Santa Fe Basin Climate Change Study
Climate Change and the Santa Fe Basin: A Preliminary Assessment of Vulnerabilities and Adaptation Alternatives
The final product of the March 6th, 2012 climate change workshop is a
preliminary assessment that investigates how projected climate change impacts may influence some of the key natural and human systems in our watershed. The assessment also explores the adaptive actions that we, as stewards of this watershed, may consider implementing and details many of the ongoing activities that will increase the resiliency of our community. We hope, that by working together, we can have a positive impact on our watershed and mitigate the effects of climate change while working toward a sustainable future.
The Public Utilties heard a presenation on the report on November 7th, 2012. The
memo written for Public Utilities Committee presents highlights of the report and includes the report's Executive Summary.
Interactive Climate Change Workshop
On March 6, 2012, the City of Santa Fe and the County of Santa Fe, working with the Bureau of Reclamation, held an interactive climate change workshop. The
invitation and
agenda/handouts are posted here for your reference along with the inspiring morning presentations.
For those of you who were able to attend, thank you very much for dedicating your time and sharing your experiences and expertise. We gathered much information on the systems that may be vulnerable to climate change, how the systems are vulnerable, as well as your ideas on what we might do to address the vulnerabilities thereby making the systems more resilient. Additionally, attendees shared what kinds of projects are ongoing that are addressing system vulnerabilities. It has been quite enlightening to learn how many climate change adaptation projects are currently ongoing throughout our community and our watershed.
Background
To increase the sustainability of our water supply, the City of Santa Fe (City) together with our partner Santa Fe County (County) have developed new surface water sources. Like many surface waters in the arid Southwest, however, both existing (Santa Fe River) and new sources (Rio Grande and the tributaries to the San Juan River) are vulnerable to climate-change-induced impacts. The City of Santa Fe City Council passed a
resolution in 2011 directing staff to update the City's long range water supply plan to incorporate projected climate change impacts.
Through the Santa Fe Basin Climate Change Study (Study) matching grant the City and County will work with Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) experts to better understand the future effects on and associated risks from climate change on the Santa Fe watershed as a whole and the surface water use in three sub-basins: the Santa Fe River watershed, the upper Rio Grande watershed (upstream from Otowi stream gage), and the San Juan River watershed, which is the source of water for the San Juan-Chama Project water.
Community Collaborators and Supporters
During the grant application process, the City and County garnered support from the following organizations and community members: Jemez y Sangre Water Planning Region Council, Espanola Basin Regional Issues Forum, Los Alamos County water utility, Santa Fe River Commission. NM Interstate Stream Commission, Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, Jicarilla Apache Nation, Santa Fe Watershed Association, Santa Fe Basin Water Users Association, The Nature Conservancy, Earthworks Institute, La Cienega Valley Association, US Forest Service, La Bajada Acequia Association, and Gallegos Ranch.