You’re Invited

Water Stewardship Community Conversation

A preliminary gathering of the Taos Water Stewardship Initiative

Wednesday, November 4th  ·  5:30 PM

@ the Taos HIVE ~ 1146 Gusdorf Rd

What is the Taos Water Stewardship Initiative?

The Taos Water Stewardship Initiative (TWSI) is a collaborative, place-based effort focused on the long-term health, resilience, and wise stewardship of water in Taos and the surrounding Upper Rio Grande bioregion.

At its core, TWSI is about helping our community better understand the water systems that sustain life here — watersheds, snowpack, groundwater, acequias, surface flows, and the infrastructure that carries water to our homes — and using that understanding to support wiser planning, stronger relationships, and more coordinated stewardship. It’s coordinated by Local Earth (nonprofit founded in 2012), working alongside a growing coalition of local water organizations.

You can learn more about the full initiative HERE

Why We’re Gathering

This is an introductory gathering for preliminary discussion about the initiative. TWSI’s full rhythm of monthly community events is planned to begin in January — before those begin, we want to have feedback and input from the community to help guide the initiative.

We want to hear directly from the community: What do you see as the biggest challenges and concerns facing water in our region? What ideas, wisdom, or hopes do you have for how we can steward it together? The framework for the TWSI is still being formed — this evening is a genuine chance to help shape it.

There’s no cost to attend, no expertise required, and no commitment involved in showing up. Farmers and acequia parciantes, residents, well owners, gardeners, ranchers, students, retirees, or neighbors who’ve noticed the streams or wells running low — everyone is welcome and invited.

Overview of the Evening

The evening will be interactive, casual and conversational — designed to make space for real and respectful dialogue. The general flow for the evening will be:

• A welcoming and opening circle to arrive and settle in together
• A short introduction and overview of TWSI and what’s ahead
• Small-group conversations exploring a couple of guiding questions about water in our community and watershed
• A chance for each group to share back what mattered most in their conversation
• A closing circle, with an invitation to stay involved as this work continues

Plan for roughly 60 to 90 minutes, depending on how the conversation unfolds.

Join Us

If you care about the health and resilience of our community and watershed, we’d love to have you there. Come with your questions, concerns, ideas, inspiration, local knowledge, and hopes for what’s possible.

Feel free to reach out anytime with questions or to learn more about ways to get involved!

Joshua Alvord

Initiative Coordinator  |  Taos Resident  |  Local Earth Director

josh@local-earth.org  |  619-517-4469

In service to Taos, the Rio Grand watershed

the people and waters that call this place home