The San Juan Water Conservancy District (SJWCD) will host a free public educational event, “This Is Your Watershed: Upper San Juan River,” on Tuesday, May 20. The location is the Pagosa Lodge, 3505 West U.S. 160.
The doors will open at 5:30 p.m.
Three short films will be featured, written and produced by local filmmaker Christi Bode. Each film was created with input from the SJWCD and funded by the Colorado Water Conservation Board and SJWCD.
The first two films are “The Value of Snow” and “The Waterways that Connect Us.” Both were released in 2024 and can be viewed on the SJWCD website, www.sjwcd.org.
“In Between Water and Fire” is the title of the third film. The creators have always planned that it would describe threats to our Upper San Juan River Basin. It will be seen for the first time on May 20. Bode has a talent for including a great deal of factual information in each short film. “In Between Water and Fire” will prove that point.
Guests will enjoy a cash bar with beer, wine and soft drinks. Proceeds will offset expenses of the free event. Volunteer supporters of the SJWCD will host a table loaded with hors d’oeuvres, a selection of various savory and sweet finger foods.
According to local hydrologist and high school teacher Josh Kurz, “a catastrophic wildfire within a watershed can cause threats to occur in domino fashion, mainly because floods often follow wildfires.”
Kurz adds, “Severe drought sets the stage for catastrophic wildfires. When vast areas of vegetation are destroyed, runoff increases because precipitation is no longer intercepted by leaves and needles, and water-absorbing and soil-holding root systems are killed.”
Local professionals will discuss the intersection of our water supply and threats to our water security on May 20. Some water experts will host exhibit tables. Other professionals will discuss our water security after the films from the stage.
Invited panelists include Josh Peck, U.S. Forest Service, Pagosa District; Bill Trimarco, Wildfire Adapted Partnership; and Alex Handloff, San Juan Headwaters Forest Health Partnership.
Archuleta County Sheriff Mike Le Roux will likely be on hand to discuss our local wildfire preparedness and answer audience questions.
The job of the SJWCD is to pay attention to all water uses in the Upper San Juan Watershed and to put our relationships with water into the context of the legislated Colorado Water Plan. The stated mission of SJWCD is to be an active leader in all issues affecting the water resources of the Upper San Juan River Basin.
“This Is Your Watershed” is the completion of a long-standing goal to acquaint the public with how the SJWCD serves the community and environment. There is no charge for the educational event. For more information, visit www.sjwcd.org.
