The Dry Cimarron River is called “dry” because it has
a tendency to sink, then rise again, as it flows from Johnson Mesa
in northeastern New Mexico, through a deep canyon, across a corner
of Oklahoma and into the Arkansas River near Dodge City, Kan. Along
the way, the Dry Cimarron nourishes rangeland that has been in use
since Spanish sheepherders arrived in the 18th century. But
stretches of the river are in dire need of restoration, something
that the Quivira Coalition, a collaborative conservation group, is
offering under the tutelage of riparian specialist Bill
Zeedyk.
For two days in October, Zeedyk will
teach volunteers how to use low-tech methods to restore the river,
while explaining the history of the river’s degradation and its
“stream type classification.” At night, volunteers will camp along
the river, about 30 miles east of Raton, and hear stories about the
region’s rich history.
The Oct. 5-6 workshop is
limited to 30 people. To learn more about the Riparian Restoration
Workshop, visit www.quiviracoalition.org, or call
505/820-2544.
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline A dry old time.
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