Society for Ecological Restoration SW Newsletter — Summer 2026
Save the Date!!
SER SW Conference Nov. 12-14 in Henderson, NV
https://chapter.ser.org/southwest/2026/07/15/2026-ser-southwest-conference/
Stay tuned for our September Newsletter: Student scholarships will be available!
Personal Restoration Stories: Board President – Ondrea Hummel
Ondrea is a riverine, riparian and wetland restoration practitioner, including being certified through SER’s Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner program (https://www.ser.org/page/certification). We asked her a few questions about getting started in restoration, and what projects have meant the most to her:
How/why did you first get involved in restoration? What was your first project?
Some of my first project(s) in the early 2000’s were ones that I completed with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers but
started when I was working at the City of Albuquerque Open Space Division. I worked on a few projects near each other at the same time: a) the Albuquerque BioPark Restoration Project, and the b) Ecosystem Restoration @ RT66 Project. Both are in downtown Albuquerque above and below Central Bridge. The BioPark Projects is on Tingley and included work in both the fishing ponds as well as the creation of wetlands in the bosque. The RT66 Project entailed floodplain connection on the west side of the river from above Central Ave down to Bridge Blvd.
What has been the most meaningful restoration project you’ve worked on or one that you are most proud of?
Not long after these projects were implemented, I also had the honor of being the lead ecologist on the Middle Rio Grande Restoration Project which was also in the Albuquerque Reach and included almost 1000 acres of restoration on 17 sites between Sandia and Isleta Pueblos. These projects were construction from approximately 2012-2016. While at Tetra Tech (starting in 2016), I was then able to be part of the monitoring that was conducted at those sites. Now, 10 years after implementation, 3 of the sites have had active nesting by Southwestern Willow Flycatcher. Restoration and enhancement of habitat for the flycatcher was one of many of the project goals. Seeing that habitat now used by the birds is very gratifying.
Anything you’d like to include about what makes you laugh or brings you joy in your daily life (beyond restoration work)?
In general, getting outdoors or doing something active. The ‘bosque’is my ‘church’ but when I can’t get there, I at least get out where I can see and hear nature, especially birds!
Training Opportunities
Regenerative Solutions to Desertification: July 17-19, Synergia Ranch, Santa Fe
Hands-on workshops and talks on topics ranging from Agroforestry in the Southwest to Indigenous De-Centralised Water Management and River Revival. There are ticket options for any portion of the three days. https://ie-water-conference-2026.vercel.app/
SER Webinar: How can restoration practitioners strengthen biodiversity outcomes? July 23
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/1017816271432/WN_yXddAqq0SmOid5C6zuxKAw#/r
SER Webinar: Building restoration capacity through seed: July 30
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/1117679626736/WN_c2RhxdV1Rs-brN1z6ySWrw#/registration
New Mexico Native Plants in the Next 50 Years: Sept. 10-13, Silver City
https://www.npsnm.org/npsnm-state-conference-2026/
Volunteer, Field Trip & Community Opportunities
Flagstaff, AZ Native Plant Society Chapter Meeting – Mosses: July 21, 7 pm
https://aznps.com/event/flagstai-chapter-meeting-15/
Phoenix AZ Native Plant Society Seed Harvest: July 25, 7:30-10:30 am
https://aznps.com/event/estrella-park-native-seed-harvest-registration-required/
Nevada Native Plant Society – Lake Park Plant Walk: July 25, 9-11 am
https://www.nvnps.org/events/lake-park-plant-walk
Flagstaff Botany Lunch, August 14 11:45 am
Bushmaster Park east side pavilion picnic table, BYO lunch
Northern Arizona & Southern Utah field trips & restoration activities:
https://www.grandcanyontrust.org/events-calendar/
Riverside & San Bernadino, CA field trips & restoration activities:
https://chapters.cnps.org/riversidesanbernardino/
San Diego & Imperial Counties, CA field trips & restoration activities:
https://cnpssd.org/
Grant Opportunities
SER SW Workshop Grants
https://chapter.ser.org/southwest/resources/workshop-grants/
