News and Articles

Santa Fe, NM- The Santa Fe County Planning Division, in collaboration with Defenders of Wildlife and Rio Grande Return, will hold a meeting to discuss ongoing conservation efforts at Los Potreros Open Space, the restoration of the Rio Quemado wetland, and concerns regarding beaver activity in the area. This meeting aims to build rapport and strengthen stakeholder communication, including local acequia users and community members. 

Los Potreros Open Space is a historically and ecologically significant landscape situated at the confluence of the Rio Santa Cruz and Rio Quemado. Once communal grazing lands behind the world-renowned Santuario de Chimayó, this area has long been revered for its cultural and environmental importance. To protect its traditional agricultural and riparian habitats, Santa Fe County acquired the property between 2001-2004, preventing a proposed development and preserving its rich history and biodiversity. 

In 2021, Santa Fe County initiated the Rio Quemado Restoration Project in partnership with the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) and Ecotone Landscape Planning, LLC. The project introduced restoration structures, including beaver dam analogs and boulder cross vanes, to promote wetland health and sustain water availability for local acequias. Since 2021, natural beaver activity has further enhanced the area’s water retention, benefiting wildlife and agricultural water users. 

Key topics for discussion at the meeting will include: 

• The role of beavers in water conservation and wildfire mitigation. 
• Strategies for coexisting with beavers while ensuring acequia water flow. 
• Updates on wetland restoration efforts and monitoring reports. 
• Community concerns regarding signage, water management, and beaver-related impacts. 

Santa Fe County has installed pond levelers to regulate water levels and prevent flooding, while ensuring acequias continue receiving flow. Additionally, the County encourages local irrigation districts to explore cost-share programs for beaver coexistence solutions and will provide information about a local cost-share program. 

Meeting Details: 

Date: Thursday, May 29, 2025 

Time: 5:30 p.m. 

Location: Chimayo Headstart, 205 Juan Medina Rd. Chimayo, NM 87522 

Santa Fe County remains committed to open dialogue with the community and welcomes all interested residents, acequia members, and stakeholders to participate in this important discussion. 

For more information, please contact, Adeline Murthy, Planning Team Leader at amurthy@santafecountynm.gov  

###