The Conservation Science Center at NMFWRI returned for its 4th year to support Forest Bound on July 9 for a day of restoration ecology. Using models to demonstrate how low-grade rock structures can slow down water and create sediment traps in arroyos, the morning culminated with the building of several one rock dams. An elder shared traditional songs, the Institute for Applied Ecology (IAE) led a plant anatomy lesson, and Highlands University fire ecologist Dr. Blanca Cespedes wrapped up the day illustrating innovative forest adaptations to wildfires. Forest Bound is a week-long program in partnership between the Tewa Language Program and IAE at the Pueblos of Pojoaque and Nambe.
On July 14, CSC along with deputy director (and limnologist), Dr. Edward Martinez, spent the day on the Rio Nambe with the Pueblo’s Natural Resources Department youth crew. The crew used chemical and biological measures of water quality to test two sites above and below the Nambe reservoir. While on the downstream site, routine maintenance at the reservoir flushed sediment-infused water down river, providing an opportune teaching moment on the importance of repeat measures in water quality monitoring. The Rio Nambe had an incredible number of stonefly larvae, indicating excellent water quality!
