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 stretches nearly ten miles, following the river from Patrick Smith Park to the newly established Camino Real Park at the river’s intersection with NM 599. Currently, both the parkway and trail are under development in various segments along the river. Once complete, the trail will form one of Santa Fe’s three major urban trail spines—alongside the Rail Trail and the Arroyo Chamisa Trail—enhancing connectivity across the city. The parkway will offer scenic open space corridors, multi-use trails for walking and biking, a series of vibrant parks, and a safe commuting route for cyclists traveling to and from downtown.
Below are some of the projects completed along the river corridor.
The Santa Fe River Trail Corridor Project
The Santa Fe River Trail Corridor Project is a visionary initiative designed not only as a multi-use urban trail but also as a comprehensive river restoration effort, extending from Camino Alire to NM State Highway 599. This collaborative project is supported by the City and County of Santa Fe and the Santa Fe Watershed Association.
At the heart of the project is the ecological restoration of the river channel and its banks, many of which have suffered from erosion, sparse vegetation, and degraded grade-control structures. The project aims to restore the river’s natural meanders where possible and apply bioengineering techniques—such as boulder drop structures and cross vanes—to slow water flow, reduce erosion, enhance aquifer recharge, and support healthy riparian vegetation.
The trail component enhances both recreation and connectivity for the Santa Fe community. The first completed segment—from Ricardo Road to Calle Don Jose—opened in 2009. Work on the stretch between Camino Alire and Ricardo Road began in 2010, followed by channel restoration and trail construction from Calle Don Jose to Camino Carlos Rael, which launched in the summer of 2011.
As the project continues, it represents a key investment in the city’s environmental resilience, recreational infrastructure, and long-term watershed health.
Santa Fe River Park – El Parque del Rio
El Parque del Rio is a linear park that follows the Santa Fe River as it winds through downtown Santa Fe—a treasured amenity and historic feature of the city. For years, the park faced long-standing challenges, including progressive down-cutting of the river channel, which undermined the health and stability of mature cottonwoods and other riparian vegetation. Additionally, stormwater that once helped sustain the river’s flow had been diverted into direct drainage systems, increasing erosion and introducing roadway pollutants into the waterway.
In response, the City of Santa Fe initiated efforts to rethink its stormwater management approach and partnered with Surroundings Studio to help design and implement ecologically sensitive solutions.
Working closely with the City’s Public Works staff, Surroundings developed a range of strategies to redirect and filter stormwater runoff in support of the river’s health. These include oxbow-style infiltration structures, pipe conveyance intercepts, and an innovative concept inspired by historic agricultural acequias. These “stormwater acequias” capture and reroute roadway runoff into linear infiltration channels—or “wicks”—that allow water to passively soak into the soil. This approach nourishes newly planted orchard trees and native cottonwoods along the river, helping restore the ecological integrity of the corridor.
Additional improvements and irrigation upgrades are planned at key locations along the river, including Louis Montano Park (near the Boys and Girls Club), West De Vargas Park at Guadalupe Street, and the north bank of the river along Alameda Street between Galisteo Street and East Palace Avenue.
Construction of stormwater features and other park enhancements began in the summer of 2011, marking an important step toward revitalizing El Parque del Rio as both a recreational and ecological resource for Santa Fe.
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 ~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.
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
Donate Today!
We are a 501(c)(3) organization
