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CONTENTSSaturday, July 31 - A Day in the Country - pictures
RIO LAJA WATERSHED IN GUANAJUATO |
IT'S YOUR WATER.
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Over the next few years Salvemos al Rio Laja expects to more than double the number of rural communities implementing its water conservation measures.
We have been working with six partner agencies and 58 communities in the Rio Laja watershed to teach the residents how to reverse the drying out of their portion of the watershed and improve the surface water supply. The agencies are CASA, working to improve family health care; Save the Children (FAI); Cuerpos de Conservacion Guanajuato, which works in the Santa Rosa Forest; Pena Alta, also active in that protected area; AAC, which assists poor farmers, and Grupo Desarrollo Rural de Sierra Gorda, which works with indigenous people.
Now two new partner agencies are joining in: Centro Desarrollo de Agropecurario, and Comite de Derechos Humanos Y Orientación Miguel Hidalgo (CODHOMHAC). A. C.(CEDESA), and Comite de Derechos Humanos Y Orientación Miguel Hidalgo (CODHOMHAC). Based in Dolores Hidalgo, they focus on community development and sustainable living in 71 communities in the municipalities of Dolores, San Diego and San Luis de la Paz. "They will start working in five communities this year and in the years ahead will enable us to greatly expand our coverage of the watershed," said Aisling Tully, President.
“The cooperative program has been working with residents since 2001 to build rock retention structures that slow down the rush of water in the rainy season”, she added. “The program also plants trees, builds stock ponds, fences farmland to keep livestock from grazing on the vegetation and encourages terracing and contour plowing of farmland. These practices help to retain soil and create pools that store water within the arroyos, which in turn reduces erosion, soil loss and downstream flooding, supports the growth of streamside vegetation, and improves local ground water conditions. ”
"To expand our program throughout the watershed, we will need more funding," Tully said. "We're pleased that we have been asked to present proposals to the state of Guanajuato's agriculture department, SDA, and to two federal agencies, CONOFOR, responsible for forests, and SEMARNAT, the environment and natural resource agency that also plants trees, terraces farmland and builds stock ponds We also have developed a working relationship with SAGARPA, the federal agriculture department which has a program that pays community residents to do conservation work"
Since field work started in 2001, Salvemos al Rio Laja has received funding from the state of Guanajuato's department of social and human development as well as the Wetlands Council of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In addition, the U.S. Forest Service has funded workshops in San Miguel and Arizona for the partner agencies and local governments. Save the Laja, Inc., a not-for-profit based in Texas, has also provided funding from the estate of the late Susan Porter Smith, who co-founded Salvemos al Rio Laja with Tully.
Geraldo Lopez Mora has his work cut out for him. By the end of 2005 Salvamos al Rio Laja will nearly double the number (58 to 100) of communities it works with. As Fieldwork Manager, Mora will spearhead these efforts, recruiting new communities and providing technical assistance and training to both partner agencies and community groups.
Mora is a graduate of the University of Guanajuato with a degree in agricultural engineering. He worked for the state department of agriculture, where he received national recognition for his innovative agricultural projects in rural communities. In 2001, he joined Salvamos al Rio Laja because, in his words, “it is the only group that focuses on the actual conservation of water, and that’s the most important factor in stabilizing the region.”
Mora begins his job in each community by talking with local leaders,
walking their arroyo, pointing out problems and suggesting solutions.
Educating and convincing local communities is a slow process. Getting
the first demonstration structure built is a major hurdle, but then the
feeling of satisfaction can come quickly. After the first heavy rain,
the community begins to see the benefits. Enthusiasm grows and local volunteers
begin to make the project their own. With the support of the community,
the work can be extended into more and more areas.
Mora’s work in the coming year will also focus on his special interest--sustainable
and environmentally friendly methods for sand and gravel extraction.
Some ongoing gravel quarrying operations may be damaging portions of
the Rio Laja. "There has been great concern that extraction of sand
and gravel, both licensed and illegal, can increase erosion and the loss
of surface water," Tully said.
To address this, Salvemos al Rio Laja is planning a cooperative effort
that promises to satisfy both those who are quarrying and those who want
to protect the environment. “It may be possible to have sustainable
extraction of sand and gravel from the Rio Laja that also creates wetland
habitats. Our program to conserve the watershed will be expanded with
a feasibility study into this exciting possibility.”
The municipalities of San Miguel de Allende and Dolores Hidalgo have agreed to work with Salvemos al Rio Laja in the study, which the U.S. Forest Service will supervise. Alvin L. Medina, a research biologist with the Forest Service at its Rocky Mountain Research Station in Flagstaff, Ariz., and Aisling Tully, president of Salvemos al Rio Laja, met with municipal environmental officials during Medina's visit in March. At that time, Medina also gave a public talk on conservation techniques being used to restore watersheds in the U. S. and the Rio Laja.
"The study will help determine if planned extraction can avoid causing damage while helping to improve wildlife habitat through the presence of wetlands."
pictures from our
trip
Salvamos al Rio Laja is organizing a day trip to visit a natural protected
area called Pena Alta (“high cliff”) located near San Diego
de Union in the northeast corner of Guanajuato. To see this beautiful
rustic area of 38,000 acres with sensational oak and pine forest, we are
planning a two-hour hike for sturdy hikers, and a half-hour walk for less
ambitious hikers. We hope to have a few good birders there for the bird
watchers in the group, and with any luck we may see some eagles that nest
on this spectacular cliff. We’ll also be able to see some of the
river restoration work coordinated and funded by Salvemos al Rio Laja.
The whole of the protected area, managed by Pena Alta A.C,. feeds into the crystal clear water of the reservoir behind the dam of San Franco. At lunch in the shade of a large palapa, we will enjoy fish taken from these pristine waters as well as barbecued lamb and other country dishes, all accompanied by some musical entertainment.
Our bus leaves from St. Paul’s church at 9:00 AM on Saturday July 31st and returns between 5:00 and 6:00 PM. It takes about 1¼ hours to get to San Diego de Union and then another twenty minutes to the protected area. The cost of the excursion (including lunch) is 250 pesos.
For further information call the Rio Laja office at 152-0158. Tickets are available at the bookstore at El Recreo, Calle Recreo #4.
