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Santa Fe River (New Mexico)
Encyclopedia
The Santa Fe River is a tributary
of the Rio Grande
in northern New Mexico
. It starts in the Sangre de Cristo
mountain range and passes through the state capital, Santa Fe
providing approximately 40% of the city's water supply. It is an
intermittent stream with two perennial reaches.
The river is 46 miles (74 km) long. It was first dammed in 1881 and flows when water is released by the city of Santa Fe from two continuous reservoirs. The site of the 1881 dam, upstream of Santa Fe, is now part of the 190 acre (0.7689034 km²) Santa Fe Canyon Preserve, a trailhead for the 20 miles (32.2 km) Dale Ball Foothill Trail System.
The Santa Fe River Watershed is 285 square miles (738.1 km²), ranging in elevations between 12408 ft (3,782 m) to 5220 ft (1,591.1 m).
The environmental group American Rivers designated the Santa Fe River as America's most endangered river of 2007, and Santa Fe Mayor David Coss has made reviving the river one of his administration's top priorities.
, and the city and county developed plans to link those segments. The initial push was to develop the trail from the city downstream; this was the corridor of the historic El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, which approached Santa Fe from downstream via the Santa Fe River Canyon below the east rim of the Caja del Rio. The paraje
on the Camino Real before Santa Fe was in La Cienega
, at what is now El Rancho de las Golondrinas
.
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Rio Grande
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande is a river that flows from southwestern Colorado in the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way it forms part of the Mexico – United States border. Its length varies as its course changes...
in northern New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. It starts in the Sangre de Cristo
Sangre de Cristo
Sangre de Cristo can refer to either:*Sangre de Cristo Mountains, in Northern New Mexico and South-Central Colorado in the United States...
mountain range and passes through the state capital, Santa Fe
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
providing approximately 40% of the city's water supply. It is an
intermittent stream with two perennial reaches.
The river is 46 miles (74 km) long. It was first dammed in 1881 and flows when water is released by the city of Santa Fe from two continuous reservoirs. The site of the 1881 dam, upstream of Santa Fe, is now part of the 190 acre (0.7689034 km²) Santa Fe Canyon Preserve, a trailhead for the 20 miles (32.2 km) Dale Ball Foothill Trail System.
The Santa Fe River Watershed is 285 square miles (738.1 km²), ranging in elevations between 12408 ft (3,782 m) to 5220 ft (1,591.1 m).
The environmental group American Rivers designated the Santa Fe River as America's most endangered river of 2007, and Santa Fe Mayor David Coss has made reviving the river one of his administration's top priorities.
Santa Fe River Trail
As of 2007, the Santa Fe River Trail existed in short segments, within Santa Fe (city) and Santa Fe CountySanta Fe County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*76.2% White*0.9% Black*3.1% Native American*1.2% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.6% Two or more races*14.9% Other races*50.6% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, and the city and county developed plans to link those segments. The initial push was to develop the trail from the city downstream; this was the corridor of the historic El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, which approached Santa Fe from downstream via the Santa Fe River Canyon below the east rim of the Caja del Rio. The paraje
Paraje
Paraje, a Spanish term in use among English speakers in the southwestern United States, refers to a camping place along a long distance trail where travelers customarily stopped for the night. A paraje can be a town, a village or pueblo, a caravanserai, or simply a good location for stopping...
on the Camino Real before Santa Fe was in La Cienega
La Cienega, New Mexico
La Cienega is a census-designated place in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States. It is part of the Santa Fe, New Mexico Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, at what is now El Rancho de las Golondrinas
El Rancho de las Golondrinas
El Rancho de las Golondrinas is a former ranch in the northern part of the U.S. state of New Mexico that has been recreated as a "living museum". Going north it was the last camping place on the Camino Real before reaching Santa Fe, New Mexico and a day's journey south of Santa Fe...
.
See also
- Rio Grande TrailRio Grande TrailThe Rio Grande Trail is a proposed long distance trail along the Rio Grande in the U.S. state of New Mexico. The river extends over 1,800 total miles, some of which pass though the heart of New Mexico. It is the state's primary drainage feature and most valuable natural and cultural resource...
- List of New Mexico rivers
- List of tributaries of the Rio Grande