Stream Stewards Trained in Watershed Monitoring

By Leigh Jenkins, SCWK Coordinator

In August, the Silver City Watershed Keepers (SCWK) kicked off its Adopt-A-Stream Program with a Stream Stewardship Workshop in Big Ditch Park. The Adopt-A-Stream program empowers citizens to steward our waterways by monitoring environmental quality of streams, cleaning up litter, and restoring riparian areas. The Stream Stewardship Workshop trained participants in environmental quality monitoring of the watershed with an easy-to-use app that can be accessed on a smartphone. 

Pollution from stormwater runoff, litter and illegal dumping, streambank erosion and non-native vegetation all threaten the health of the Silver City watershed. These problems affect our water resources, trails and open spaces, riparian ecosystems and wildlife. Participants in the program, either as individuals or organizations play an important role in protecting San Vicente Creek and its tributaries. 

At the Stream Stewardship Workshop, participants learned how to become stewards of the Silver City watershed by adopting a stream segment along San Vicente, Silva or Pinos Altos creeks. In addition, participants were trained to use the new Silver City Watershed Keepers Reporter app created by Nichole Bouvet, a Watershed Keepers GIS Intern from Western New Mexico University. The Silver City Watershed Keepers Reporter app helps stewards report litter and illegal dumping, trail and streambank erosion, illegal motorized vehicle use, and other watershed issues that pose an environmental, health or safety risk. The data helps facilitate resolution of watershed threats in order to protect watershed health. 

Want to access the Silver City Watershed Keepers Reporter App? Click HERE to access the web-based app.

Become a Silver City Watershed Keepers Stream Steward. Click HERE for more information.