Stormwater in the Santa Fe River Watershed
The Natural Watershed
The City of Santa Fe is not only a treasured community of rich culture, history and natural beauty, it is also a watershed which provides the City with drinking water, open space, and community cohesion.
A watershed is a landscape basin which collects and concentrates surface water into rivers and streams.
In other words, a watershed is a surface land area where all of the precipitation that falls on it drains to one common point (in our case the Santa Fe River and eventually the Rio Grande).
The upper Santa Fe River watershed, east of town, stores 40% of the water Santa Feans use within two large reservoirs. Some of the water bypasses the water treatment plant and is allowed to flow downstream within the Santa Fe River channel.
Nichols reservoir, shown here, is one of two reservoirs holding a large portion of the City's water supply.
An absorbent watershed helps to provide an abundant, clean water supply to City residents. City watershed managers and partners (US Forest Service, The Nature Conservancy, the City of Santa Fe, and SFWA) work in the upper watershed to ensure rain and snow will be absorbed by the soil; forest thinning, prescribed fire and erosion control measures help to maintain the watershed "sponge".
A forest that is adapted to, and prepared for wildfire helps to ensure a well functioning watershed. Here one can see a thinned area within the upper watershed adjacent to an untreated stand.
Explore the City's watershed; all but a tiny portion of the City limits are within the Santa Fe River watershed. This means that nearly all the rain and snow that falls on Santa Fe, eventually ends up in the Santa Fe River.
Zoom in to see the major surface waterways within the City.
The Urban Watershed
But what happens when the watershed is no longer able to function as a sponge? What happens when water cannot seep into the soil because it is covered with concrete and asphalt? This is largely what happens within the urban City of Santa Fe watershed.
In April of 2007, the Santa Fe River was named America’s Most Endangered River by American Rivers (a Washington, D.C. based advocacy group) and in June 2007, the New Mexico Heritage Preservation Alliance named the Santa Fe River as one of the state’s twelve (12) most endangered places.
Stormwater Pollution
In the City, water either pools, evaporates or flows over the surface, and within urban Santa Fe, it becomes "stormwater" when it runs off city streets, into storm grates in the curb, and flows through pipes to the Santa Fe River (it is not combined with sewer water which gets treated at the water treatment plant). Stormwater is problematic for two reasons, it carries pollutants into the Santa Fe River and its tributaries, as well as exacerbates flooding.
The stormwater journey through town is complex. The Santa Fe River, as well as various arroyos and acequias, carry water through the City. But during large storms, the City streets and parking lots also carry water, picking up trash, oil, chemicals, pet waste, green waste, and dirt along the way. All of these pollutants are rapidly delivered to the Santa Fe River and its tributaries.
The MS4 Permit Program: As part of the Clean Water Act, in 1990 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit Program. The MS4 program requires permittees to implement a stormwater management program as a means to control polluted stormwater discharges. The City of Santa is a MS4 Permit holder and adheres to the strict regulations in place to protect stormwater quality. In 2019, the City adopted the Stormwater Management Strategic Plan- a policy document to guide stormwater management and policy. To learn more, visit our website.
Click on each image below for examples of how city residents pollute stormwater.
Neighborhood Polluters
Bad Water Quality
Pet Polluters
Green Waste Pollution
Construction Pollution
Trash is sometimes discarded directly into the river on purpose
Trash is carried into the river with stormwater floods
Stormwater Pours into the Santa Fe River
Neighborhood Polluters
The weekly chores we do, like washing our cars at home, can contribute to stormwater pollution. Best practices include using natural soaps, diverting the runoff water to your landscaping, or using a commercial carwash that routes the wastewater to the sewer.
Bad Water Quality
Soaps and other residential runoff results in poor water quality within the river.
Pet Polluters
Pet (and human waste) is a significant polluter of stormwater, contributing nutrients and e. coli bacteria to the Santa Fe River. Imagine the water flowing off of the City's dog park after an intense rainstorm! Scoop that poop... keep it clean because we're all downstream!
Green Waste Pollution
While gardeners may think they are helping the City's nature scape, discarding green waste into any arroyo around the city is a form of stormwater pollution. A better plan would be to give it to the Santa Fe Solid Waste Management Authority so it can be turned into compost!
