This paper provides analysis of a data set from a woody riparian vegetation survey, completed on United States Forest Service grazing allotments and two preserves, managed by The Nature Conservancy, within the upper Mimbres Watershed in southwestern New Mexico. Data were collected from 17 sites using line intercept transects. The first three components from a principal components analysis were plotted against stream direction, elevation, channel type, and grazing history. The collected data indicate that ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) and alligator juniper (Juniperus deppeana) were the most common species in the watershed, and at sites where these species were dominant, the number of uncommon species present was reduced. Four riparian species exhibited higher coverage in ungrazed sites as compared to grazed sites. The results of this study suggest that grazing does impact riparian vegetation in this area and that the status of indicator riparian species can be used to improve the conceptual model of the system and improve conservation management.
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