Annual Report (continued)

Education, Outreach and Community Action

• Ongoing dialogue with contacts in farming communities of Tome, Socorro, the

Mesilla Valley

• Participant in River-Farm Workshop, Las Cruces

• Conducted Conducted "Connecting People to Rivers" (CPR) rafting trips on the Rio

Chama and the Rio Grande, including one with staff of the Middle Rio Grande

Conservancy District (MRGCD) and Interstate Stream Commission (ISC)

• Presented classroom programs and involved school children in river restoration and

water quality monitoring projects at Taos Pueblo Day School

• Convened and moderated a panel, "Water Planning for Sustainability," Basin Coalition

Biennial Congresso, Cd. Juarez

• Presented, as invited speakers, at Middle Rio Grande Water Assembly Regional Forum,

Magnifico Water Exhibition, Wild Friends Summit, Water Resources Research Institute

(WRRI) annual water conference, Santa Fe Garden Club, NM Conference of Churches

Eco justice Task Force

• Attended MRGCD Board meetings

• Participated in MRG Water Assembly Community Conversations, Xeriscape Conference

Collaboration

• Member/Participant of Alliance for the Rio Grade Heritage: Chairman and provider of

administrative support; Training of Coordinator; Program work

• Organized Middle Rio Grande Workshop, for the purpose of improving communication,

cooperation, and understanding of issues among the many river-related efforts underway

in the Middle Valley; attended by 75 participants representing federal, state, and local

agencies and municipalities, Pueblos, restoration projects, technical groups, and others

• Convened Whole Pie Group-as follow-up to the MRG Workshop (above) convened a

process for developing a comprehensive federal budget request for the middle Rio

Grande

• Initiated Upper Reach Forum-brought together those doing on-the-ground work in the

reach between San Acacia and Cochiti dams, to develop priorities for the reach

• Participant: Bosque Consortium Steering Committee member; NM Water Dialogue Board

member; Middle Rio Grande Restoration Initiative (Pueblos et al); Green & White

Dialogue; ESA Work Group; Silvery Minnow Recovery Team; Middle Rio Grande Water

Assembly Action Committee member; Dia del Rio

River Restoration

• Member of the Forgotten River Advisory Committee (FRAC), to involve landowners in

the restoration of the river between Fort Quitman and Presidio

• Achieved funding for Bosque Restoration Demonstration Project in collaboration with

City of Albuquerque Open Space Council, Rio Grande Nature Center, and the MRGCD,

with a focus on public education and participation

• Maintained ongoing project of seasonal native plantings and monitoring at three river

sites, which involves schools and youth programs; and, collaborated with the BLM, NM

Audubon Society, and Rocky Mountain Youth Corps on a project to restore 230 acres

on the Archuleta Ranch, Rio Chama

• Participated in river modeling with Natural Heritage Institute

Advocacy

City of Albuquerque Water Plan (CABQ)

• Contracted with Bill Miller, former ISC engineer, to analyze City of Albuquerque's

proposed water development plan and develop "river friendly" alternative

• Met, throughout the year, with the City's Public Works Director, consulting engineers,

US Bureau of Reclamation's lead person for NEPA, DIES Consultant, Parsons

Engineering, US Fish and Wildlife Service Coordinator and others to address various

aspects of the plan