Program Background
The Water Planning Program assists in developing and coordinating County projects and activities for supporting sustainable water & wastewater management and regional water sector collaboration. The Water Planner works with County Departments, Federal, State & Local Governments, Pueblos, Santa Fe Watershed Association (SFWA), Community Organizations (COs), Mutual Domestic Community Water Associations (MDCWAs), Acequias, and the County’s Water Policy Advisory Committee (WPAC) as one of four staff liaisons supporting the committee.
County Water Planning promotes a holistic approach based on the premise that protecting & restoring water resources depends on a healthy watershed. This includes:
- A ‘whole of basin’ focus engaging & supporting multiple stakeholders
- ‘Buy-in’ for a collaborative process for integrated watershed planning & management
- Target outreach for development of policies & plans and knowledge, attitudes, practices (KAP) to improve water quality & achieve overall systems health
Water Policy Advisory Committee (WPAC)
WPAC's primary responsibility is to provide recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) concerning sustainable utility services, domestic water supply and conservation, wastewater management and reclamation, irrigation, drought management, flood prevention and control, and water reuse in the County and region. The 4 staff liaisons work closely with the committee's 3 working groups: 1) Stormwater Management, 2) Drinking & Wastewater Management, and 3) Outreach working group. The Committee holds regularly scheduled meetings on the second Thursday of each month at 4:00 p.m. in the Plaza Conference Room located on the second floor of the County Administration Complex, 240 Grant Ave., Santa Fe, NM 87501. For a complete list of meeting materials, view the information below or visit the County's Calendar of Events. WPAC currently has 11 members and may consist of 19 volunteer members.
Collaboration
Water planning supports Growth Management Department/Planning staff for updating Community Plans, Updates to Sustainable Growth Management Plan (SGMP) & Sustainable Land Development Code (SLDC), and the Open Space & Trails Program for creeks and habitat restoration and wetlands enhancement; County Sustainability Water Conservation Programs, Public Works Stormwater Management & Wells Monitoring Programs, and Utilities Water & Wastewater planning efforts.
Partner/supporting agencies & programs include New Mexico Environment (NMED) Surface Water Quality Bureau (SWQB) Watershed Protection Unit and Drinking Water Bureau, New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) Healthy Soils Program, Office of the State Engineer (OSE) Regional Water Planning, New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources Aquifer Mapping Program, New Mexico State University (NMSU), New Mexico Water Data Initiative, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Emergency Watershed Project (EWP), Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC), Santa Fe Watershed Association (SFWA) New Planning initiative (with County, City & Community participation) to strengthen health & resilience of the Santa Fe River (via a Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART Grant), and City of Santa Fe River & Watershed Section.
Upcoming Events
The Next Generation Water Summit (NGWS) June 10-14th 2026 (County-City to co-host) will take place at the Roundhouse for promoting water conservation, efficiency and sustainability. The 4-hour County led session will focus on water rural community water systems & livelihoods.
Community-Level Planning
Resources
Residents can find more information about their watershed and waterway using EPA Tool: 'How's My Waterway'