Search results

Healthy intact watersheds provide many ecosystem services that are necessary for our social and economic well-being. These services include water filtration and storage, air filtration, carbon storage, nutrient cycling, soil formation, recreation, food and timber. Many of these services have not been monetized and therefore the economic contributions of healthy intact ecosystems are often under-valued when making land use decisions. Ecosystem services provided by healthy watersheds are difficult to replace and most often very expensive to engineer (see chart). An engineered ecosystem service replacement may only provide a fraction of the services provided by highly functioning natural systems.

The New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute (NM WRRI) is pleased to present the latest issue of the Divining Rod. (Vol. XXXV, No. 2, April 2012)

The Paso del Norte Watershed Council (Council) has been awarded a watershed restoration grant to develop a Watershed Based Plan to protect and improve water quality in the lower Rio Grande from Percha Dam (below Caballo Reservoir) downstream to the American Dam (near the New Mexico, Texas, and international border). Funding has been provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the New Mexico Environment Department under the authority of the Clean Water Act Section 319(h) Nonpoint Source grant program. This is one of the Water Quality Sampling / Preliminary Results Presentations.

Attached are the latest (April 6-May 2) WRP Natural Resources Committee related updates for your reference and use. If you have any related updates you would like to share with the Committee, please email them to amyduffy@westernregionalpartnership.org for the next update.

This worksheet accompanies a report, "Factors Affecting Sediment Yield and Measures for the Reduction of Erosion and Sediment Yield", and with the report can be used to estimate sediment yield from watersheds. The method is relatively simple, low-tech, and has been recently validated.

This is a manual that accompanies a worksheet that can be used to estimate sediment yield from watersheds. Together, the report and the worksheet constitute a low-tech yet recently validated, cost effective water quality model.

2011 annual report.

Part 2 of a video describing principles and methods of forest road and skid trail construction to minimize impacts to water quality.

handbook to accompany the video "Forest Access Systems for Better Water Quality." Describes principles and methods associated with constructing forest roads and skid trails to minimize impacts on water quality.

An online collection of resources from the Center for Watershed Protection and the US Forest Service Northeastern Area. Provides useful tools and training materials about managing urban forests for watershed health. Links to topical collections including: Forest Planning And Assessment, Reducing Stormwater Runoff, Forest-Friendly Development, and Planting and Maintaining Trees