Permaculture Institute

Restoration of this area was a group endeavor. The plan was designed by Bill Mollison and Scott Pittman around 1994 and was eventually implemented in late 1996 through the Partners in Wildlife program of the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) of the US Department of the Interior. This federal program encourages and funds private land owners to manage their land for wildlife habitat development or restoration.

Our wetland is approximately 5 acres of land, situated in the marshy bottom of the Pojoaque River Valley, fed by a slow seep from the Pojoaque River. At the time of project, this area was heavily vegetated by the large stands of the invasive Tamarisk and Russian Olive. These exotic trees have extripated the native trees and shrubs. A few acres of relic cottonwoods were being slowly killed as a result of these invasive species and salting of the soil.

This project included excavation of large ponds to complement the marsh system, and a long Chinampa channel to create a fertile productive setting for perennial farming. Chinampa stands for an Mesooamerican floating garden approach. Originally, chinampas were stationary artificial islands used for growing crops. The combination of shallow lake water with small growing areas allowed to create a very productive ecosystem. Nutrient rich mock from the bottomlands was used to build the floating islands themselves, which were then planted with traditional polyculture of corn, beans, grains, flowers, herbs and fruit. Permaculture has long admired this approach of Aztec nation, and it has inspired a number of permaculture gardens and sites around the world, where the chinampa approach is used to cleanse water, slow down runoff and increase productivity of cultivated ecosystems.

The wetlands design was created to maximize the diversity of flora and fauna, and to provide upland, deepwater and marsh habitat for wintering, migration and breeding.

The species inventory includes:

Water fowl (duck, geese, and coots)
Raptors (hawks, owls)
Song birds
King Fishers
Blue Herons
Egrets
Musk Rats
Water Snakes
Snapping Turtles, Frogs and Salamanders
Rainbow and Brown Trout
Blue Gills

In addition, white faced ibis have been seen around, a bird that is a federal listed species of concern. Habitat plantings are in place to encourage the endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher to make a home around the wetland.

Our contract to maintain this area as a wetland was signed for 30 years with US Fish and Wildlife.

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Tweet Before the restoration, the area was covered by invasive exotic species, such as Russian Olive, Siberian Elm and Tamarisk. It was nearly impenetrable thicket of plants growing in extremely alkaline soils. Chinampa as seen from above, days after it was created. Nesting Islands can be seen here, few days after the completion of the project. Ten years after, the wetlands are teeming with life of all kinds. Ducks, geese, various fish, insects, muskrats, king fishers and egrets congregate around the wetlands for breeding, feeding and fun. Bullfrog. Photo by Seth Roffman Useful Links: Funding for federal wetland restoration and Federal programs for wildlife information.	Large Scale Wetlands Restoration Project Restoration of this area was a group endeavor. The plan was designed by Bill Mollison and Scott Pittman around 1994 and was eventually implemented in late 1996 through the Partners in Wildlife program of the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) of the US Department of the Interior. This federal program encourages and funds private land owners to manage their land for wildlife habitat development or restoration. Our wetland is approximately 5 acres of land, situated in the marshy bottom of the Pojoaque River Valley, fed by a slow seep from the Pojoaque River. At the time of project, this area was heavily vegetated by the large stands of the invasive Tamarisk and Russian Olive. These exotic trees have extripated the native trees and shrubs. A few acres of relic cottonwoods were being slowly killed as a result of these invasive species and salting of the soil. This project included excavation of large ponds to complement the marsh system, and a long Chinampa channel to create a fertile productive setting for perennial farming. Chinampa stands for an Mesooamerican floating garden approach. Originally, chinampas were stationary artificial islands used for growing crops. The combination of shallow lake water with small growing areas allowed to create a very productive ecosystem. Nutrient rich mock from the bottomlands was used to build the floating islands themselves, which were then planted with traditional polyculture of corn, beans, grains, flowers, herbs and fruit. Permaculture has long admired this approach of Aztec nation, and it has inspired a number of permaculture gardens and sites around the world, where the chinampa approach is used to cleanse water, slow down runoff and increase productivity of cultivated ecosystems. The wetlands design was created to maximize the diversity of flora and fauna, and to provide upland, deepwater and marsh habitat for wintering, migration and breeding. The species inventory includes: Water fowl (duck, geese, and coots) Raptors (hawks, owls) Song birds King Fishers Blue Herons Egrets Musk Rats Water Snakes Snapping Turtles, Frogs and Salamanders Rainbow and Brown Trout Blue Gills In addition, white faced ibis have been seen around, a bird that is a federal listed species of concern. Habitat plantings are in place to encourage the endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher to make a home around the wetland. Our contract to maintain this area as a wetland was signed for 30 years with US Fish and Wildlife.	VISITING OUR FARM PROJECT CONSULTING SERVICES Heirloom Poultry Pasture Permaculture Food Forest Wetlands Restoration Project Mandala Garden Our House Dairy Goats
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