What is water harvesting?  Why is it important?  Please browse the gallery to see the various forms of water harvesting in action.  Rainwater harvesting is capturing precipitation and using it where it lands.  It can be as simple as installing a berm around your favorite fruit tree (passive water harvesting), or as complex as a rainwater catchment system that is used for domestic water systems and drinking water (active water harvesting).

A densly vegetated spot near Albuquerque NM that infiltrates rainwater and minimizes erosion.  Grass cover like this holds soil, creates wildlfie habitat, and promotes beauty by harvesting water

Water harvesting is critical here in the dry southwest.  Here, water is preciouse, however, most often seen as a problem because of the erosion it causes, the difficulty designing drainage, and the fact that we don't have very much of it.  If we can see water as the solution to our dry environment, the previous problem has become the solution, and we can begin restoring our land and soils.  

The benefits of water harvesting include:  

 -decrease in erosion       

-reduced flooding

- minimized water pollution

-ground water re-charge

-enhanced soil fertility

-boost in wildlife habitat

-reduced demand for city water

-reduced demand for ground water

-sustainable cities and communities.