Empowering Young Stewards of New Mexico’s Watersheds
From the snowmelt of January to the monsoon rains of August, the River Source team—supported by the Truchas Chapter of Trout Unlimited—spent 2025 deepening connections between young people and the rivers that sustain our communities. Through hands-on education, restoration work, and scientific exploration, the partnership reached 1,329 youth and 197 adults, inspiring a new generation of watershed stewards.
Truchas Chapter funding played a vital role in getting students from Peñasco, El Dorado, and Wood Gormley schools outdoors to monitor water quality, release fish raised through the Trout in the Classroom program, and learn firsthand about river ecology. These experiences fostered not only curiosity, but also a sense of shared responsibility for the Rio Pueblo, Pecos River, and Rio Grande.
From Classrooms to Crews: The Watershed Academy in Action
Building on this early momentum, River Source launched its Watershed Academy in June—recruiting 30 young crew members from communities including El Rito, Peñasco, Pecos, Santa Fe, and Las Vegas. Many had discovered their passion during earlier field trips and wanted to deepen their skills in watershed science and conservation.
These crews rolled up their sleeves on projects like:
- Restoring eroded trails and repairing historic shelters
- Building erosion-control structures
- Planting Ponderosa pine seedlings in the Hermits Peak burn scar
- Harvesting and redirecting water to recharge aquifers and prevent wildfires
Along the way, they collaborated with experts from the U.S. Forest Service, City of Santa Fe Water Division, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and Trout Unlimited staff—including Saba Ijadi and Toner Mitchell—turning learning into leadership.
Learning by Doing: Highlights and Outcomes
Some of the standout impacts from the season include:
- 146 students and adults gained hands-on skills in water monitoring, learning how aquatic invertebrates reveal the health of trout habitats.
- The Pecos crew joined scientists Dr. Jerry Jacobi and Dr. Jennifer Lindline to study the proposed Terrero Minesite—observing ecological and cultural impacts while testing for E. coli and aquatic insects.
- Five youth crews practiced diverse watershed restoration techniques that helped slow erosion, capture sediment, and nurture recovering landscapes.
- In collaboration with local teachers, River Source supported fish egg distribution and student fish releases in partnership with Trout Unlimited members.
- Intern Kianna Quintana led the creation of the Pecos Ambassadors Program, organizing over 20 volunteers to monitor and maintain U.S. Forest Service recreation sites—helping keep public lands open for summer 2025.
Looking Forward: A Living Legacy
Through programs like Watershed Watch and Watershed Academy, River Source continues to show how place-based education can empower communities to care for their environment. With sustained support from the Truchas Chapter of Trout Unlimited, this partnership ensures that young people not only learn about rivers—but also become their advocates.
To see the work in action, check out the project videos:
- Compilation of Spring Watershed Watch Education Events including Peñasco
- Watershed Academy Crews Reading the Land and Restoring Watersheds 2025
