w 



CO 



NM 2. San Simon Cienega. Acreage: About 5. 



Location: Hidalgo County; Vanar, Ariz.-N. Mex. Quadrangle; about 33 miles 

 WSW of Lordsburg; reached via I- 10 and U.S. 80 from Lordsburg. 



Description: A small natural pond in the San Simon Basin and consequently a 

 delicate aquatic ecosystem. The area around this cienega is typical Chihuahuan 

 desert. Dominant plants are creosote bush (Larrea divaricata) and mesquite 

 (Prosopis judiflora). The lake is shallow and apparently stocked by the Fish and 

 Game Departments of Arizona and New Mexico. There is some marsh area as- 

 sociated with the cienega. This small lake is surrounded by large cottonwood 

 trees and represents a truly unique North American desert oasis. 



Encroachments: Historically, considerable acreage of marsh (100 acres) oc- 

 curred in scattered tracts; however, because of cultural changes and a lowered 

 water table, marsh area has retracted to several small tracts (less than 1 acre) 

 currently maintained through pumping from established wells. Habitat develop- 

 ment represents cooperative efforts of the BLM and various conservation agen- 

 cies in an attempt to maintain suitable habitat for the rare and endangered Mex- 

 ican duck production. Water supplies historically maintaining marsh areas have 

 been altered through irrigation programs and other cultural practices. The 

 general area surrounding the marsh is utilized for livestock grazing. 



Ownership: BLM. 



Data source: Walter G. Whitford, Department of Biology, New Mexico State 

 University, Las Cruces, N.M. 88001; William T. Krummes, Regional Director, 

 BSFW, Division of Wildlife Services, P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, N.M. 87103. 



Other knowledgeable persons: Dr. Charles A. Davis, Assistant Professor, Wild- 

 life Science, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, N.M. 88001; Dr. Vin- 

 cent Roth, Director, Southwestern Research Station of the American Museum 

 of Natural History, Portal, Arizona 85632. 



m 



m 

 x 



o 

 o 



