February 1, 2021
Jennifer Lindline
Las Vegas, N.M. – New Mexico Highlands University geology professor Jennifer Lindline was appointed to serve on the Upper Pecos Watershed Association (UPWA) board of directors.
“The Upper Pecos Watershed Association is the main group with their boots-on-the-ground identifying stretches of the Upper Pecos River in Northern New Mexico that are impaired and restoring them to their ecological, historical, and recreational vitality,” Lindline said.
Lindline said the Upper Pecos Watershed Association was formed in 2006 to address pollution and other issues in the Pecos River watershed.
“The UPWA provides a forum for discussion and development of strategies to meet recreational needs, honor historical uses, and improve the health of the watershed,” said Lindline, who chairs the Natural Resources Management Department at Highlands.
The Upper Pecos watershed covers more than 400 square miles of drainage of the Pecos River and its tributaries in Northern New Mexico. The area includes the Pecos Wilderness, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act section of the Pecos as well as Cow, Bull and Glorieta Creeks and other tributaries.
“The water of the Upper Pecos sustains and enriches the lives of everyone who lives, works and recreates there. Our current research on the Upper Pecos involves collecting frequent chemical and physical data, like pH and temperature, to see if the river is currently meeting criteria for water quality.
“My research on the Pecos and other watersheds in New Mexico foucuses on water quality and water quantity. This research improves our understanding of surface and groundwater resources and the complexity of water supply concerns in our state,” Lindline said.
Lindline brings expertise on the geology of the Pecos Canyon and the geologic influences on water quality to her board service.
“I provide technical input on active restoration projects and bring grant writing expertise to the group,” Lindline said.
Lindline said the Upper Pecos Watershed Association has always welcomed Highlands University student involvement in its restoration efforts.
“With my board service, I can now be a direct pipeline of information to the Highlands University academic programs and share our students’ water science skills and our university’s water analytical capacities with the UPWA,” Lindline said.
Lindline said her board service on the Upper Pecos Watershed Association is very important to her because it allows her to connect in a formal way with a watershed she cherishes.
“My husband and I were smitten by the beauty of the Upper Pecos Watershed since our first hike along Jack’s Creek in 2000. We bought our first home in this beautiful watershed in 2003 and have raised our family there. I am honored to serve on the board and play a lead role in Upper Pecos Watershed stewardship,” Lindline said.
Lindline is internationally known for her minerology and chemistry studies on the origin and evolution of continents.
“I am committed to involving students in my research and creating opportunities for their learning, discovery and professional placement,” Lindline said.
Lindline’s research is published in scholarly publications such as Journal of Geosciences; Geochemistry, Geophysics and Geosystems; Inorganic Chemistry Communications; Crystals, and Canadian Journal of Earth Science.