Rejoice when the river flows

Santa Feans rejoice whenever the Santa Fe River starts running downtown.  That’s because for much of the year, we see a dry riverbed.  Also, due to previous neglect and drier weather patterns, our beloved river had become a mere trickle meandering through town.

Many years ago, the riverbed literally became a dump where some people discarded their trash.  Now, however, community leaders and volunteers have come together to keep the riverbed clean and there’s been a concerted effort to have the river flow for part of the early summer. The city actually releases the water to mimic seasonal flows of long ago. The flowing river then nurtures the native plants along the banks.

Read more about efforts to keep the river flowing

Writer Laura Paskus wrote an exceptional piece about efforts to keep the river running and restored.  Read her story, “A River Tickles Through It,” from the June 3 issue of the Santa Fe Reporter.

Also, I loved the cover image designed by the Santa Fe Reporter’s art director, Anson Stevens-Bollen.

I’m loving the Santa Fe River.  Bring your lunch downtown, find one of the concrete park benches and enjoy!