Conserving Rio Grande Tributary Habitat
In spring 2026, Western Rivers Conservancy completed its first project in New Mexico when we permanently conserved 470 acres along a tributary to the Rio Grande in partnership with the Pueblo of Pojoaque, one of the Eight Northern Pueblos in the upper Rio Grande basin.
WRC helped the Pueblo of Pojoaque purchase the property, an acquisition that protected a half mile of lush riparian habitat in the high desert and placed an important piece of the Pueblo homeland back into Pojoaque’s stewardship.
On the surface, the stream flows only ephemerally, but year-round underground flows sustain a vibrant corridor of willow and cottonwood that provides important habitat for desert species like jackrabbit, coyote and bobcat. More than 80 bird species, including the federally endangered Southwestern willow flycatcher, live in or migrate up and down the upper Rio Grande corridor. On the uplands above the creek,an arid landscape of rolling hills, low cliffs, native grasses, desert shrubs and pinyon pines are backed by spectacular views of the Sangre de Cristo mountains.
A Landscape of Cultural and Ecological Significance
For the Pueblo of Pojoaque, the significance of this land extends far beyond its natural values. The property is historically important and reflects centuries of connection between the Pueblo and their home waters. Placing the property back into tribal stewardship ensures these culturally important lands will be protected for generations to come, a benefit for people, place and wildlife alike.
Our partnership with the Pueblo of Pojoaque reflects WRC’s unique approach to river conservation: protecting outstanding riverlands by conveying them to the right long-term steward. In the upper Rio Grande basin, conserving habitat and returning this stretch of ancestral riverland to Pojoaque go hand in hand, creating lasting benefits for the river and the people who have called it home for generations.
