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Santa Fe County Receives Watershed Grant for Lower Santa Fe River

Santa Fe, NM – September 28, 2012 - The Water Trust Board had awarded Santa Fe County a $121,500 grant along with county contributions of $28,000 for a total of almost $150,000 in available funding to purchase, install and maintain monitoring equipment to measure the La Cienega and La Cieneguilla springs, located in the lower Santa Fe River Watershed. Monitoring locations will be selected based on land owner input and technical expertise of the Office of the State Engineer and the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources.

Data collected through this grant will become part of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Information System Database and be available online for public review. These springs are the source of irrigation water to historic acequias. A diminished water supply has been observed raising concern among property owners. Continuous and consistent monitoring of groundwater levels and spring discharge will assist in understanding the complex hydrology in this area of Santa Fe County.

“This project is a great start to better understand our water supply and to protect this resource for future generations, thanks to all the Water Trust Board members for supporting proactive water management,” said Karen Torres, Santa Fe County Hydrogeologist.

For more information contact Karen Torres at (505) 992-9871 or KTorres@santafecountynm.gov.