Our Mission
The Hermit’s Peak Watershed Alliance works to protect and restore the ecological and cultural heritage of watersheds in the Hermit’s Peak region through ecological restoration, environmental education, and community action.
Our Vision
Hermit’s Peak Watershed Alliance envisions a community that works together to care for the land and water that sustains us.
What We Do
Hermit’s Peak Watershed Alliance helps care for our land and water by matching landowners to experts, funding, and education. HPWA works with land managers, government agencies and communities to restore watershed health.
Access and Monitor
Hermit’s Peak Watershed Alliance checks the “vital signs” of watersheds and documents the benefits of restoration work.
Restore and Manage
Hermit’s Peak Watershed Alliance identifies degraded areas, orchestrates restoration work, and informs long-term management to keep our watersheds healthy.
Educate
Together with our communities, Hermit’s Peak Watershed Alliance teaches us about watershed health and how we can do our part to keep our rivers and lands healthy.
Guide
Hermit’s Peak Watershed Alliance offers a watershed perspective to policymakers and landowners to address land and water issues. HPWA builds bridges between government agencies and landowners to share resources and work together toward common goals.
Links and PR
Public Relations
Las Vegas Optic, 1st Annual Watershed: Olympics
https://www.lasvegasoptic.com/content/watershed-games-tap-saturday
Las Vegas Optic article announcing grant:
https://www.lasvegasoptic.com/content/local-group-starts-gallinas-project
Grant Links
New Mexico Environment Department – Surface Water Quality Bureau – Watershed Protection Section:
https://www.env.nm.gov/swqb/WPS
Environmental Protecton Agency – Clean Water Act:
https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/about-office-water#wetlands
Collaborators and Useful Links
Cimmaron Watershed Alliance: http://cimarronwatershed.com/
City of Las Vegas: http://www.lasvegasnm.gov/
New Mexico Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute: https://www.nmfwri.org//
Memorial Middle School Agricultural Extension: https://aces.nmsu.edu/directory/?staff_search_action=dept&criteria=103
New Mexico Highlands University: https://www.nmhu.edu/
New Mexico State Forestry: http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/index.html
Quivira Coalition: https://quiviracoalition.org/
San Miguel County: http://co.sanmiguel.nm.us/
United World College – USA: https://www.uwc-usa.org/
Upper Pecos Watershed Association: https://pecoswatershed.org/
US Forest Service Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District: https://www.fs.usda.gov/santafe/
Tierra Y Montes SWCD: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/nm/home/
Western Hardrock Watershed Team: https://www.facebook.com/Western-Hardrock-Watershed-Team-175423395861319/
Fort Union Ranch: https://www.thefortunionranch.com/
City and Regional Plans
City MRA, Comp Plan:
HPWA and the Gallinas River Park Collaborative participated in the creation of the 2017 Las Vegas Downtown Metropolitan Redevelopment Area (MRA) Plan. The plan built upon and updates the Las Vegas Downtown Action Plan published in 2009. The plan documents existing conditions, establishes a vision for the future of downtown Las Vegas, proposes projects and policies to achieve that vision, and identifies potential funding streams for implementing those recommendations. The plan considers the physical, social, economic, cultural, and natural assets of Las Vegas, and strives to leverage those qualities to promote economic development, improve the quality of life, and preserve the unique character of the city of Las Vegas’ unique downtown area.
http://lasvegasnm.gov/MRA2018.pdf
San Miguel County Land Management Plan
HPWA participated in developing a 2018 update to The San Miguel County Comprehensive Plan which was an update and full revision of the San Miguel County Comprehensive Plan, 2004-14. The County chose to review and revise its long-range plan approximately 14 years after this latest plan went into effect. The Plan is a policy guide to decisions about the physical development of the county. It presents, in a general sense, the way the leaders of government want the county to develop in the ensuing 20 to 30 years. The purpose of the plan is to assist the County in preparing for the future by anticipating change, maximizing strengths, and minimizing weaknesses. The plan makes recommendations about ways to address critical issues, achieve goals according to priority, and coordinate both public and private efforts.
More information about San Miguel County planning can be found at:
https://www.co.sanmiguel.nm.us/departments/comprehensive_plan_information.php