Volunteers from Albuquerque Wildlife Federation building a Zuni Bowl at Rio Mora National Wildlife Refuge. A Zuni Bowl is an example of a nature-based solution for erosion control.
RGR is conducting a foundational analysis of New Mexico state policies regarding natural infrastructure and floodplain reconnection projects. Nature-based solutions (NBS) are part of ecological restoration strategies that use natural features and processes to increase resilience to climatological and environmental stress and change, while providing environmental, economic and social benefits. Examples of NBS are rain gardens, bioswales, vegetative buffers, and LTPBR (beaver mimicry and erosion control structures made of natural materials.
The introduction of natural dynamics into our legislative, statutory and regulatory conceptualizations of infrastructure requires profound changes in the way we conceive, design, and implement projects to be effective at meaningful scales. RGR is exploring and identifying challenges, opportunities and emerging responses to advance the science, practice and expansion of NBS strategies across New Mexico. This analysis will help lay the groundwork for prioritizing NBS as an integral considerations of water planning, restoration and implementation activities.