Construction Pollution
Santa Fe is growing, acres of bulldozed earth at a time! While the development hopes to provide housing and community services to all those who wish to live here, the ground disturbance is likely to result in stormwater pollution if best management practices are not adhered to. Eroded soil, diesel, and other chemicals are all common pollutants likely to travel off-site within stormwater runoff, eventually ending up in the Santa Fe River.
Construction sites are required to manage their stormwater by implementing best management practices. This sign reminds workers to monitor recent rain and on-site contaminant sources.
Trash is sometimes discarded directly into the river on purpose
The river is not the dump! Respect the Rio!
Trash is carried into the river with stormwater floods
Stormwater Pours into the Santa Fe River
On a rainy day, black stormwater from Cerillos Road is routed beneathe the streets straight to the Santa Fe River at Siler Bridge. On this day, the riverbed was dry upstream of this point, meaning the River's flow through the village of Agua Fria, was entirely stormwater.
Our Treasured and Historic Acequias as Polluted Stormwater Conduits
The Acequia Madre is the largest and longest acequia within the City. It is a 400 year old irrigation ditch that is still in use today. Most days the Acequia Madre headgate is closed, and water from the upper watershed reservoirs continues to flow directly into the Santa Fe River. On scheduled delivery days, the gate is opened and some water flows into the Acequia Madre. The acequia water traverses the neighborhoods alongside Acequia Madre Street and then into the heart of town. Water that is not used along the way flows back into the Santa Fe River downstream.
Unfortunately, in the past, it was common practice to utilize acequias as overflow stormwater conveyances to prevent residential flooding. As a result, polluted stormwater flows directly into the Acequia Madre in at least thirty-seven locations. This is not an intentional practice of the City of Santa Fe; the City adheres to EPA stormwater regulations to prevent intentional co-mingling of storm flows and irrigation water. The stormwater, along with all the pollutants, is sometimes used to water gardens and farmed land, eventually returning to the Santa Fe River.
Traditionally, stormwater was not part of the acequia system. As the city grew however, the "trespass" of stormwater into the Acequia Madre was inevitable. Lack of established best practices and foresight contributed to the absence of stormwater management. While it is preferable to reduce or mitigate the amount of stormwater in the acequia, it is almost inevitable that stormwater is part of the acequia story.
Click on each image below to follow along the Acequia Madre's route through town.
Acequia Madre Headgate
The Acequia Madre Flows Through Popular Public Places
Stormwater Floods and Erodes Acequias
The Acequia Madre Returns Flow to the Santa Fe River
Infrastructure to Protect Acequias
Acequia Madre Headgate
Water is diverted from the Santa Fe River into the Acequia Madre near Patrick Smith Park. The headgate pictured here controls the flow of water into the ditch. The Acequia Madre then continues through historic neighborhoods, gaining residential and street pollutants along its journey.
The Acequia Madre Flows Through Popular Public Places
After traversing the Railyard Park, the Acequia Madre runs behind the caboose at the intersection of Saint Francis and Cerrillos.
Any trash that is thrown, or gets windblown, into the acequia travels downstream. We can all help prevent this by ensuring trash cans are covered and secure. These areas are popular with locals and tourists alike. Keeping them clean and attractive has multiple benefits, including clean water.
Stormwater Floods and Erodes Acequias
Stormwater not only pollutes acequia water, but often erodes and damages the acequia itself. These photos show the acequia flooded with stormwater along the Acequia Trail, and downstream near Baca St., the Acequia Madre eroded to nearly 10 ft. wide by this stormwater trespass.
The Acequia Madre Returns Flow to the Santa Fe River
The acequia, when it is not being sent to Agua Fria Village, returns to the Santa Fe River just below Frenchys Park.
This acequia return is also where any polluted stormwater carried by the acequia is delivered to the Santa Fe River.
Infrastructure to Protect Acequias
Some acequia infrastructure has been retrofitted to ensure storm water flooding does not damage the acequia itself. Unfortunately, the acequia's water quality may still be impacted by stormwater. *This example is not on the Acequia Madre, but on the Acequia de los Pinos, which is fed by the Acequia Madre at Ashbaugh Park.
