Dear Editor:
Monica Nigon has written about the upcoming presentation of the “Thinking Like Water” film at the Liberty Theater on October 8 at 7:00 PM. It documents Bill Zeedyk’s investigations and projects regarding restoring watersheds and wetlands in New Mexico and Utah, using very simple hands-on techniques. The film presentation is a must-see event. If you have already seen it, go again. Bill’s work documents the negative effects of animal and human traffic in wetland areas resulting in packed soil, rapid water flow during rain events, and the development of head cuts that dramatically increase erosion, further degrading the surrounding water table. His simple structures, called one-rock dams, along with some slightly more complicated ones, have shown that strategically slowing water flow and allowing sedimentation can rapidly and permanently restore these areas to vibrant ecosystems.
I have personally witnessed this happening in the Canjilon Lakes area of the Carson National Forest. The area transformed from a dry, eroded gully into a lush wetland with flowing water, the upwelling of a new spring, and spongy water-soaked ground in only 6 months.
As a participant and sponsor of the construction of the Zuni dam and two one-rock dams in the Turkey Springs area last year, I can attest that the outing was fun, productive, and satisfying.
See the film. Learn about the simple things we can do to restore our riparian areas and help reduce downstream flooding. Think about what you can be doing on your own property or in eroding landscapes to reverse the trend.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could organize one day per month for the community to meet and construct some of these structures to preserve and restore our woodland and wetland environments.
I’m all in!
Robert Hagberg, MD
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