Institute for Applied Ecology

Description:this Agreement Provides Funding Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in the Amount of $1,816,892 to the Institute of Applied Ecology to Support Their Efforts With Improving the Water Quality of the Gulf of America. the Purpose of This Award Is to Demonstrate How Farmers and Farmer-led Communities Can Adapt Four Traditional Agricultural Practices (production Fields, Cover Crops, Hedgerows, Restoration) to Native Crop Technologies. Activities:the Activities to Be Performed Include Introducing and Testing a Native Crop Toolkit Designed to Improve Watershed Health and Benefit Farmers, Establishing a Farmer to Farmer Hub as a Venue to Connect Farmers With the Toolkit, Restoring Habitat for Wildlife Along the Rio Grande River, and Developing a Model for Ecological Management Practices for Working Lands Within the Greater Gulf of America Watershed. Subrecipient:subrecipient Activities Include Monitoring to Measure Changes in Pollinator Communities, Translating Communication Materials to Spanish, Supporting Recruitment of Farmers, and Co-hosting Workshops. Outcomes:the Anticipated Deliverables and Expected Outcomes Include a 70% Likelihood of Long-term Adoption by Farmers Due to Project Awareness, Approximately 50 Acres of Habitat Being Enhanced, Protected, and Restored and Eight Farming Communities Increasing Resilience Over the Life of the Project. as the Intended Beneficiaries, the Residents in the Rio Grande-albuquerque Watershed Will Benefit From Improved Water Quality and Restored Habitat.