Is the San Juan Basin to be considered a rural sacrifice area for metropolitan economies? We propose a broad research and education agenda to highlight the environmental, economic, and cultural issues and the potential for policy, planning, and design to promote understanding and self determination for the region.

The purpose of the Innovation Working Group is to map out research and education components for the development of grant applications including for the National Science Foundation, based on issues of resource use and development in the San Juan River basin. The economies and ecologies of the region are fragile and susceptible to further exploitation and misuse by national and international interests from outside the region. The grants will propose research involving issues of water use, land and mineral resources, engineering, mapping, and cultural, historic, landscape, and settlement issues, with a priority on education and human development with the region. Outcomes of this Innovative Working Group will be conceptualizations, models, articles, books, policies, and grant proposals to tie these issues to the San Juan watershed and its people, with a primary focus on New Mexico.

Jemez Springs, NM
October 21-23, 2012

Activity Leads: Tony Atkin & Geraldine Forbes Isais
University of New Mexico