CHAMA PEAK LAND ALLIANCE
PO BOX 28614, SANTA FE, NM 87592 www.chamapeak.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: TO CREATE AN ASSOCIATION OF CONSERVATION-MINDED LANDOWNERS WORKING COLLABORATIVELY TO PRACTICE AND PROMOTE ECOLOGICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY SOUND LAND MANAGEMENT IN THE SOUTHERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS OF COLORADO AND NORTHERN NEW MEXICO.

FOREST & WATERSHED HEALTH WATERSHED-BASED PARTNERSHIPS (WITH SUPPORT FROM TNC - US FOREST SERVICE R3 CAPACITY GRANT) WATER IS THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE SOUTHWEST, BUT WITH UNNATURALLY DENSE FOREST LANDSCAPES AND WARMING CLIMATE TRENDS, MANY WATERSHEDS IN THIS REGION ARE AT HIGH RISK FOR CATASTROPHIC WILDFIRE. WATERSHEDS IN THE CPLA REGION SUPPLY WATER TO AS MUCH AS 80% OF ALBUQUERQUE'S DRINKING WATER, 10 TRIBES AND PUEBLOS, RURAL COMMUNITIES, AND COUNTLESS ACEQUIA SYSTEMS AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS. IN 2020, CPLA ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN SEVERAL WATERSHED-BASED PARTNERSHIPS. THESE INCLUDE THE SAN JUAN CHAMA WATERSHED PARTNERSHIP (SJCWP), THE SAN JUAN HEADWATERS PARTNERSHIP (SJHP), AND THE 2 -3-2 COHESIVE STRATEGY PARTNERSHIP. THESE PARTNERSHIPS BRING TOGETHER FEDERAL, STATE, TRIBAL, AND PRIVATE LANDS STAKEHOLDERS TO DEVELOP CROSS- BOUNDARY STRATEGIES FOR PROTECTING WATERSHEDS. BECAUSE THE NEED FOR FOREST RESTORATION IS SO GREAT IN THIS REGION AND BECAUSE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS ARE STRONG, A 2-3-2 PARTNERSHIP PROPOSAL FOR THE COLLABORATIVE FOREST LANDSCAPE RESTORATION PROGRAM RECENTLY RANKED THE RIO CHAMA PROJECT AREA SECOND IN THE NATION. OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS ARE NOW GEARING UP TO BRING IN 40 MILLION OVER 10 YEARS TO CONDUCT FOREST RESTORATION ON USFS LANDS IN THE RIO CHAMA WATERSHED. RIO GRANDE WATER FUND (WITH SUPPORT FROM TNC - ABCWUA AND MRGCD GRANT) WE ARE CONTINUING A 1 MILLION INVESTMENT FROM DOWNSTREAM WATER USERS TO PROTECT WATERSHEDS FROM CATASTROPHIC WILDFIRE. IN 2020 WE TREATED APPROXIMATELY 177 ACRES IN THE SAN JUAN-CHAMA PROJECT SOURCE WATERSHEDS IN COLLABORATION WITH TNC AND THE RIO GRANDE WATER FUND. OUR WORK WAS RECENTLY HIGHLIGHTED IN A "VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP" FOR THE NEW MEXICO WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH INSTITUTE. THE VIDEO PROVIDES EXCELLENT BACKGROUND INFORMATION, PERSPECTIVES FROM VARIOUS PARTNERS, AND A DRONE-BASED AERIAL TOUR OF TREATMENTS THAT WE PUT TOGETHER. LANDSCAPE PLANNING FOR FOREST RESTORATION (WITH SUPPORT FROM NETWORK FOR LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION - CATALYST FUND) IN COLLABORATION WITH THE SAN JUAN CHAMA WATERSHED PARTNERSHIP, WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS THE FOLLOWING GOALS: UPDATE GEOGRAPHIC PRIORITY AREAS, IMPLEMENT AN ACTIVE LANDOWNER OUTREACH STRATEGY IN PRIORITY GEOGRAPHIC AREAS, AND BUILD A CATALOGUE OF ON-THE-GROUND POTENTIAL RESTORATION PROJECTS TO TARGET FOR FUTURE FUNDING. WORKING WITH THE SJCWP, AND OUR FOCAL AREAS CONCEPT IS NOW BEING USED AS A STATEWIDE MODEL AS NEW MEXICO STATE FORESTRY SEEKS TO DEVELOP FOCAL AREAS IN SEVERAL REGIONS OF THE STATE. DRONE MONITORING OF FOREST TREATMENTS (WITH SUPPORT FROM TNC DRONE MONITORING GRANT) WE ARE PARTNERED WITH TNC AND LANDOWNERS ON MONITORING ECOLOGICAL FORESTRY TREATMENTS. USING STATE OF THE ART PHOTOGRAMMETRY TECHNOLOGY, WE DEVELOPED PROTOCOL FOR ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF OUR TREATMENTS ON FOREST STRUCTURE, INCLUDING METRICS FOR TREES PER ACRE, CANOPY COVER, AND SPATIAL HETEROGENEITY. WE ARE PROMOTING THIS CUTTING-EDGE MONITORING PROTOCOL WITH OUR LAND MANAGEMENT PARTNERS AS THE GOLD STANDARD FOR MONITORING AND TRANSPARENCY IN ECOLOGICAL FORESTRY OPERATIONS.

WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES LAND HEALTH AND WILDLIFE SURVIVAL ARE DEPENDENT ON THE ABILITY OF WILDLIFE POPULATIONS TO MOVE ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE. IN THE ALLIANCE REGION, THIS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT AS WILDLIFE ROAM FROM THE HIGH ELEVATIONS IN SUMMER TO THE LOWER ELEVATIONS FOR WINTER. RIO GRANDE CUTTHROAT TROUT PHASE 2: PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE ON PRIVATE LANDS. (WITH SUPPORT FROM NEW MEXICO HABITAT CONSERVATION INITIATIVE GRANT) BUILDING OFF OF THE "RETURN OF THE NATIVE: RIO GRANDE CUTTHROAT AND PRIVATE LANDS STEWARDSHIP REPORT", WE DID OUTREACH TO LANDOWNERS WORKING TO CREATE 'SHOVEL-READY' PROJECTS IN SPECIFIC AREAS WHERE RGCT CONSERVATION STRATEGIES MAY BE MOST IMPACTFUL. CORRIDOR CONSERVATION (WITH SUPPORT FROM SACHARUNA FOUNDATION GRANT) AS THE UPPER RIO GRANDE REGION CONTINUES TO GAIN NATIONAL ATTENTION FOR UNIQUE AND INTACT MIGRATORY WILDLIFE HABITAT, WE ARE EXPLORING PPORTUNITIES TO IMPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM RECENT CPLA-FUNDED ELK AND MULE DEER COLLARING STUDIES AND WESTERN LANDOWNERS ALLIANCE'S HABITAT CONSERVATION STRATEGIES FOR MIGRATING WILDLIFE REPORT. IN 2020 WE DID OUTREACH TO TRIBAL WILDLIFE MANAGERS AND PRIVATE LANDOWNERS. MIGRATORY WATERFOWL HABITAT (WITH SUPPORT FROM USFWS PARTNERS PROGRAM GRANT) PRIVATE LANDS IN THE CHAMA REGION PROVIDE IMPORTANT MIGRATORY WATERFOWL HABITAT. WE ARE WORKING WITH THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE TO IMPLEMENT A HABITAT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FOR THE BENEFIT OF MIGRATORY WATERFOWL AND STREAM HABITAT IN THE RIO CHAMITA FOCAL AREA. THIS WORK INCLUDES CROSS- BOUNDARY PLANNING WITH THE EDWARD SARGEANTS WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA. IN 2020 WE DEVELOPED PLANS FOR 2021 IMPLEMENTATION.

