Recent Events at the Watershed Association

March 22 (World Water Day).  A Dialogue for religious and business leaders considered the common interest these two sectors have in restoring the Santa Fe River.  It is both a religious/ethical issue, and a management/investment issue.  Together, these two central pillars of our community can help enormously in generating awareness and commitment to save our river.  The Dialogue was hosted by the Hilton Hotel from 10am to 2:30pm.  Participants included 9 religious leaders and 11 business leaders.  The discussion addressed the ethical imperative of respecting nature, but there was also a sense that people can trump nature to get through emergency situations.  As a general rule, however, we should try to co-exist!  Business sentiments ranged from the view that allocating 10% of our total water supply to the river was a reasonable proposition and that we can easily get by with 90% of the water, to a concern that perhaps that extra 10% of water is really the difference that our economy will depend on for future growth.  The Dialogue ended inconclusively, but with a general sense of satisfaction that we had considered some difficult issues and will continue to be engaged in the larger community dialogue about reviving our river.

A Benefit Concert to celebrate World Water Day took the form of  An Evening of Sacred Songs with Annette Cantor (voice), Michael Kott (cello), Patrick Shendo-Mirabal, (Native American flute), and Gregory Gutin (percussion).  Click here to see the concert flier.  [Clips of the concert will be posted soon.]

Town Hall Meeting on the Future of the Santa Fe River - Dec. 8, 2007. Over a hundred community members gathered to share their ideas about restoring the Santa Fe River.  The interactive meeting allowed participants to tell their own stories of the river, imagine their ideal Santa Fe river, and express ideas and concerns about how to make a living river possible. A review of 33 ways to get more water in the river made for lively discussion among the group.  By the end of the day, the feeling in the room was of excitement about a living river and a desire to get to work to make it happen.

Click Here to download the report on the Town Hall Meeting

Click Here to download video clips from the Town Hall meeting, including interviews with David Harrington (an organic farmer in La Bajada), Melinda Romero Pike (River Commissioner and "Living Treasure" from Agua Fria), Kate (from Youth Allies), and Mayor David Coss.  [Warning, the video clips might take a few minutes to load.]