Water on the Mind

Journey SantaFe and The Travel Bug are resuming their Sunday morning presentation series. Each one begins at 11:00 am. There's no admission, but a $3-5 contribution is encouraged.

September's presentations are part of "A Continuing Conversation with David Bacon, host of KSFR's Living On The Edge, on Who Controls Water in the Bio Region." So show up at The Travel Bug, grab some coffee, and feast your mind!

Upcoming events are:

September 11
Book Signing & Discussion
On: Rio Arriba: A New Mexico County –
A Look At Land Usage, Irrigation, Land Grants & Water Issues
with Robert J. Tórrez & Robert Trapp, Co-Authors

September 18
William DeBuys
Author, Historian and Conservationist
Discusses Water and Climate Change In the Bio Region

September 25
Steve Klinger
will unveil the newspaper The Light of New Mexico

The Travel Bug Bookstore is located at 839 Paseo de Peralta between Palace and Alameda. You can call them at 992-0418 for more information.

Rio Grande Gorge photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Water Challenge!

Despite some May Day snowfall, no one can deny that it was a very dry winter this year. According to a City of Santa Fe press release last month, "Average precipitation for Santa Fe this time of year is 3.03 inches; as of now we have only received 0.59 inches of precipitation or 19.5% of average precipitation."

While water conservation efforts have resulted in a 42% decrease in water use from 1995 to 2009, it's time to care for our water even more. The National Weather Service, U.S. Drought Monitor reports that almost all of the Southwest, including New Mexico, is in severe to extreme drought conditions.

Warmer weather means more time in yards and gardens, and the City is asking you to water your plants just twice a week in May. There are many other ways to conserve water, both in and outside the home. For information on incentive programs and ways to conserve water visit the City's Water Conservation Office website.

Image: 2004 Children's Water Conservation Poster Contest Grand Prize Winner.

Santa Fe River Festival

Children's Crafts

Make a Splash! Read!

Summer Craft Programs

Free programs for children ages 6 to 12 with the Summer Reading Program.
All materials are provided.
Registration required.

Coral Reef Craft
Make it Swim with Life!

Tuesday, June 15

Main: 3:00 - 4:00 pm
Southside: 3:00 - 4:00 pm

Wednesday, June 16
La Farge: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Rainbow Wind Chimes
Make Beautiful Music!

Tuesday, June 22
Main: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Southside: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Wednesday, June 23
La Farge: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Sea Serpent
Create Your Own
Sea Creature!

Tuesday, July 6
Main: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Southside: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Thursday, July 8
La Farge: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Fish Windsock
Catch the Fish Tail!

Tuesday, July 20
Main: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Southside: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Wednesday, July 21
La Farge: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

For more information and to register, call:
La Farge Children's: 955-4863
Southside Children's: 955-2828
or Main Children's: 955-6783

Sponsored by the Friends of the Santa Fe Public Library.

Meander:

Works Inspired by the Santa Fe River
Friday, April 9 through Saturday, June 5

Arts Commission Community Gallery
201 W. Marcy St. at Sheridan
In the Santa Fe Community Convention Center

Opening Reception
Friday, April 9
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Free and Open to the Public.
Appetizers and sparkling water will be served.

The Arts Commission Community Gallery, in collaboration with the Santa Fe Watershed Association, announces the exhibit “Meander: Works Inspired by the Santa Fe River”. The exhibition honors the rich history and culture of the Santa Fe River. Over 30 artists in all media will offer a full range of work that expresses both the beauty of the Santa Fe River as well as commentaries on its past, present, and future. Numerous community events will connect visitors to the river through informative workshops and presentations, public performances on the river, and community education.

The work of over 30 artists will be represented in the "Meander" exhibit, with a variety of media, styles and price points. The exhibit will include: sculpture by Elizabeth Hunt, Bobbe Besold, Matthew Chase-Daniel, Fairley Barnes, Dominique Mazeaud and Rebecca Lyon as well as realistic photography and landscape paintings by Ward Russell, Kim McCloud, John Hogan, Laura Brink, Sally McDevitt and Jennifer Schlesinger.

Community Gallery Hours of Operation:
Tuesday through Saturday: 10 am to 5 pm
Public parking is available in the Center garage, located off Federal Avenue.

For more information:
Rod Lambert, Gallery Manager
Call (505) 955-6705
Email rdlambert@santafenm.gov
Visit The Arts Commission Website.

El Agua es La Vida

In the desert Southwest, there's a lot of talk and concern about water, mostly in terms of supply and conservation. However, water quality is as important as quantity, especially in terms of personal health.

The Environmental Working Group has developed a Drinking Water Database with information about tap water quality for different locations. They also have a handy PDF printout for safe drinking water as well as a guide for buying water filters. One drawback is that this advocacy group relies on reporting from government agencies for its data. For example, the analysis for the City of Santa Fe's water supply is from testing done in 2004-2006. This is the data the New York Times used in a profile last month, and also what the Santa Fe Reporter posted on its blog.

However, the City of Santa Fe has water quality data from 2008 (PDF). They post annual reports, so it's safe to assume that we'll be getting the 2009 data shortly as well. The annual reports include a table that isn't as detailed as the high-profile older one, but the more recent data is heartening. Arsenic levels, for example, were under the legal limit in 2008, which is an improvement from the 2004-2006 data. The USGS also posts up-to-date water quality data for all of New Mexico. Real-time data is available from sites in the Rio Grande and Pecos River basins.

If you'd like to educate yourself more about the myriad issues surrounding water quality and quantity, we have plenty of books for all ages, especially in the Environmental Education Resource Center. We also have links to various Drought & Water websites that should help answer any questions you have.