Community unites for land restoration at Red Canyon fall gathering

Scientists, ranchers, educators, ecologists and families gathered this past weekend at Red Canyon Reserve for the annual Red Canyon Fall Gathering, hosted by the Quivira Coalition. The three-day event held Sept. 26–28, offered hands-on conservation work, educational hikes and community meals in the foothills of the San Mateo Mountains.

“The weather forecast going into the weekend was daunting; the only rain we had was an epic thunderstorm in the early hours of Sunday morning, which we all experienced safely in our tents. It woke most of us up, except for Iris, a 3-and-a-half-year-old who somehow slept right through it,” Nina Katz, the event organizer, said.

Participants camped at the 320-acre reserve south of Magdalena, where they learned land restoration techniques from the Albuquerque Wildlife Federation, including how to build Zeedyk rock structures, low-cost, high-impact formations that help restore dryland ecosystems.

Saturday’s activities included canyon exploration and a geology hike led by Becca Goughnour, a field geologist with the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources. Goughnour shared insights into Socorro County’s volcanic history and geologic formations, helping attendees understand the forces that shaped the region.

On Sunday, archaeologist Blair Mills guided participants through Red Canyon’s cultural history, offering context on the area’s human past and its connection to the land.

Katz said meals were a highlight of the weekend, featuring grass-fed beef from Magdalena’s Dunhill Ranch. Attendees shared food and stories while overlooking sweeping views of the Magdalena Mountains.

Quivira hosts a second gathering, scheduled for 2026. You can keep an eye on their events on their website: https://quiviracoalition.org/all-events/