Stormwater and Flooding
The urban environment causes flooding during large storms.
Click on each image below to learn how stormwater flooding affects our community.
Parking Lots: Impermeable Surfaces
From the Streets to the River
Flooded Waterways and Infrastructure
Riparian Restoration
Erosion Protection Measures
Stormwater infrastructure is undersized for large storms
Parking Lots: Impermeable Surfaces
Large parking lots contribute to stormwater flooding when rain is prevented from seeping into the soil , causing it to run off to the river much faster than on an unpaved surface. The faster the water arrives in a drainage, the larger the flood. At the Santa Fe Place Mall, the polluted stormwater has a short path to the adjacent arroyo, which empties into the Santa Fe River downstream.
From the Streets to the River
In several locations throughout town, runoff from the streets is purposefully directed into the Santa Fe River; as the City's pavement has spread, flooding has become a significant problem, making it necessary to divert stormwater from the streets directly into the river. These diversions are a double-edge sword; while they do protect some properties, they cause the river to flood which can damage properties downstream.
Flooded Waterways and Infrastructure
During large storm events, the normally dry Santa Fe River and tributary arroyos are quickly transformed into raging rivers; flooding in our waterways is exacerbated by an impermeable urban environment.
Riparian Restoration
While riparian areas have evolved, and for some species, need disturbance by floods, the riparian forest through urban Santa Fe is only recently "restored". Along several reaches, the shrubs and trees are only barely established. Stormwater floods have impacted riparian restoration efforts, scouring floodplains and uprooting planted vegetation.
Erosion Protection Measures
Stormwater flooding can result in major erosion, even where erosion protection has been installed.
Stormwater infrastructure is undersized for large storms
This stormwater pipe was overwhelmed during the large July flood of 2018; stormwater flowed around the pipe, resulting in significant erosion and infrastructure damage.
Stormwater Management Actions
As urban dwellers there are many ways that we can inadvertently pollute stormwater and the Santa Fe River through our weekly activities. As a conscientious community, we can make a difference by preventing stormwater runoff.
The City government is working hard to incorporate smart stormwater design into city infrastructure. Elements like rain gardens and permeable pavement can currently be found around the city (at least seven rain gardens have already been installed), with more on the way (thirty planned to date)! As more are implemented, we need an educated and involved citizenry to help maintain existing structures and identify locations for these types of designs.
Swan Park Raingarden
West Alameda Raingarden
Behind the Scenes: Almeda Rain Garden
Permeable Pavement
Behind the Scenes: Del Charro Permeable Pavement
Lagunitas Raingarden
Behind the Scenes: Lagunitas Raingarden
Swan Park Raingarden
Raingardens at the park are designed to capture runoff from the parking lot, infiltrate and clean the water, irrigate trees, and provide visual interest.
West Alameda Raingarden
This bio-basin infiltrates up to 100,000 gallons of stormwater in a normal year. Landscape architects are however not only designing these gardens with water infiltration in mind, they are incorporating fungi to break down pollutants, as well as creating wildlife (and pollinator) habitat.
Behind the Scenes: Almeda Rain Garden
Permeable Pavement
The parking spaces circled in red capture and infiltrate street stormwater. The stormwater is cleaned by the soil, irrigating the trees and landscaping along the Santa Fe River.
Behind the Scenes: Del Charro Permeable Pavement
Lagunitas Raingarden
This bio cell infiltrates and cleans about 25,000 gallons in an average year. The Lagunitas design was devoloped by Athen Beshur, and is implemented at several raingarden sites throughout the city.
Behind the Scenes: Lagunitas Raingarden
Learn more about the City's stormwater permit and planning, green stormwater infrastructure, best management practices for minimizing stormwater and keeping it clean, creating your own raingarden, and the Santa Fe River watershed. While stormwater is inevitable within an urban environment, if we practice good design and care, it doesn't have to be so detrimental to the community or our river. You can help the city improve stormwater management and the Santa Fe River ecosystem by making a direct donation to the Santa Fe River Fund!!
The Santa Fe River- beloved by the community
This Storymap was authored by the Santa Fe River Commission and the City of Santa Fe. Stormwater management is a joint effort by the City of Santa Fe, Santa Fe County and the NM Department of Transportation.
