Upper Pecos Watershed Association
Grants Awarded
The program aims to provide youth from Pecos Independent Schools with outdoor experiences in Pecos Canyon, fostering a connection to nature and environmental stewardship through water sampling and data analysis. By comparing fall and spring results, students will enhance their scientific skills and share their findings with the community, promoting awareness of water conservation and the importance of clean water.
The Pecos Canyon Youth Ambassador Program will provide environmental education and stewardship to roughly 45 middle and high school students through outdoor experiences and data-driven learning. Launching in summer 2026, students will engage in fieldwork in Pecos Canyon, guided by the River Source team. They'll collect and analyze water samples, observe environmental impacts, and explore natural resource management careers. Utilizing tools from Upper Pecos Watershed Association (UPWA) and River Source, the sessions will also enrich their water data literacy and deepen understanding of watershed systems. Furthermore, students will design public-facing educational materials on watershed protection and present their findings to local stakeholders, further refining their leadership and communication skills. The program, supported by Pecos Independent Schools and U.S. Forest Service, will conclude in spring 2027.
We are a community-based grass-roots organization with a common interest in protecting, maintaining and improving the health of both the watershed and the local economy and cultures. Additional purposes of the UPWA are: To provide information about the watershed and serve as a focal point for watershed issues, providing a forum for discussion and development of strategies to meet recreational needs, honor historical uses, and improve the health of the watershed. To seek additional funding to improve the condition and management of the Pecos watershed through the implementation of the Watershed Restorative Action Strategy, educational outreach and hands-on restoration projects. To organize volunteer projects such as river clean-ups and field trips that engage stakeholders and anyone with an active interest in benefiting the watershed. To engage in a process of improving the health of the river itself through monitoring issues of turbidity, excessive nutrient levels and temperatures. To review projects with the aim of correcting problems and replicating successful actions in other parts of the watershed. We cannot do this alone! We are a group of volunteers limited only by our numbers. You can do a lot or a little; no effort is too small. Volunteer for a UPWA project, become a stakeholder, make a tax-deductible donation, attend one of our meetings. UPWA Goals Protect and improve the health of the watershed Address significant ecological, and environmental issues in the watershed Preserve traditional and cultural uses and benefit the local economy