The Santa Fe River Trail Corridor Project will include designs not only for a multi-purpose trail but for major restoration of the river from Camino Alire to NM State Highway 599. A collaborative project supported by both the City and County of Santa Fe, the project will produce a trail and river restoration from Alire Bridge to Frenchy's Field and a schematic master plan for the stretch of the river from Camino Alire to NM 599.

The trail will be one of three primary urban trail spines along with the Rail Trail and Arroyo Chamisa Trail serving the Santa Fe area. It will provide open space corridors, trails for walking and biking, and a series of parks, as well as a way for bicycle commuters to get to and from downtown safely.

River restoration is an integral part of the project. The channel and banks in many sections of the river are in poor condition. Erosion has caused steep banks with few plants and the riverbed has many failed grade-control structures. The goal is to have the river meander where possible and to use bioengineering techniques such as boulder drop structures and cross vanes to slow the water down and limit erosion. These approaches will also help increase aquifer recharge and support plants and trees. Click on the following links for a description of the proposed restoration and maps: Description of River Restoration, Restoration Map - Tres Placitas to Ricardo Road, Restoration Map - Ricardo Road to Frenchy's Field, Trail - Ricardo Road to Calle Don Jose

The project is underway with 95% design plans for the trail and restoration approved. The first section of the trail from Ricardo Road to Calle Don Jose was completed this fall. Work is currently underway on the trail from Camino Alire to Ricardo Road and should be completed by April 2010. The channel restoration and construction of the connecting trail from Don Jose to Camino Carlos Rael will start in summer 2010.

News Articles:

Santa Fe River Trail Construction - Journal North, SantaFe.Com

On the Trail to Restoration - Santa Fe New Mexican