Project Objective

Defending the Pulse of the Headwaters

Water in the American West is not just a resource; it is the fundamental currency of life. Yet, as our climate shifts and soil "thirst" increases, our understanding of this lifeblood requires a new kind of vigilance. The Rio Grande Sentinel Project answers this call, serving as a digital steward for the San Luis Valley.

By integrating comprehensive GIS mapping, and precision in-situ aerial imaging with real-time hydrology and "thirsty soil" absorption models, we are moving beyond static maps to dynamic observation. We believe you cannot protect what you do not understand. This system illuminates the hidden connections between snowpack, soil moisture, and river flow, providing the data necessary to act as guardians of our most precious ecosystem. Data alone cannot tell the whole story. To truly understand the shifting landscape, we must see it. Complementing our digital models, we deploy precision aerial imaging to 'ground-truth' our hydrological data. By capturing high-resolution 4K imagery of riparian corridors, diversion structures, and soil conditions, we provide a visual validation layer that satellite data misses. This aerial perspective ensures that our digital steward has eyes on the real-world terrain.

Special Recon Reports

Independent. Data-Driven. Uncompromising. We combine aerial reconnaissance with hydrological analysis to expose the hidden realities of our changing water cycle.

We provide the intelligence   |   you decide the action.

Early October 2025 Extreme Precipitation Event Investigation 

Nature is losing its rhythm. Extreme precipitation in October disrupts the natural transition to winter. Instead of building a snowpack savings account, these warm storms melt early snow, causing immediate, destructive flooding that erodes the landscape and leaves us with a water deficit when spring arrives.

Cielo Vista Ranch Fence Ecosystem Destruction Investigation

Barbed wire cannot erase history. This investigation exposes the dual cost of the Cielo Vista enclosure: the disruption of vital wildlife habitats and the exclusion of our community from their ancestral mountain. We provide the visual evidence needed to challenge this fragmentation, ensuring that the rights of nature and the people are not silenced by the arrogance of locked gates.

Elevation Aerial Imaging and GIS Mapping

Serving Those Who Feed Us

Advanced mapping and drone solutions designed specifically for the San Luis Valley. We use modern tools to solve age-old challenges for local farms and ranches. We bridge the gap between complex, hard to read data and the immediate, actionable decisions required to safeguard your water and maximize your yield.

Veteran owned.   |   Mission driven.

Elevation Aerial Seal
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Dr. John Snow

The Council of Nine

Giants Upon Whose Shoulders We Stand.

Pillars of Prophetic Warning, Data Visualization, and Systems Thinking. Luminaries of Environmentalism, and Stewards of Public Health. They serve as our heroic inspiration, whose world changing concepts steer our project forward.

John Wesley Powell

John Wesley Powell

"You cannot conserve what you do not understand."

The Prophet of the West. His 1878 report warned that the arid West could not be settled like the East. We follow his call for watershed-based governance.

Edward Abbey

Edward Abbey

"Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul."

The Desert Anarchist. A reminder that data is useless without the passion to defend the land. He represents the grit required to speak truth to power.

Dr. John Snow

Dr. John Snow

"I shall take the handle off the pump."

The Father of Data Viz. By mapping the 1854 Cholera outbreak, he proved that visualizing hidden connections saves lives. He is our model for public health vigilance.

Aldo Leopold

Aldo Leopold

"To keep every cog and wheel is the first precaution of intelligent tinkering."

The Ethical Steward. He taught us that the community includes the soil, waters, plants, and animals. We strive to uphold his 'Land Ethic.'

Rachel Carson

Rachel Carson

"In nature, nothing exists alone."

The Warning Voice. She challenged the chemical industry and sparked the modern environmental movement. A symbol of courage against corporate consensus.

Alexander von Humboldt

Alexander von Humboldt

"Nature is a living whole."

The First Ecologist. He invented the concept of isotherms and saw the unity in diversity. He inspires our holistic approach to climate and geography.

Marc Reisner

Marc Reisner

"Water flows uphill towards money."

The Historian of Theft. Author of Cadillac Desert. He exposed the corruption of Western water politics. We document the reality he predicted.

Edward Tufte

Edward Tufte

"Escaping the flatland."

The Visual Philosopher. The master of information design. He reminds us that complex data must be clear, honest, and free of 'chartjunk.'

Dr. James Hansen

Dr. James Hansen

"The physics are clear."

The Climate Prophet. NASA scientist who testified to Congress in 1988. He represents the duty of the scientist to speak when the data reveals danger.

Rio Grande Sentinel Project

Serving Those Who Feed Us

Advanced mapping and drone solutions designed specifically for the San Luis Valley. We use modern tools to solve age-old challenges for local farms and ranches. We bridge the gap between complex, hard to read data and the immediate, actionable decisions required to safeguard your water and maximize your yield.

Veteran owned.   |   Mission driven.