Rainwater Harvesting with Elissa Hardy | September 2, 2026

“Rainwater Harvesting: Creating Resilience in a Drying Climate” by Elissa Hardy, Water Program Manager with the Taos County Soil and Water Conservation District. As drought conditions intensify across New Mexico and water resources become increasingly limited, understanding how to capture and use rainwater has never been more important. This presentation provides community members with a practical introduction to rainwater harvesting while placing it in the broader context of the state's current water challenges. Elissa’s presentation will begin with a brief overview of New Mexico’s current water conditions, the importance of water conservation and how rainwater harvesting serves as a simple, effective strategy for reducing demand on municipal and groundwater supplies, and will conclude with an introduction to the fundamentals of both passive and active rainwater harvesting. Elissa serves as the Water Program Manager for the Taos Soil and Water Conservation District. In this role, she manages projects focused on protecting and conserving local water resources, including surface water quality monitoring on the Rio Hondo, groundwater and well water quality testing for private landowners, and community education on water conservation through rainwater harvesting. Her work includes teaching both active and passive rainwater harvesting techniques, coordinating educational workshops, and developing the District's new rain barrel cost-share program. In March 2026, Elisa completed the Water Harvesting Design Certificate through the Watershed Management Group in Tucson, Arizona, where she worked with internationally recognized rainwater harvesting expert Brad Lancaster.