These days there are several initiatives to restore the little Santa Fe River that is the heart of our old town. The City authorized a release of 200 acre-feet from the reservoirs during the month of September to water the stream. The Santa Fe Watershed Association has received a grant to create fish habitat in a 1/4-mile reach of the river once occupied by Two-Mile Reservoir. The City and County of Santa Fe are breaking ground on a bike/pedestrian trail along the river, which will include restoration of the channel to prevent further downcutting and bring back a bosque watered by occasional flows. An anthology of local poets and authors writing about the Santa Fe River is being compiled for publication in spring 2009.

Watershed West is in the middle of all of this work on behalf of the river. We manage data from three stream gages, so we can document the hydrograph of the controlled release from the reservoirs to the natural stream. We are collaborators on the fish habitat project, and members of the design team for the river trail. Paige is at work on a piece for the river anthology. We get in touch with the river most mornings, on a walk with our resident foster dog (a guest from the Santa Fe Animal Shelter, staying with us for a while to get over some unhappy memories of mistreatment.) We share in the delight of our canine companion wading in the dappled stream as birds flash through the canopy.   Truly, the river is the heart of Santa Fe.