The Santa Fe Watershed Association is fortunate to have the support of a dedicated, volunteer board of directors. Currently, meetings take place on the third Wednesday of each month, 5:00pm – 6:30pm. If you are interested in learning more about joining the board, please email info@santafewatershed.org!
Peter Gowen, President
Peter is a retired water quality hydrologist and lawyer who moved to the area in 2022. He started with the U.S. EPA in Boston, moved on to a local government water quality planning group in Boise, Idaho, served as a hydrologist for the Bureau of Land Management in Montana, before pursuing his M.S. in watershed sciences at Colorado State University. At the completion of his M.S. degree, he taught two senior/first year graduate level courses in wildland water quality. He worked for the Wyoming Land Quality Department as a coal mining regulatory hydrologist before attending law school at the University of Colorado.
Peter’s private law practice clients were primarily local governmental water and sewer service providers in the Denver metro area. He helped create the Arapahoe County Water and Wastewater Authority and served as its general counsel for over 10 years. After closing his private law practice, he finished his career with the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission in its Hearings Unit, ultimately retiring as its Acting Manager. He has served on numerous governmental advisory boards and several non-profit organization boards.
Peter has been a life-long outdoor recreationist, who has enjoyed hiking, backpacking. whitewater and flat water kayaking, commercial whitewater rafting, cross country and telemark skiing, stand up paddleboarding, bicycling, and golf. He continues to play ice hockey with the Santa Fe old timers hockey group. He has led trips, taught classes, and served on boards of a university outing club and the Colorado Mountain Club.
(Term ends December, 2025)
Fred Schott, PhD, Vice President
Fred grew up in the Carolinas where his involvement in the civil rights movement in the 1960’s inspired him to graduate studies in theology and social ethics. He served as a mission redeveloper for the Lutheran church in inner-city Philadelphia, and later in central New Jersey, working with congregations, community organizations and neighborhood renewal programs. After receiving further degrees in counseling psychology and family therapy, for several years he worked in mental/behavioral health facilities in New Jersey and suburban Philadelphia as a therapist and director of clinical services. After 40 years in Princeton, NJ, Fred and his wife Jan Westrick relocated to Santa Fe, where they had visited off and on for many years. They share five adult children (two of whom live in Northern NM) and three grandchildren. Fred has been active in Rotary for many years and has served as President of the Rotary Club of Santa Fe and with Rotary’s international youth exchange program. Through his whole life Fred has been an active camper, backpacker & hiker. He cherishes the outdoors and loves water so he is happy to support the work of the Santa Fe Watershed Association and serve on its board.
(Term ends December, 2025)
Jeffrey A Thornton PhD, MBA, PH, Secretary
Jeff Thornton is a licensed Professional Hydrologist in the State of Wisconsin with more than 20-years’ experience in writing lake and watershed management plans, preparing and administering grant applications, and providing expert assistance to communities and governments at all levels worldwide. He obtained his academic degrees from the United States Merchant Marine Academy, the University of New Hampshire, the University of Zimbabwe, and the University of South Africa. He began his career with the Department of National Parks and Wild Life Management in Zimbabwe before moving to the South African National Institute for Water Research, where he developed an interest in the relationship between humans and their environment. Moving into environmental planning, he served as Head of Environmental Planning for the City of Cape Town and most recently as Principal Environmental Planner with the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission. Among other achievements, he was instrumental in establishing the interstate Fox River Summit. Jeff also has worked with the United Nations in developing Strategic Action Plans for river basins and aquifers in Central and South America, East Africa and Central Asia. He has served as an advisor for the Global Environment Facility and continues to serve as a reviewer for the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Australian Research Council. He regularly contributes to and provides peer review for international scientific journals. Jeff and his wife have recently relocated to Santa Fe, New Mexico. They enjoy travel, nature and singing in the local choir.
