Floodplain soils are the workhorse of watersheds. They store significant quantities of water, mitigating runoff and slowly delivering recharge to rivers and groundwater during drought. They filter pollutants, ash, and sediment, keeping them out of water ways. They provide a moist environment to support riparian and wetland plant communities. Floodplain soils are a critical component in ecosystems marked by wildfire and a changing climate—but in order for these potential benefits to come into effect, floodplains must be connected to the river or small drainages.
Saturday April 1, 2023 10am – 5pm
Join us in the Gallinas Canyon for a day of post wildfire flooding exploration and erosion control work. Our morning session will start with a tour of the Gallinas Village Floodplain Reconnection and River Restoration Project, spearheaded by the Hermit’s Peak Watershed Alliance. It demonstrates how restoration can be done to reconnect our waterways to their vital floodplains. We will then head downstream to Trout Springs Ranch where a light lunch will be served. Afterwards we will walk to a riparian area on Trout Springs Ranch where bridge access has been washed out due to post fire flooding and erosion. We will work together installing One Rock Dams in a large arroyo eroding into the watershed and compromising the integrity of the bridge. A New Mexican style supper will then be served in the early evening with an optional walk up to the Trout Springs, one of the most prolific natural springs and pristine riparian areas in northern New Mexico.
Itinerary:
10am -11:30am Meet downstream of the La Placita Fire Station for a tour and discussion of the project
11:30am – 12:00pm Quick lunch at Trout Springs Farmhouse
1:00pm – 4:30pm Upland erosion control structure construction at Trout Springs Ranch
5:00pm – 7:00pm – Dinner/social time at Trout Springs Farmhouse and optional walk to the Trout Springs
What to wear and bring:
Work clothes, gloves and sturdy boots
Water bottle
Sorry, no dogs allowed.
This field day is hosted in partnership between the Seeding Regenerative Agriculture Project, NM Healthy Soil and Hermit’s Peak Watershed Alliance.