Restoration Projects

The goal of our restoration projects is to improve and maintain the health of our water resources. These water resources include streams, springs, wetlands, ponds and other surface water bodies. Maintaining clean water and healthy hydrologic systems benefits the people and ecological systems that rely on this precious resource.

Restoration efforts are focused on places where we can expect to improve biological diversity and protect water quantity and quality of springs and wetlands. Restoration treatments are a collaborative effort of the Hopi Water Resources Program, Office of Range Management, Environmental Protection Office, Office of Hopi Lands, and Cultural Preservation Office with support from stakeholders such as ranchers, farmers, youth and elderly programs, and village leaders.

Restoration projects often address the following threats to our water resources:

• Nonpoint source pollution: Nonpoint source pollution is defined as a pollutant that is transported by rain or snowfall moving over or through the ground. Examples of nonpoint pollution includes sediment from the erosion of soils, nutrients from fertilizer and livestock waste, pesticides and herbicides, waste from septic systems, and toxic products like gasoline, oil and antifreeze.

• Exotic species: Many restoration projects attempt to replace exotic species (e.g. tamarisk, Russian olive) with native species (e.g.  cottonwoods and willows). Exotic species often have negative effects on water resources and biological diversity. Species such as tamarisk and Russian olive use much more water than native species. As a result, the water table can drop in elevation, thereby drying up springs and wetlands.  Because these springs and wetlands are vital for supporting important plant species for use by wildlife and for cultural uses, protecting and restoring them is a priority.

• Livestock: In many restoration projects, there is an effort to keep cattle and sheep out of sensitive riparian areas. Livestock eat native vegetation, increase erosion, and introduce additional bacteria and nutrients to the water through their waste. Projects often include fencing sensitive areas to keep livestock out and providing alternative water sources for livestock.

Three restoration projects are currently underway: Keams Canyon, Pasture Canyon, and Moenkopi.