Five-day long practical land restoration training for practitioners, landowners and anyone concerned about the health of degraded arid and semi-arid landscapes.
This is a hands-on course that will develop the student’s ability to read the movement of water in the landscape, assess the symptoms and causes of watershed degradation and create appropriate solutions.  We start by learning and observing runoff patterns and processes common to most drylands.  Using nature as the model students then learn to utilize readily available materials such as rocks and wood to reduce erosion and harvest runoff.  These simple structures enhance water absorbing landforms and plant communities creating living sponges that heal erosion and ultimately re-wet the landscape.
In addition to building foundational knowledge, we apply it by designing and constructing restoration structures as a part of ongoing restoration efforts at Wind River Ranch.  This is an intensive, project- oriented class that is intellectually challenging and involves some physical labor. We learn and create as a team, and encourage all students to participate in the hard work of on-the-ground restoration at their own ability level.  Every project involves a wide variety of tasks, not all of which are physically strenuous.  Since the majority of class time is spent in the field visiting previously constructed projects and working on our own project, students must be prepared to be outdoors rain or shine.  After all how could we miss observing a rainstorm in New Mexico!  We do of course take the necessary precautions to avoid extreme weather.
Our goal is to send students home empowered to recognize and initiate the simple changes that can produce profound benefits for their home watersheds.
Topics Include
SITE ASSESEMENT:

• Tracking sources and sinks of runoff and sediment
• Moisture storage in landforms and plants
• Identifying and diagnosing ecological degradation
• Prioritizing restoration needs

PROJECT DESIGN:

• Passive water harvesting
• Erosion control for headcuts, gullies, and arroyos
• Wetland restoration
• Re-vegetation

PROJECT PLANNING

• Identifying on-site resources
• Checking for project feasibility
• Labor and materials estimating
• Long term monitoring and maintenance

PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

• Site survey and layout
• Tools, materials and logistics
• Building for form and function
• Minimizing the construction footprint

LOGISTICS:

The program is offered at a beautiful conservation ranch in New Mexico, not far from Las Vegas, NM. Classes will be held from 9:00 AM to 5:00PM with regular breaks throughout the day.  Breakfast, lunch and dinner are prepared by the staff.  Students have plenty of time to relax, converse and enjoy the beautiful setting of Wind River Ranch while carrying out meaningful watershed restoration work.  More detailed logistics on what to bring, what to expect are HERE.
Dates: June 6-10, or August 15-19 2009
Workshop Testimonials by Brad Lancaster (author of Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond) and Larry Santoyo of Earthflow Designs – see left column
Workshop Fee: $665 if registered one month in advance, or $700 thereafter
Last Day to Enroll five days before the class start date.
Deposits: Space is limited. A non-refundable deposit of $300 will hold your space for both classes.
Scholarships: Two and more attendants applying together receive 10% discount.
Cancellation refunds: We don’t issue program refunds unless the program is canceled by us. Please plan your attendance accordingly!
Workshop fees include: all instruction, all workshop materials, lectures, study materials, three meals per day and camping/bunkhouse space.

Instructors:

Craig Sponholtz of Drylands Solutions. Read more about their work here

Contact Us

For additional questions about this program, please contact Arina, also at 505-455-0514.
… to Registration Portal