the most widely distributed trees in the United States; they reproduce by root-system cloning. They say that in the fall, when the colors change, aspens turn the landscape to gold.

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