Santa Fe Watershed Association

THE MISSION OF THE SANTA FE WATERSHED ASSOCIATION IS TO PROTECT AND RESTORE THE SANTA FE RIVER AND ITS WATERSHED.

THE ADOPT-THE-RIVER AND ADOPT-AN-ARROYO PROGRAMS INVITE BUSINESSES AND VOLUNTEER GROUPS TO CARE FOR THE PHYSICAL APPEARANCE AND ECOLOGICAL HEALTH OF THE RIVER CHANNEL AND AFFILIATED CORRIDORS. THESE PROGRAMS ARE SPONSORED BY THE CITY OF SANTA FE AND SANTA FE COUNTY AS WELL AS THROUGH PRIVATE BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO FISCALLY SPONSOR SPECIFIC REACHES OF THE RIVER AND ARROYOS. IN ADDITION TO ADOPT STEWARD TEAMS, "ANGEL VOLUNTEERS- AND CORPORATE TEAMS ASSIST WITH TREE TRIMMING, PLANTING, AND WATERING OF NATIVE SPECIES, TRASH REMOVAL AND OTHER EFFORTS CITY-WIDE. THIS PROGRAM HOSTS THREE MAJOR COMMUNITY CLEAN-UP EVENTS IN FEBRUARY, JUNE, AND OCTOBER.

YOUTH OUTREACH AND EDUCATION: THROUGH ANNUAL EVENTS, ACTIVITIES, AND CLASSROOM PROGRAMS, SFWA HELPS OUR COMMUNITY BECOME MORE AWARE OF HOW THE RIVER INTERACTS WITH THE PHYSICAL WATERSHED (THE LAND), THE SOCIAL WATERSHED (THE COMMUNITY) AND THE BIOLOGICAL WATERSHED (ANIMALS AND PLANTS). IN 2021 JUST OVER 450 PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE "MY WATER, MY WATERSHED" PROGRAM DESIGNED BY OUR EDUCATION STAFF. EACH SEVEN-HOUR FIELD TRIP PROVIDES AN EXPERIMENTAL SCIENCE-BASED CURRICULUM THAT ENABLES THE STUDENTS TO EXPLORE THEIR WATERSHED, TO LEARN ABOUT THE COMPLEX RELATIONS BETWEEN LIVING THINGS AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT. STUDENTS ARE TAKEN TO THE WATERSHED AND NICHOLS RESERVOIR, STUDY MACROINVERTEBRATES IN THE RIVER, AND LEARN THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A HEALTHY FOREST. THE FIELD TRIPS MIRROR THE CURRICULUM TAUGHT DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. FOR MANY, IT IS THEIR FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH THE RIVER. THROUGHOUT 2021 DUE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC, MOST CLASSES AND DEMONSTRATIONS WERE HELD VIA REMOTE VIDEO WHILE 8 CLASSES WERE ABLE TO BE HELD IN-PERSON IN THE FALL 2021 SESSION AS COVID RESTRICTIONS EASED.

OTHER PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: SANTA FE DEMONSTRATION RAIN GARDENS, CREATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF GRANT VIDEOS, ASSISTING START-UP IN THE CITY OF SANTA FE TREE SMART CAMPAIGN, SFWA'S COMPLEMENTARY PROGRAM--THE SANTA FE COMMUNITREE NETWORK, AND GENERAL PUBLIC OUTREACH AND EDUCATION. SFWA RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE US BUREAU OF RECLAMATION TO COLLABORATE WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO FACILITATE A PLAN THAT ADDRESSES DIVERSE STAKEHOLDER PRIORITIES IN ORDER TO PROVIDE INPUT TO FUTURE WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLANS. THE NAME OF THE PROJECT IS "LINKING STAKEHOLDER PRIORITIES IN THE SANTA FE WATERSHED." SFWA ALSO RECEIVED FUNDING FROM NM BUREAU OF RECLAMATION'S RIVER STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM TO IMPLEMENT PROJECTS THAT WILL IMPROVE WATER QUALITY IN THE SANTA FE RIVER AND SLOW DOWN RUN-OFF. TWO RAIN GARDEN PROJECTS WERE BUILT IN SANTA FE TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL.