Rainwater Workshops Build Community Conservation Skills in Taos

In Taos, residents face worsening water scarcity due to recurring drought, limited rainfall, and dwindling water supplies. Yet many lack access to the equipment, training, and technical assistance needed to implement rainwater harvesting and conservation practices at home. After attending a rainwater harvesting conference and identifying an opportunity to expand local conservation efforts, a water program specialist with the Taos Soil and Water Conservation District’s contacted LOR for support. LOR’s funding will help the District purchase 240 rain barrels, workshop tools and equipment, educational signage, radio advertising, and social media content to launch a hands-on rainwater-harvesting education and demonstration program. The program will include three free workshops serving up to 60 participants, along with three community demonstration sites featuring rain gardens, basins, swales, and native plantings. In addition, 180 discounted rain barrels will be available to residents—including, for the first time, Town of Taos residents and renters who were previously ineligible. Together, these efforts equip residents with the knowledge, tools, and hands-on experience needed to reduce household water use and strengthen community resilience in the face of long-term water scarcity.