What is the Rolling River Project?

The Rolling River is a working model of a watershed, mounted on a trailer, that is transported to schools and special events. The trailer is filled with sand-like plastic granules which can be molded into nearly any type of landscape by forming hills, plains, and valleys, and outfitting them with miniature forests, farms, and cities. Hidden plumbing allows the rivers to actually flow, wetlands to appear, and lakes to rise and fall in response to simulated flood and drought cycles.

Ciudad Soil and Water Conservation District, based in Albuquerque, has presented the Rolling River at numerous school campuses, festivals, scout gatherings, conferences, and Earth Day events over the past three years. Trained staff and volunteers use the trailer to demonstrate in a hands-on

fashion how the real world's water systems work. We hope that visitors leave with a new recognition of how precious and essential a resource we have in our rivers, lakes, and groundwater.

The presenter can concentrate on one particular aspect of the riparian system, or can give a general overview of what watersheds are and how they work, depending on the purpose of the visit. Presentations can be customized to address the age level, background, and specific interests of the audience.

If you are interested in scheduling a Rolling River presentation for your school or community group, contact the Ciudad SWCD at 761-5446.

Ciudad's Rolling River Project is funded in part by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, with support from the NM Department of Agriculture and the New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts.