Colorado River Day in Santa Fe July 25, 2013

Promoting Water Conservation and Healthy River Flows

Santa Fe Mayor Coss is one of one of six city mayor’s hosting a celebratory event and a day of action as part of Colorado River Day, a region-wide movement to honor the waterway that serves as the backbone of the West’s economy and a critical drinking source for millions. The Colorado River Day event in Santa Fe will take place at City Hall on Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. Mayor David Coss, State Land Office Assistant Commissioner for Surface Resources Michael Anaya, City of Santa Fe Water Resources & Conservation Manager Rick Carpenter, and Mora County organic farmer, Harold Trujillo, who is also Vice Chairman of the New Mexico Acequia Association, and Don Bustos, a local farmer associated with Santa Fe Farmer’s Market; will discuss how our community can preserve this precious resource by improving urban and agricultural water conservation by focusing on efficiency and flexibility. The City of Santa Fe receives a significant portion of our water from the San Juan Chama Project, which is tributary to the Colorado River, and that the State of New Mexico is signatory to the multi-state Colorado River Compact, therefore we have a vested interest, not only in conservation of water within our City, but also in the health and vitality of the Colorado River system itself.

What:                             Colorado River Day 2013 – Coming together in support of maintaining a sustainable Colorado River which provides drinking water, agricultural irrigation, recreation and jobs to New Mexicans.

When:                            Thursday, July 25, 2013, 1:00 p.m.

Where:                           Main Entrance of City Hall at 200 Lincoln Avenue

Who:                              City of Santa Fe, Mayor David Coss; State Land Office Assistant Commissioner for Surface Resources Michael Anaya, City of Santa Fe Water Resources & Conservation Manager Rick Carpenter, Mora County organic farmer Harold Trujillo, who is also Vice President of the Acequia Association, and Don Bustos, a local farmer associated with Santa Fe Farmer’s Market.

Why:                              The Colorado River and its tributaries runs through seven states (AZ, CA, CO, NM, NV, UT, WY) supplies drinking water for 36 million Americans. The river system irrigates 15% of our nation’s crops, and facilitates recreation that adds up to $26 billion annually and supports a quarter million American jobs.