Goats On Weeds: Galisteo Dam
Tamarix pictured here in the last week in April 2010 are barely budding. One year previous goats ate 3-foot-long whips happily. For the first time during this project the goats have had little interest in the tamarix except in the lush growth shown here coming out of trees which have remained outside of the goat treatment for the entire project (pictured on the right), and those given one year respite within the pipe garden areas which have recovered without the goat pressure.
Red tamarix in the background within the goat treatment area are not coming out. Trees in the foreground within the restricted planting area are green, bigger and more vital after one year break from goat treatment.
North end of dam (left: Nov 09, 2008) contrasted to same location 2 days later (right: Nov 11, 2008). You could not see the herd coming up the road before the denuding.
Suzie: in what way is this less effective?
North end of the dam in July 2010 after goats were removed for a year and a half. The dam would be much tidier with regular goat treatment.
Goats enthusiastically eradicate medium-size Russian Olive.
Goats doing weed reduction (mainly kochia weed pictured here).
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Chamisa just before goats (2008) and one year after goat application (2010), blooms pictured one year after herbicide application. Chamisa is still not blooming anywhere near as well after just one goat treatment.
Two years after the goats: Time to haul the grader over here again.