Seeds of Knowledge: From Compost to Watersheds

Closing the Loop on Conservation

In our last edition, we explored the power of resource recovery—how commercial composters turn waste into wealth, creating a circular economy that builds healthy soil. This same principle of closing the loop applies directly to our watersheds, where strategic planning can transform environmental challenges into community resilience.

The NMED Clean Water Act Section 319 Grant for Watershed-Based Plan Development (due December 18, 2025) represents the planning phase of this conservation cycle. Just as quality compost relies on proper feedstock management, effective watershed restoration depends on comprehensive planning that addresses sources of contamination and erosion at their origin.

Consider the Storrie Lake area, where we currently live in a bus named Mrs. Jones without running water. electric, or septic. This neighborhood receives the cumulative impact of upstream erosion and stormwater runoff—a perfect candidate for a Watershed-Based Plan. Such a plan would:

• Identify key erosion sources from private lands and road networks

• Design natural filtration systems using native plants and compost-rich soil amendments

• Create a roadmap for protecting both stormwater infrastructure and drinking water quality

This planning process directly complements the resource recovery work we discussed last time. However, compost and mulch are a top dressing—they are most effective on a landscape with proper grading and drainage, which is precisely what the community lacks.

The bridge providing access to the neighborhood is a stark example of this failure. When an upstream watershed dam wasn’t operated correctly, a torrent of water was abruptly delivered downstream, blowing out the bridge and leaving private community members to fund repairs with limited resources.

This area is part of the North Storrie Inlet Canal system—a vital water conveyance, wildlife habitat, and a critical irrigation and drinking water management zone. The homes here, both on and off-grid and without a formal drinking water or wastewater plan, unintentionally act as the final protective barrier against upland runoff before it enters Storrie Lake.

Without delving into the complex legalities of water rights in the area, one truth remains clear: erosion control is the non-negotiable first step. Implementing strategies that slow water, increase infiltration, and stabilize soils with best management practices (BMPs) is the only way to protect these intertwined resources—water, wildlife, and community—so they can be appropriately managed and allocated for the future.

The NM Erosion Control School (launching February 2026) will bridge these concepts, teaching how to implement these plans through practical erosion control techniques and soil health strategies. From compost application to land grading, we'll equip landowners and professionals with skills to transform watershed plans into on-the-ground conservation.

If you're managing land in a vulnerable watershed, this is your opportunity to begin the transition from problem to solution. The 319 grant provides the framework, and the Erosion Control School will provide the implementation tools.

Need help connecting your composting operations to watershed goals, or developing a Watershed-Based Plan for your community? We're here to help bridge the gap between resource recovery and watershed resilience every step of the way.