Speaker Bio

Colleen McRoberts has served communities in conservation education and natural resource management with a passion for community development, connecting people of all ages and backgrounds to nature. She received a Bachelor of Science from the Department of Education at the University of New Mexico in 1999 and a Master s degree in Environmental Education through UNM s Master s International Program, served as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer for three years in the Republic of Philippines.

Abstract

The Tijeras Creek Watershed Collaborative (TCWC) is an interagency initiative focused on preserving and improving the Tijeras Creek Watershed ecological and cultural landscapes through public education and on-the-ground restoration. The TCWC was formed in 2016 and its members include government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and east mountain communities. The work of the collaborative is focused on three main priority areas: natural resources, cultural landscape, and community education. Numerous restoration projects and environmental education projects are ongoing within the watershed, and further coordination, documentation and collaboration amongst various stakeholders will result in improved conditions and management of the entire watershed. Some of these projects include the Tijeras Creek Remediation Project, the UNM Community and Regional Planning (CRP) Student Capstone Studio Project, the Talking Talons Youth Leadership Ecological Monitoring Project, and the Cedro Creek Hydrological Improvement Project.