(Term ends December, 2025)
Loretta Valencia, M.Acct., Treasurer
Loretta E. Valencia joins the Santa Fe Watershed Board as Treasurer after 10 years as the association’s accountant. She holds two degrees, a Masters and Bachelors of Accounting, from NMSU, a CPA license and has worked in the private, public and non-profit sectors of accounting for many years. Loretta believes that Santa Fe is a special place because this community is committed to preservation on various levels, with water being on the top of this list. Loretta has lived in Santa Fe since childhood and is married to Harold R. Valencia. They have two sons, Phillip and Marcus.
(Term ends December, 2027)
Lindsay Archuleta, MBA
Lindsay grew up in Taos, New Mexico and now lives in Santa Fe with her husband and two kids. She was fortunate to grow up in Northern New Mexico and acquire a great appreciation for our scarce and precious resource, water, and the importance of protecting our watershed and acequia systems. She graduated summa cum laude with her master of business administration from Anderson School of Management at the University of New Mexico, after studying international development for a year abroad at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. She began her career working in international development and with Indigenous cultures in Kenya and Brazil before settling back in New Mexico in 2011. She is now the Chief Advancement Officer at the School of Advanced Research, and has worked in fundraising for nonprofits in New Mexico for over fifteen years including the New Mexico Green Chamber of Commerce and the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. In her spare time, Lindsay loves to be outside skiing, backpacking, and hiking.
(Term ends December, 2027)
Colleen Baker
Colleen Baker is the Design and Development Bureau Chief for New Mexico State Parks Division. She was previously the senior Project Manager for the Santa Fe County Open Space and Trails Program and has been working on the restoration and revitalization of the Santa Fe River since she started with the program in October 2003. Colleen graduated in 1992 with her BA in Anthropology and Fine Arts from the University of New Mexico. She received her Masters in Community and Regional Planning from the University of New Mexico in 2004. She has worked in cultural and natural resource conservation and sustainable agriculture and food systems. Colleen enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, hiking, reading, art and music.
(Term ends December, 2026)
Mollie Parsons
Mollie has been a passionate educator and curriculum designer for 25 years. After earning an undergraduate degree from Brown University, she went on to receive Masters Degrees from Harvard Graduate School of Education and Boston College in education. She taught in public and private schools as well as museums and other nonprofits. Mollie has received numerous honors for her work in interpretation, education, and collective impact work. She opened a business in 2020, writing curriculum and providing project management services to nonprofits across the Southwest.
(Term ends December, 2026)
Martha Lennihan
Martha brings to the Watershed Association her background in biology and water resources. She worked primarily as a biologist for the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the California Department of Fish & Game, and the California Coastal Commission. She then practiced natural resources and water rights law in California for over 30 years, primarily representing public agencies in complex, multi-party matters. These involved water use and conservation, fisheries, endangered species, hydrologic modeling, land use and conservation, and associated public policy issues.
Martha is devoted to public service, working with various non-profits as a volunteer in multiple capacities during her career. She is a managing partner of a multi-family-owned cattle ranch in rural NE California, where fly fishing and duck hunting co-exist with the cattle operation. The ranch is covered by a conservation easement administered by the local land trust. Martha hikes, skis, fly fishes, volunteers, reads voraciously – and loves her life as a member of our Santa Fe community.
(Term ends December, 2026)
Board Committees
The SFWA Board currently has four committees, which are each chaired by a board member and are composed of board members, staff, and members of the public. If you are interested in learning more about or joining a Board committee, please email info@santafewatershed.org!
The Governance Committee (chaired by Peter Gowen) focuses on implementation of SFWA’s strategic plan, board recruitment, and updates to organizational documentation.
The Finance Committee (chaired by Loretta Valencia) focuses on annual budgets, financial reports, and taxes.
The Development Committee (chaired by Lindsay Archuleta) focuses on SFWA’s fundraising and development strategy, sponsorships, and community outreach.
The Education Committee (chaired by Mollie Parsons) focuses on curriculum, programming, and collaboration with educators and community partners.
Volunteer
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We are a 501(c)(3) organization
