PRE-SUMMIT FIELD TRIP
The Land and Water Summit offers a full-day field trip the day before the Conference. Planned by the Arid LID Coalition, the 2026 field trip will be held on Wednesday, March 4 and visit sites that showcase best management practices in municipal and neighborhood-scale green stormwater infrastructure (GSI), habitat restoration work, and low impact development at a sustainable housing community. Cost of the all-day event includes bus transportation, a guided tour, and a delicious lunch. Participants always rave about our Field Trips! Tickets are limited – book early so you don’t miss this special event!
Photo Credit: Shelby Stimson, SIG-NAL
Jefferson GSI Bumpouts
SIG-NAL and City of Albuquerque
Presenters: Shelby Stimson, SIG-NAL; Mario Nuno-Whelan, Aguas Landscape Architecture; Bonnie Strange, COA Parks; Sarah Gale, COA DMD
The Jefferson GSI project is a green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) retrofit pilot project on the eastbound side of Central Ave at Jefferson St. SE in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In June 2025, two City-owned bump-outs with existing curb-cuts received sediment traps, stormwater harvesting basins, bioswales, additional native plants, organic mulch, and hand placed structural and aesthetic rockwork. One of the bump-outs demonstrates an eddy basin design, while the other showcases a flow-through basin design. In addition to improving the function of these street-side features that help protect water quality, enhance urban green space and provide other community benefits, this project contributed to the City’s goal to create new interdepartmental work-flows to increase and streamline implementation of GSI projects city-wide. This project built capacity for GSI implementation by providing City planning personnel a rare chance to gain hand-on experience through participation in the assessment, design, approval process and installation of the GSI project. The Jefferson GSI project was led by SIG-NAL in collaboration with the City’s Department of Municipal Development, designed by Aguas Landscape Architecture, and installed with support from the Honey Badgers YCC crew and Rio Grande Return. Funding support was provided by the New Mexico Energy Minerals and Natural Resources Department’s Urban and Community Forestry Program and Ciudad Soil and Water Conservation District. The Jefferson GSI project originated as a case-study selected by the City of Albuquerque’s GSI Accelerator Program Cohort, following the 2024 update of the City of Albuquerque’s Complete Streets Ordinance to include a mandate for green stormwater infrastructure.
Image Credit: Mario Nuño-Whelan, Agua Landscape Architecture
Morningside Community GSI
SIG-NAL and City of Albuquerque
Presenters: Shelby Stimson, SIG-NAL; Mario Nuño-Whelan, Aguas Landscape Architecture; Sarah Gale, COA DMD
The Morningside Community GSI project is a continuation of the City of Albuquerque’s effort to increase green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) implementation across the city and streamline internal municipal processes. This GSI demonstration project is another retrofit of an existing bump-out in the public right-of-way, this time located in a residential neighborhood in the McDuffie Twin Parks neighborhood. While existing curbs simply conveyed stormwater from one street to another across a bed of rock mulch, the updated design features a network of water harvesting basins to maximize this opportunity to capture and infiltrate stormwater, grow native plants, reduce localized flooding, increase tree canopy, and enhance neighborhood beautification and community pride. The Morningside project is considered “Community GSI” due to the robust community engagement process to include neighborhood residents in the planning, design, installation and maintenance of the site. The project team collaborated with community leaders and the neighborhood association to host two in-person community workshops. This first workshop introduced residents to the Morningside project, provided education about the benefits and function of GSI, and connected participants to residential rainwater harvesting resources. The second workshop invited residents to participate in the design process through an interactive activity where community members contributed their design ideas and gained insight into City planning processes. The neighborhood has committed to supporting long term maintenance of the site, and the project team is coordinating with local leaders to support this effort with maintenance schedules and checklists. The Morningside Community GSI project has created a model for neighborhood engagement that can support a city-wide effort for stormwater harvesting and urban greening. The Morningside Community GSI project was led by SIG-NAL in collaboration with the City’s Department of Municipal Development, designed by Aguas Landscape Architecture, and installed by Rio Grande Return. Funding support was provided by City Councilor Tammy Feibelkorn.
Photo Credit: AMAFCA
Hahn Arroyo Reconstruction
Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority (AMAFCA)
Presenters: PJ Chavez, AMAFCA; George Radnovich, Sites Southwest
The Hahn Arroyo Reconstruction goes beyond traditional flood control by incorporating Green Stormwater Infrastructure and Low Impact Development (GSI–LID) principles to create a linear park along a major arroyo in Albuquerque’s urban core. The design features an in-channel water quality structure that captures gross pollutants and an in-channel collection system that harvests low flows for irrigation of the park’s native plantings. Recycled concrete from the original arroyo was repurposed into seating walls, and colorful mosaics created through the City of Albuquerque Arts Program bring vibrancy and local character to the trails. Designed as a true community asset, the project exemplifies water quality enhancement, water harvesting, materials reuse, public involvement, and multi-agency collaboration in both design and funding. Today, the Hahn Arroyo trails are actively used by pedestrians and bicyclists, reflecting the project’s success in combining function, sustainability, and public enjoyment.
Photo Credit: Annie Montes, Ciudad SWCD
Candelaria Nature Preserve
Ciudad Soil & Water Conservation District and City of Albuquerque
Presenters: Annie Montes, Ciudad SWCD; Dustin Chavez-Davis, COA Open Space; Cameron Weber, Rio Grande Return, CJ Ames, Ciudad SWCD
The Candelaria Nature Preserve is a 90-acre former farm in Albuquerque’s North Valley managed by the City’s Open Space Division in partnership with Ciudad Soil and Water Conservation District. This ag-to-nature transformation project demonstrates healthy soils principles, no-till farming of wildlife crops for migratory birds, and native riparian and upland restoration. Rio Grande Return plays a central role with expert restoration design-implementation and on-the-ground project support. The Preserve hosts public tours (last Friday of each month) and regular volunteer workdays (Mondays and Fridays), allowing visitors to see restoration in action. Participants can learn firsthand about soil health, habitat recovery, and collaborative land stewardship in an urban setting.
Photo Credit: Rembe Urban Design & Development
Griegos Farms
Rembe Urban Design & Development
Presenters: Jack Rembe and Kenny Myers, Rembe Urban Design & Development
Griegos Farms is a distinctive living environment that blends the architectural and agricultural heritage of Albuquerque’s North Valley with the comfort of modern cottage living. The community’s one- and two-bedroom homes offer the privacy of detached residences while fostering neighborly interaction through shared gardens, courtyards, and shaded outdoor spaces. Drawing from the Los Griegos Historic District, the design team studied 121 inventoried historic homes to guide the project’s architectural character, emphasizing simplicity, elegance, and efficiency. Sustainability is integral to the project, with compact building footprints, strategically placed windows for natural ventilation, and fully electric structures that reduce energy consumption. The landscape design captures and reuses rainwater while relying on drought-tolerant plants to significantly minimize long-term water use. Together, these elements create a community designed to elevate daily life through culturally grounded architecture, outdoor spaces, and a community-oriented approach to living.
