Watershed Study Project
This watershed study is a cooperative effort between the City of Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Albuquerque District. The watershed study area is located in Santa Fe County along the Santa Fe River and will identify a selection of different methods to restore the riverbed and the banks along the Santa Fe River, as well as, its functionality. The study will determine the Federal interest in water resources and watershed planning within the Santa Fe River area.

The primary goal is for watershed study and any information collected to be used by the City and County to identify spin-off projects and address needs along the river’s corridor. These needs may include flood damage reduction, erosion control, sedimentation, and ecosystem restoration. The study is not intended to recommend, or serve as the basis to introduce a specific project. The end result of the watershed study is a watershed management plan that will provide a framework for future work in the basin. It is anticipated that the study will take approximately 2.5 years to complete. The watershed study will be used in conjunction with the proposed Santa Fe River Trail Project.

The Santa Fe River Trail Project
The Santa Fe River Trail Corridor Project is viewed as a collaborative project involving staff from the City and County of Santa Fe. The trail is currently being developed as a continuous corridor including both sides of the River and the riverbed, between Camino Alire to the point in the County where the river passes under NM 599. The trail will be designed to accommodate walkers, joggers and bicyclists including footpaths and pedestrian bridges.

The majority of the river and its banks throughout the project is unstable and in need of restoration and stabilization work. There are conditions present that create a hurdle for trail construction such as, soil erosion, scour, non-native plants and trees, and areas that are bare and in need of vegetation and these problems are compounded by continual illegal dumping into the river, along its banks and in our arroyos all of which have created undesirable river conditions. Working together with the community we can alleviate most of these problems and challenges to ensure that the improvements are a lasting investment for the community.

With the implementation of this project, there will be long-lasting benefits as the Santa Fe River Corridor will provide a natural environment for passive recreation, as well as an opportunity to demonstrate river restoration and storm water infiltration techniques that can be used elsewhere in the City and County.