Water will move through the river to support riparian ecosystem, summer events

 The City of Santa Fe Water Division (Water Division) will be managing releases of surface water from city reservoirs in support of the Living River Ordinance this summer.

“These Santa Fe River spring flows are timed to provide great benefits for the ecosystems supported by the river, mimic natural cycles, and coordinate with acequia irrigation and the Kids’ Fishing Derby,” River and Watershed Coordinator Melissa McDonald said.

The City plans an initial Spring pulse of 4.5 MG/day scheduled for late May to early June. The stream flow will then gradually decrease until the summer pulse which is scheduled for early July.

Reservoir releases of surface water out of Nichols Reservoir will keep the reservoir at an acceptable volume of the total storage available within reservoir going into the peak of Spring runoff season.

The releases also provide a buffer for unexpected increases in streamflow of the Santa Fe River due to continued high temperatures, or rainfall, which could act to further accelerate the rate of snowmelt and streamflow runoff.  These reservoir management releases to the Santa Fe River, allow future snowmelt and spring streamflow runoff to be captured and treated for our drinking water supply, Living River flows and irrigation deliveries.

Late March snowfall and above normal spring temperatures have made a significant impact on reservoir storage. Nichols Reservoir is currently at 56 percent of the total reservoir storage with an inflow rate of approximately 2 million gallons per day. McClure is 61% full.

Living River flows are administered under the terms of the City’s “Target Flow” ordinance in support of the Living River Initiative (Ordinance #2012-1 0). The ordinance provides that up to 1000 acre feet of surface water from the Santa Fe River can be by-passed from diversion and be allowed to flow through the City and beyond. In years when the forecast for the runoff from the mountain snowpack falls below 75 percent of the annual average yield, river flows are scaled downward. For the current target year, the runoff from mountain snowpack was forecast to be at about 74 percent of average. Current flows will enable the City of Santa Fe to meet this year’s flow objectives.”