ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The Mount Taylor Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands, working with the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), will be conducting Phase II of the Shush Kin Fen Riparian Restoration project. The project aims to restore an important water source for wildlife and support a healthy watershed and surrounding rangelands.
The Shush Kin Fen is a relatively rare type of wetland in the Zuni Mountains of New Mexico that has been severely degraded from its historic condition. Active erosion has resulted in a loss of wetland habitat. In 2024, the fen was fenced to protect it from large ungulate grazing as part of Phase I of the Shush Kin Fen Riparian Restoration project. While vegetation has begun to recover, more work is needed to accelerate restoration by repairing erosion (e.g., hummocks) directly using instream structures and methods.
The actions in Phase II are among the approved project types in the Northern New Mexico Riparian, Aquatic, and Wetland Restoration decision of 2021 (NNM-RAWR), which aims to increase the pace and scale of riparian, aquatic and wetland restoration projects across the Carson National Forest, Santa Fe National Forest and the Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands in New Mexico. Like many of these ecosystems in the desert southwest, the Shush Kin Fen is important for watershed and range health as well as species recovery and diversity.
'Phase one of this project provided a great foundation for restoration of the fen, which we're now building on to speed up recovery of the ecosystem. I'm excited to see the work being accomplished on the ground, especially in such a unique place in the heart of the Zuni Mountains,' said Acting Deputy District Ranger Jacob Key.
Restoring the fen would move the forest closer to accomplishing the goal of sustainably managing the land for a variety of human uses including hunting, fishing, recreation, and livestock grazing, as set out in the Cibola National Forest Land Management Plan of 2022.
The forest is working with the NMED to implement this work at the Shush Kin Fen. Forest Service specialists have completed all required environmental reviews that ensure compliance with applicable law, regulation, and policy. All work will follow the design standards outlined in the NNM-RAWR decision. Information and documentation related to that decision can be found on the project website.
If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact the Mount Tayor Ranger District at (505) 287-8833 or visit us at 1800 Lobo Canyon Rd., Grants, NM 87020.
Courtesy Photo
Courtesy Photo