Gully plug project in a post-fire Jaramillo Creek in the Valles Caldera

In April 15-19, 2014 Stream Dynamics did a gully plug project in a post-fire gully in the North Gullies of Jaramillo Creek in the Valles Caldera. We used whole trees that were cut down as part of a forest stand improvement directed by Bill Zeedyk and Jack Crane. The sawyers were Dwayne and Cory Lefthand from Taos Pueblo. Van Clothier operated an excavator to manouver the trees into the gullies and wedge them in place.

Cat 308 positioning tree in gully.

View of several tree length gully plugs in this gully, which will trap sediment and fill the gully back in. This will help keep post-fire sediment out of Jaramillo Creek.

A gully plug and diversion to the original alluvial fan surface will fill in the gully and restore sheet flow and sediment deposition to this natural water-harvesting landform.

This small gully was caused by the combination of a poorly drained logging road and increased runoff from the burn area upslope. The gully was plugged to create a basin, with the overflow spreding out in the grass. The road above was treated with drainage features as well.

This was done on public land managed by the Valles Caldera Trust. The project was done by Amigos de Valles Caldera, and funded by a grant from the New Mexico Environment Department.

(All photos ©Scott Compton, Watershed Program Manager and hydrologist for the Valles Caldera Preserve)