Santa Clara Pueblo Forest Restoration

Tribe: Santa Clara Pueblo

Tribal Contact: Santa Clara Pueblo Natural Resources Department

Project Type: MCRP Professional Project

Location: Santa Clara Pueblo, NM

UNM Contact:Michaela Shirley

UNM Faculty:Ted Jojola

Students:Matt Picarillo

Project Image

Project Summary:

Las Conchas drastically altered the hydrology of the Santa Clara Creek watershed, causing severe flooding that has damaged cultural sites, infrastructure, threatened lives and property, and has rendered much of the watershed inaccessible to tribal members. This project uses resilience thinking to explain why the character of wildfire has changed in the west and as a guiding principle for watershed restoration. The project’s primary objective was to determine what issues have reduced SCP’s ability to effectively deal with the Las Conchas wildfire – their resilience – and what can be done about it. This project identified recommendations and opportunities to overcome these barriers, including:

  • collaborative agreements between SCP and adjacent
  • land management agencies, and SCP representation on the Valles Caldera National
  • Preserve board of trustees.