The Mimbres River Conservation Opportunity Area (COA) encompasses 15,038 ha (37,160 ac) 30 km (19 mi) west of Silver City. Almost half of the COA is privately-owned (48.5%) and half is managed by USFS (47%). It contains two Important Bird Areas (Mimbres River and Southern Black Range/Cooks Peak) and 38% of its lands are protected. Landcover includes 12 native vegetation habitats plus open water, developed, and agricultural lands. Three habitats are dominant: Madrean Lowland Evergreen Woodland (35%), Intermountain Juniper Woodland (31.3%), and Rocky Mountain Lower Montane Forest (23.4%). Perennial aquatic habitats include 76 km (47 mi) of warm water streams, 44 km (27 mi) of cold water streams, and 11.6 ha (28.7 ac) of warm water reservoirs.
Habitats
Habitat Name | Habitat Size in Hectares |
---|---|
Chihuahuan Desert Scrub | 13.41 |
Chihuahuan Semi-Desert Grassland | 360.63 |
Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation | 140.94 |
Developed & Urban | 179.28 |
Herbaceous Agricultural Vegetation | 377.1 |
Intermountain Dry Shrubland & Grassland | 47.07 |
Intermountain Juniper Woodland | 4716.36 |
Madrean Lowland Evergreen Woodland | 5311.35 |
Madrean Montane Forest & Woodland | 87.3 |
Open Water | 1.71 |
Rocky Mountain Lower Montane Forest | 3527.1 |
Rocky Mountain Montane Riparian Forest | 0.45 |
Rocky Mountain Subalpine-High Montane Conifer Forest | 7.29 |
Southwest Riparian Forest | 21.15 |
Warm Interior Chaparral | 245.43 |