2000 years ago
The River of Change
First permanent
450AD settlements along the
Rio Grande!
Sandia Mountains
12751275-1300AD
Major drought in the SW, the
Rio Grande becomes a focus
for settlement.
84
18
Levees are breached for the last time!
Saltcedar is
Cottonwood seedlings sprout at future Rio
introduced into valley.
Grande Nature Center site.
1
9
18
1930
1600’
1600’s
1941
12
19
74
18
1
19 4
03
19
Pueblo people move into villages
abandoned by Spanish settlers.
09
19
1957
0
192
1706AD
Jetty Jacks are placed
in the bosque.
1975
37
19
Cochiti Dam
completed.
City of Albuquerque founded!
1925
Middle Rio Grande Conservancy
District was formed.
1870’
1870’s-1940’
1940’s
Large floods occur, population
increases, over grazing leads to
erosion & ↑ sediments in river.
Volcanoes and Mesa
Today!
1996
1st BEMP site!
Name: _________________________________________ Date: ______________________
______________________
You’ve been learning about the CHANGES to the middle Rio Grande valley over the past 2000 years!
Think of the 3 stages of the bosque environment over time.
List some of the CHANGES that you learned about in the blank boxes provided.
Stages of the River
Rio Bravo
Rio Manso
Rio Nuevo
wild river
tamed river
new river
How would you describe the river
2,000 years ago?
Can you list some ways humans have
changed the bosque ecosystem?
In what ways are people like you
helping to restore the bosque?
Key
pueblo
cottonwood
seedlings
cottonwood sapling
adult
cottonwood
snags/ burned trees
grassy meadow
exotic plants
sand bar
riparian shrub
upland shrubs
cattails
jetty jacks
towns & cities
Bosque Ecosystem Monitoring Program – www.bosqueschool.org/bemp.htm
BEMP site!