"This year's high river flows are being timed to coincide with an early spring runoff and the early greening of the trees and other plants along the river"
On Monday, April 16, the City of Santa Fe initiated this year's first river flows to pass through the City's reservoirs and into town.
Spring has come early to northern New Mexico. This year's higher river flows are being timed to coincide with an early spring runoff and the early greening of the trees and other plants along the river.
This year, the City will bypass 600 acre-feet of water for the river, consistent with the Target Flow guidelines passed by the City Council in February. The target flow of 1,000 acre-feet has been scaled down to match the 60% of average snow runoff forecast. The river flows are being administered under the terms of the City's "Target Flow" ordinance in support of the Living River Initiative.
The purposes of the flows are to help support the river's green corridor of trees, grasses and other plants; to support healthy wildlife habitat; and to add the beauty of free-flowing water to the parklands along the river. Other benefits of maintaining a green river include shading and cooling of the urban environment; supporting plants that convert carbon dioxide into oxygen; and helping to clean storm water runoff and control erosion.
