What can I do to get involved?

Curious to get involved after learning about how our drinking water is tied to forest health?  

Just like reading the morning news, the most impactful way that community members can get involved in the health of their watershed is to be informed. 

  • Read news stories and releases about water supply

  • Research the science and theory behind forest health

  • Support the forest restoration projects happening in our backyard

The Greater Santa Fe Fireshed Coalition publishes information on wildfire mitigation projects as well as wildfire preparedness tips for residents. The City of Santa Fe has a webpage which provides background information on the watershed, its history, and the ways in which the city plans to protect and invest in it. The Santa Fe National Forest, where ~15,500 acres of the municipal watershed resides, is a major partner in implementing forest restoration treatments, including the collaborative Santa Fe Mountains Landscape Resiliency Project.

Read the latest research on how forest health is connected to water health in the USDA report Forests to Faucets. The US Forest Service has also created a StoryMap for interactive learning. You can learn from and support organizations which strive to protect source water and water sources such as Carpe Diem West. Watch the recent special from New Mexico In Focus discussing forest conditions on the 10-year anniversary of the Las Conchas fire.

If you are a homeowner or renter who lives in the WUI, you can also be part of the forest restoration solution by taking preventative steps to reduce the wildfire risk on your own property. Just as wildfire does not recognize boundaries and land ownership designations, we as a community need to work together to treat the land as one cohesive landscape and protect it appropriately. You may find helpful resources through the Fire Adapted New Mexico Learning Network, including a blog post all about home and property wildfire hardening. The City of Santa Fe also provides wildfire preparedness information and opportunities for landowner assistance.

The GSFFC is a coalition of public and private organizations. The GSFFC is not a subdivision of the State of New Mexico, as defined in the state’s Open Meetings Act, §§ 10-15-1 to 10-15-4 NMSA 1978. Although federal agencies participate in the GSFFC, the Coalition is not a federal advisory board and was not created by a federal agency, as defined by the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5.U.S.C. app. 2, §§ 1 to 16 (2012). The GSFFC operates informally to support its partners, and is not incorporated as a non-profit, 501(C)(3), partnership, or other legal status.