United for the Rio Laja: Grassroots Action Drives Sustainability Efforts

By Aundria McMillan Humphrey

Watersheds are the backbone of our ecosystems, crucial for sustaining life by managing water flow, supporting biodiversity, and maintaining water quality. Effective watershed management protects these vital resources by implementing conservation techniques, sustainable land-use practices, and community collaboration. While the challenges of erosion, deforestation, and water scarcity can seem overwhelming, they can be addressed through integrated solutions that engage local communities and prioritize sustainability.

Evelyn Grewal is the Project Team Leader for the Watershed Education Program.  She and the rest of the Rotarians know that the Río Laja Watershed, a lifeline for the region surrounding San Miguel, is a critical resource that is under threat from numerous environmental challenges. From water scarcity to soil erosion, deforestation, and prolonged droughts, the watershed has reached a tipping point. Recognizing the gravity of these issues, the Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende-Midday has partnered with Salvemos al Río Laja, a well-established organization with a 25-year history of addressing these environmental crises through education and nature-based solutions.

Tackling the Biggest Threats

The threats to the Río Laja Watershed are many—overgrazing accelerates soil erosion, deforestation depletes crucial forest cover, illegal extractions destabilize ecosystems, and prolonged droughts hinder the aquifer’s natural recharge. As a result, the region faces not only water scarcity but also natural contamination with arsenic and fluoride. The Rotary Club and Salvemos al Río Laja are addressing these issues by educating communities on the value of ecosystem services and implementing solutions that restore and protect natural habitats.

Conservation techniques that have been most successful in protecting or restoring the watershed include:

• Reforestation of eroded land with native plants.

• Community projects that promote ways to stop the erosion and desertification process.

• Rain gardens, rainwater catchment systems in schools and homes, and workshop training for holistic production.

• Community education in resource management and promotion of partnerships.

Empowering Farmers and Landowners

At the core of this effort is Salvemos al Río Laja's education program, AADN, Aprendizaje y Acciones desde la Naturaleza (Learning and Actions from Nature). This initiative brings sustainable practices into classrooms and communities, training local facilitators to set up demonstration spaces, promote art and citizen science, and implement eco-techniques like rain gardens and water catchment systems. The program also encourages sustainable food production and consumption, ensuring a healthier relationship with the land.

This school year (2025-26) AADN plans to operate educational programs in 21 schools in San Miguel de Allende, Dolores Hidago, San Luis de La Paz, and San Felipe.

Success Through Collaboration

The success of these conservation efforts is evident in the transformative impact they’ve had on the region. Reforestation projects, community-driven erosion prevention techniques, and hands-on workshops in schools have become pillars of a holistic strategy for watershed preservation. Through the partnership with Rotary, Salvemos al Río Laja’s education program now reaches over 1,300 students across 16 schools, fostering resilience and climate change adaptation in the next generation.

San Miguel de Allende Rotary-Midday is also working with two international partners, the Kitchener Conestoga Club (KCRC) of Ontario, Canada, and the 49ers Breakfast Club of Nevada City (Northern California) to write and fund an international rotary grant. 

Community Engagementat the Heart

Building a resilient community requires grassroots involvement. The program has collaborated with nine local communities and over 600 families to diagnose water-related challenges and co-design solutions. Workshops and eco-education sessions emphasize water conservation and land restoration, ensuring that both students and their families take active roles in preserving the watershed.

Looking Ahead: A Vision for a Healthier Watershed

The future of the Río Laja Watershed looks brighter, thanks to plans for continued restoration and reforestation in rural areas. With funding support from Rotary clubs in the U.S. and Canada, efforts include building tree nurseries managed by students and communities, expanding educational programs, and strengthening conservation partnerships.

Join the Movement

Together, through education, collaboration, and sustainable practices, San Miguel de Allende is proving that collective action can restore and protect the natural resources that sustain us all.Individuals can play a crucial role in these efforts by supporting the Watershed Education Program. Donations can be made through the Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende-Midday’s website at www.rotarysmamidday.org

Aundria McMillan Humphrey

www.slowdowngranny.com