NMFWRI’s civic and community action research associate Michael Roberts and the NMFWRI GIS program partnered with Martha Graham of the New Mexico Rural Water Association to organize a series of peer-learning sessions and workshop for the 47th annual New Mexico Rural Water Association Conference in mid-April. The sessions, titled “Fire and Water” focused on protecting New Mexico’s drinking water from wildfires. Melissa McLamb, from the New Mexico Forestry Division, moderated the panels while water and wastewater operators and volunteer board members generously shared their stories about preparing for and recovering from wildfires. The peer-learning sessions were followed by a presentation by NMFWRI’s GIS program about how ArcGIS hubsites can be an effective tool for community engagement and coordination before, during, and after a wildfire.
Water system operators, managers and board members were able to earn professional development credits during the 3-day conference. NMRWA is a non-profit that provides training and technical assistance to more than 480 water and wastewater system members, who serve over 1,297,000 New Mexicans. Find out more about NMRWA.