Enchantment State News

City of Santa Fe issued the following announcement on Apr. 9. 

Just in time for spring runoff the City of Santa Fe is completing work on critical repairs and restoration of infrastructure on the Santa Fe Riverbed. In July 2018 the city was inundated by an historic monsoon storm in which the City infrastructure was severely damaged as large chunks of earth embankments were swept away. As a result, the City of Santa Fe got to work, putting into play the hard lessons learned. Now the work is reaching completion, on-time and on-budget.

Working with landscape architecture firm Sites Southwest, William J Miller Engineers, Inc. and Kimo Constructors, Inc. the City will soon see completion of a large scale project on the Santa Fe River between the Ricardo St. pedestrian bridge and Calle Don Jose Loop. Phase one of this project—to repair existing boulder structures and build new ones associated with 12 significant areas of erosion in and near the river—is now complete. Channel restoration incorporated low-impact development (LID) strategies to maximize aesthetics, conservation and channel durability. In the Santa Fe River, LID design elements such as boulder cross-vanes, Zuni bowls, and other related structures are intended to help guide and stabilize the river channel, while improving its future viability as a living river.

Kimo used heavy machinery to repair and construct three modified boulder cross-vane structures, 210 linear feet of grouted-boulder bank-protection, three boulder clusters, and two stormwater rundown channels with “Zuni bowl” structures. The northern floodplain area of the Santa Fe River in the vicinity of the Calle Don Jose Storm Drain Outfall has been excavated to a lower elevation to increase floodway capacity and reduce stresses on the southern bank of the Santa Fe River. Existing structures were repaired with additional boulders and grout where necessary to ensure long-term resiliency against flooding and erosion. Disturbed areas have been stabilized and re-planted with native willows and cottonwoods.

Due to the novel coronavirus, onsite protocols were adjusted to ensure the safety of workers. Precautions were also put in place to safeguard increased foot traffic on nearby public trails. All workers are maintaining a six-foot minimum distance, and anyone who exhibits symptoms of illness is told to stay home or sent home immediately. All breaks and lunches were taken in shifts to limit group size to five individuals or fewer. Hand sanitizers were available to workers and heightened hygiene practices were encouraged. Frequently touched surfaces were disinfected often, and other health-and-safety measures were taken. Although these protocols added extra layers of difficulty to an already complex project, the contractors exhibited professionalism and were able to stay on time and within budget. 

“We are fortunate to have the trail. It’s a wonderful way to safely get outside during this time,” said Melissa McDonald, the City’s River and Watershed Manager, “Walkers seem to be respecting the six-foot social distancing protocols, too.”

“Neighbors tell me they are looking forward to seeing the new structures wetted by the coming  ‘living river’ flows,”  Heidi Klingel, a Santa Fe River Commissioner, added. “Unfortunately, because of the current restrictions in place due to the pandemic, the City cannot visit with the community onsite, but we hope residents keep walking and enjoying our river, and the City will be back this fall to continue these improvements.”

Original source can be found here.