The San Isidro Park is an exercise in optimism: a riparian restoration project in what was a dry, entrenched channel in the village of Agua Fria west of Santa Fe that presently sees limited down-stream flows and large erosive storm events. The Santa Fe Watershed Association, Santa Fe County, local schools, youth groups, and members of the community have started the work to restore the beautiful cottonwood bosque and ephemeral streamflow that Agua Fria elders recall as late as the 1960’s.
Santa Fe County purchased 36 acres under its Open Space and Trails program to create the Park, and, in partnership with the Watershed Association, obtained an EPA Wetlands grant to begin the restoration work. The engineering and river course and bank construction work have been completed using principles of applied fluvial geomorphology and bioengineering in the restoration work. A gravel footpath above the riparian area has been installed and the area is being planting with willows, cottonwoods, native shrubs and grasses for bank stabilization.
Large river flows swept the area in 2008. Most of the banks with willows and post vanes withstood the onslaught while there was severe erosion of the banks that had not received these treatments. There was also bank erosion from storm water flowing down the banks. It was clear that to protect the work already done and to create a more stable system, the rest of the area needed to be planted and more structures needed to be installed as soon as possible.
In 2009, The Santa Fe Watershed Association recieved a grant from the National Fish & Wildlife Federation to support the county’s efforts. Planting of more willows and cottonwoods along the river’s edge, grass seeding of the banks and planting of small shrubs started in the spring of 2009 and will continue for the next few years. All of the planting will be done by community volunteers and school groups. Please check our calendar for the next planting dates.
The grant also funded a river restoration workshop which included a talk on restoration and waterharvesting techniques and a two day hands on workshop installing post-vane structures and rockwork. The workshop was taught by a local drylands restoration specialist, Drylands Solutions, and was a great success. Santa Fe County’s Open Space and Trails division continues to support the project with funds for restoration and to continue the volunteer planting.
The trailhead and Parking for the River Trail is at the San Isidro Crossing on the Santa Fe River. A trail connects the parking area to Agua Fria Park for 0.7 mile along the river. The River restoration project has been completed along this stretch of the river.
The Santa Fe River Park and Trail follows the river almost ten miles from Patrick Smith Park to the new Camino Real Park at the river’s intersection with NM 599. Both the parkway and trail are under construction in various reaches along the river. When completed, 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. The parkway 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. Below are listed some the current projects happening along the river.
The Santa Fe River Trail Corridor Project
This project is designed not only as a multi-purpose trail but as a major restoration of the river from Camino Alire to NM State Highway 599. This is a collaborative project supported by both the City and County of Santa Fe, and the Santa Fe Watershed Association.
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.
The project is underway! The first section of the trail from Ricardo Road to Calle Don Jose was completed in 2009. Work on the trail from Camino Alire to Ricardo Road was started in 2010 and should be finished in 2011. The channel restoration and construction of the connecting trail from Don Jose to Camino Carlos Rael will start in summer 2011.
Santa Fe River Park – El Parque del Rio
El Parque del Rio is a linear park that follows the Santa Fe River as it flows through downtown Santa Fe. A major amenity and historic site within the city, the river park was beset with a series of long-term problems. Progressive down-cutting of the river channel has affected the health and viability of many of the old cottonwoods and other trees along the park. Storm water that had for decades helped support the river environment is now piped and fed directly into the river, increasing erosion and contributing roadway pollutants. The City of Santa Fe is exploring new ways to handle its storm water runoff and has hired Surrounding Studio to help implement new methods.
Surrounding’s team, working with City Public Works staff, has developed a variety of methods for directing storm water to support the river environment, including “oxbow” infiltration structures and pipe conveyance intercepts. A unique idea on the project is modeled on historic agricultural acequias to create “storm water acequias” that take road runoff and intercept and reroute it to linear water-absorbing wicks. Through passive infiltration, these storm water acequias will benefit new orchard trees and native cottonwoods along the river.
Other park improvements and irrigation upgrades will take place at Louis Montano Park (near the Boys and Girls Club); West De Vargas Park at Guadalupe Street; and on the north side of the Santa Fe River along Alameda between Galisteo Street and East Palace Avenue. Construction of the storm water management features, along with other Parque del Rio improvements, will commence in the summer of 2011.
Click here to see some of the stormwater designs.
News Articles:
Permeable parking, landscape changes planned on Santa Fe River trail – Santa Fe New Mexican
Santa Fe River Trail – Santa Fe New Mexican
Trail Inches Toward Reality – Santa Fe New Mexican
The Santa Fe River Greenway project is a joint effort between Santa Fe County and the City of Santa Fe to construct approximately 15 miles of continuous greenway of public parks and trails from downtown Santa Fe to the Wastewater Treatment Plant west of NM 599. When completed the County’s portion of the River Greenway will run from the current City limits at Frenchy’s Field to the Wastewater Treatment Plant west of NM 599, approximately eight miles.
The Greenway will revive the traditional use of the corridor as a transportation route and focus community members and visitors on the historical role of the Santa Fe River in connecting communities along the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro. Santa Fe County plans to construct a multi-use trail along the River, which will provide both recreational opportunities and an alternative transportation route. As part of the Greenway project, Santa Fe County is also restoring the River using natural materials and native plants to stabilize the channel and enhance the riparian habitat.
santafegreenway.wordpress.com
The Santa Fe Watershed Association is assisting the City and County in this process by watering and caring for numerous cottonwood saplings that have been planted between Frenchy’s Field and Siler Road. In 2020, volunteers helped inspect approximately 100 cottonwoods remaining from the previous season. These trees were watered by hand, and basins were re-built. During seven watering days dispersed throughout the growing season, forty volunteers spent a total of 92 hours! This is worth approximately $2,339.50 of donated time, not including donated water, water tanks, trucks, buckets. The volunteers also collected six bags of trash as a bonus! Refreshments were provided by the SFWA.
Volunteer work is so valuable to every community, especially during the pandemic. We are so grateful to them! If you’re interested in helping care for the trees next year, be sure to sign up for our mailing list, check social media, and email keely at santafewatershed dot org. Together, we can help make the Greenway project a reality for everyone to enjoy!
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