Thriving willows in the Arroyo Hondo wetland

In December, Kina Murphy, EWI’s Water and Land Health Coordinator held a meeting with members of the Arroyo Hondo community to discuss restoration work that began the week of January 25. The success of restoration work often largely depends on the participation of community members and willingness to learn about their environment. During the meeting, we discussed specific roles for people in the community to adopt, and maintenance tasks in which they would be interested. We also brainstormed ideas about wildlife habitat maintenance and the recruitment of students from area schools to participate in restoration maintenance. Not only would the land benefit, but the students would be educated on the fragile ecology of a wetland.

We were pleased with how many people attended the Arroyo Hondo Community Stewardship Team meeting, and how interested everyone was in taking on the variety of restoration maintenance tasks. It was an opportunity to meet neighbors, and to discuss ideas about land use, wildlife, and conservation. In northern New Mexico, we recognize that our land needs special care and the Arroyo Hondo community is ready to accept the challenge!

EWI strives to reach as many individuals as possible to inform them of our hard work and dedication to the health of the land and community in northern New Mexico. In future newsletters we will feature additional Water & Land Health projects beginning as the weather warms – stay tuned!

Dana helps a student install a bird box

Dana is full of humorous energy and has a talent for making everyone laugh. When asked to write a short autobiography, he composed this poetic snippet:
“Internationally unrecognized cowboy poet/haiku fusion artist, Dana brings to EWI a joie de vivre, a raison d’etre and a sine qua non. Dana’s desk is messy, his shirt is untucked and his truck is muddy (when it’s not in the shop for repairs).”

As Associate Director of Earth Works Institute, he developed 4C/Climate Change Conservations Corps, EWI’s green collar career training and youth environmental education program for the northern New Mexico community. With a background in education, Dana successfully founded two green schools, taught for 20 years at Berkeley High School and UC Santa Cruz (where, yes, the mascot is a banana slug), and remains dedicated to educating youth about the value of environmental conservation.

Some of the courses Dana taught were Ecoliteracy, Sustainable Economics, East Meets West, AP Environmental Science, AP Economics, Environmental Policy, Educational Philosophy, and the Berkeley-Yurok Educational and Cultural Exchange.

Dana is a dedicated father of two teenaged children, Sophie and Kodi. He is passionate about ecological education, green collar career development, teacher training, and community organizing toward building locally self-reliant, ecologically literate, economically vital sustainable societies.

Dana also coaches baseball and is building an off-grid cabin in the upper Pecos watershed.

Black Bear

Earth Works Institute is enthusiastic about announcing an exciting initiative with financial support from the Partners for Wildlife program through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We will soon schedule an informational meeting which will be facilitated by Kina Murphy, EWI’s Water and Land Health Coordinator. Local community members and natural resources professionals will be on hand for this educational workshop at the Randall Davey Audubon Center in Santa Fe. The purpose of this gathering will be to bring awareness to how we coexist with wildlife in our area, how habitat conditions can be easily improved on private and public land, and EWI’s intentions for the project funding.

Pronghorn Antelope

Fences don’t always keep out our non-domesticated furry friends, and sites where livestock is housed are attractive to wildlife because of available food and water. Oftentimes, wild animals visit a water source that is intended for larger animals like cows and horses. Unfortunately, stock tanks are not designed for a variety of animals to drink from and smaller mammals like bats and birds are susceptible to becoming trapped and drowning in the tank. Drowned animals in stock tanks are a nuisance and pollute the water, usually rendering it undrinkable.

Our goal for this project is to assist landowners with making improvements on their land that will benefit wildlife without compromising the integrity of their livestock operation.  For example, small, easy to install retrofits like escape ramps on stock tanks prevent drowning deaths of animals. As part of the project, new drinkers will also possibly be installed as an extra measure for the harmonious coexistence of wildlife, ranchers, and their livestock.

Red Tailed Hawk

For more information about the upcoming workshop at the Randall Davey Audubon Center, please contact:

Kina Murphy
kina@earthworksinstitute.org
505-982-9806

4C is proud to list the following accomplishments for 2009:

• Installation of a dozen erosion control structures and planting of over 100 trees in the Santa Fe County Arroyo Hondo open space
• Installation of 20 erosion control structures and planting of over 200 trees and shrubs in the Cerrillos Hills State Park
• Design and construction of  outdoor classrooms and school gardens at Turquoise Trail Charter School, El Dorado Community School and Monte del Sol Charter School, including a greenhouse, wooden benches, trails, shade structures, water harvesting, irrigation systems, planter boxes, compost structures, a pond, bird nest boxes, labyrinths and entrance kiosks
• Collaborative design, painting and installation of 5 murals with themes related to climate change and community engagement at 3 school sites and at the Santa Fe Place Mall (food court area on north side of mall)
• Launch of a collaborative (with the Sierra Club, the City of Santa Fe and The Housing Trust) low and moderate income home weatherization program (Energy Works) in Santa Fe
• Launch of a green jobs for youth and arroyo health restoration project with the City of Santa Fe
• Launch of a wildlife corridor and green-jobs-for-young-adults project with private land owners and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Partners for Wildlife program

Now, in the early part of 2010, Dana and the 4C program are gearing up for what is sure to be another energy-driven and successful spring and summer. EWI is actively seeking applicants for 4C, and the work season will begin on March 1^st.

This year 4C crew members will be organized into two teams, with the goal of completing the following projects:

Crew #1

• Create facilities for outdoor learning, food production, water harvesting and renewable energy, design and paint murals, and conduct resource audits at four schools: Institute of American Indian Arts, Santa Fe High School, Alvord Elementary School and Salazar Elementary School
• Restore native vegetation and wetlands in environmental preserves and public open space areas

Crew #2

• Install storm water infiltration gardens in Santa Fe arroyos to reduce erosion, improve water quality, and increase biological diversity
• Restore creeks and arroyos in the Galisteo Basin
• Enhance wildlife habitat

Both crews will receive an orientation, ongoing education and training in the following areas:

• Climate change causes, solutions and adaptations
• Green collar career development strategies
• Energy, water and waste audits
• Carpentry
• Water harvesting and irrigation systems
• Local food issues and solutions
• Environmental education
• Mural design and painting
• Environmental restoration techniques
• Wildlife habitat enhancements

4C/Climate Change Conservation Corps has proved to be instrumental for the advancement of young adults in northern New Mexico communities. DONATE today to support the continuation and success of this unique and valuable program.