Sagebrush Trails

Valle de Oro 2026

NMVFO volunteers return to the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge in Albuquerque.

Our mission is to clean weeds in and around a pond at the visitor center.

Spring winds blow tumbleweed and kochia into the pond, and need to be fished out. Bindweed, nettles, and other invasives around the perimeter must be dug out. Cattails require thinning.

Muck boots and waders allow some volunteers to go into the pond to remove weeds.

Tumbleweed and kochia are gathered into carts, compressed down with a tamper, and hauled to an area to be spread into rows, later to be mulched by a mower.

Randall Davey Audubon Center 2026

16 NMVFO volunteers gathered for a weekend car-camp project at the Randall Davey Audubon Center in Santa Fe, to build 0.2 miles of new trail, previously flagged by Jenny.

Here Phyllis demonstrates how to cut a 45 degree back-slope and 5 degree out-slope.

The soil was super-rocky, and pick-mattocks got plenty of usage.

The Audubon Center staff kindly provided pizza for dinner, and bagels and extras for breakfast, in their Pavilion.

The Center has plenty of nifty things to explore, including an amazing play/discovery area for kids. Carl gave a tour of historic buildings once belonging to Randall Davey, an important artist who came to Santa Fe in the 1920s and created until the 1960s.

Bosque del Apache 2026

Fifteen NMVFO volunteers were joined by two Refuge staff to work on trail at the Pollinator Enhancement Project at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.

A thick tangle of old dead willow needed to be removed to reduce fire load and make room for new plant growth.

Many willows broke off by hand, while others needed small folding saws working in tight areas. Branches were stacked along the wide trail, which will later be picked up by heavy equipment with a grabber attachment.