Riparian habitats are hot spots for biological diversity, especially in the arid environment of Southern Arizona. I have been spending my time with the CLM finding Springs in the DOS Cabezas Wilderness area. We spend a lot of time route finding and reading topographical maps, as well as looking at Google Earth. Although the hiking can be hot, visiting the springs and seeing the obligate vegetation such as Cottonwood, Willow, Yerba Mansa, and Blue Eyed grass is worth it. I”ve learned that Yerba Mansa has been of great importance in the southwest for centuries as a medicinal plant. The name means “Calming herb” and it has been used for many ailments such as sinus infections. The wildflowers are in full bloom and paint the desert floor with a beautiful array of colors and species. The Dos-Cabezas are part of the Sky Islands, and can be as high as 7,500 feet at the top of Government Peak. At the springs we are cataloging plant species, taking water quality measurements, documenting flow rates and sun exposure, and even looking at stem water isotope signatures. We’re hoping to visit most of the springs in the Dos- Cabezas Wilderness and plan on moving to the Los-Pelencillos, St David Cienega and also work on the Gila River.

Nicolas Umstattd