EDUCATION AND ECONOMY EDUCATION IS VITAL TO ADVANCING OUR COLLECTIVE UNDERSTANDING OF AND VISION FOR LAND HEALTH AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THROUGH EDUCATION, WE CAN BRIDGE TRADITIONAL DIVIDES, PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH TO ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH THEIR SURROUNDING LANDSCAPE, AND SUPPORT LOCAL ECONOMIES THROUGH RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION. CPLA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM (WITH SUPPORT FROM 2-6-2 RANCH) THE ALLIANCE OFFERS SCHOLARSHIPS TO GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS AT ESCALANTE AND PAGOSA SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOLS TO SUPPORT ADVANCED STUDIES AT ANY UNIVERSITY OR TECHNICAL COLLEGE. STUDENTS DO NOT NEED TO BE MAJORING IN CONSERVATION OR THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, BUT MUST WRITE AN ESSAY DESCRIBING WHY LAND AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IS MEANINGFUL TO THEM. 2021 RIO CHAMA CONGRESO (WITH SUPPORT FROM NETWORK FOR LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION - CATALYST FUND) AS THE FISCAL SPONSOR OF THE SAN JUAN CHAMA WATERSHED PROJECT (SJCWP), WE ARE DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE FIFTH ANNUAL RIO CHAMA CONGRESO WAS A SUCCESS 2020'S THEME WAS FOCUSED ON OUTDOOR RECREATION AND THE IMPACT IT HAS ON THOSE WHO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY IN THE RIO CHAMA WATERSHED. THE ANNUAL CONGRESO EVENT HAS A REPUTATION FOR BRINGING TOGETHER A DIVERSE GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS AND PROVIDING A SPACE TO TALK ABOUT CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE REGION. AN IMPORTANT RIO GANDE SUN ARTICLE FROM CONGRESO HIGHLIGHTS SOME CONCERNS FROM LOCAL RANCHERS ABOUT HOW GROWING RECREATIONAL LAND USE IS CREATING CONFLICTS WITH TRADITIONAL WAYS OF LIVING ON THE LAND. VISTA POSITION FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT (WITH SUPPORT FROM US BOR AND AMERICORPS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM) OUR ORGANIZATION STRIVES TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR AND TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. THE CONTINUED WORK WITH THE AMERICORPS PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED CPLA, US BUREAU OF RECLAMATION, AND SJCWP WITH A VISTA (VOLUNTEER IN SERVICE TO AMERICA) POSITION, AND WE IN TURN HELP TRAIN THE VISTA FOR A CAREER IN NATURAL RESOURCES. IN 2020, THE VISTA POSITION ACHIEVED THE FOLLOWING: HELPED DEVELOP A DRONE-BASED FOREST MONITORING PROGRAM, ASSISTING WITH FORESTRY OPERATIONS IN THE SAN JUAN CHAMA PROJECT SOURCE WATERSHEDS, MANAGING SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT, OUTREACH AND COLLABORATION WITH MULTIPLE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, HOSTING THE RIO CHAMA CONGRESO EVENT, STARTING A MONTHLY NEWSPAPER COLUMN IN THE CHAMA TIMES, HELP WRITING A SUCCESSFUL GRANT APPLICATION FOR BOR'S COOPERATIVE WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, COMPLETE TRAINING AND ASSIST WITH PRESCRIBED BURNS AS A WILDLAND FIREFIGHTER, AND VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH. CONSERVATION CENTER FEASIBILITY STUDY (WITH SUPPORT FROM THE ELK AND BISON CENTER FEASIBILITY STUDY GRANT) IN 2020 WE COMPLETED A FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR A CONSERVATION CENTER OUTSIDE OF CHAMA. THIS PHASE 1 REPORT ASSESSES DIFFERENT MODELS OF CONSERVATION CENTERS. A CENTER OUTSIDE OF CHAMA COULD BE WELL-SITUATED TO SERVE AS A RESEARCH FACILITY PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON ELK, BISON AND OTHER WILDLIFE. THIS FACILITY COULD ALSO SERVE AS A BUSINESS INCUBATOR FOR PRIVATE LANDS CONSERVATION BY PROVIDING TRAINING RELATED TO RANCH MANAGEMENT, WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT, THE BUSINESS ASPECTS OF HUNTING AND FISHING GUIDING, AND RECREATION-BASED COMPANIES. A CENTER COULD ALSO SERVE AS A VENUE FOR PUBLIC EVENTS AND INTERACTIVE EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITS FOR WILDLIFE AND CONSERVATION, WITH AN OVERALL THEME OF HIGHLIGHTING THE UNIQUE NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN THE SOUTHERN SAN JUANS. AFTER HOSTING A COUPLE OF STAKEHOLDER WORKSHOPS IN 2020, WE ARE CURRENTLY EXPLORING OPTIONS FOR A PHASE 2 EFFORT, WHICH WOULD SEEK POTENTIAL COLLABORATORS AND FUNDING PARTNERS.

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