Rio en Medio Open Space to Remain Closed Indefinitely

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Rio en Medio Open Space
to Remain Closed Indefinitely

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 3, 2022

SANTA FE, NM - Due to a major flooding event in Rio en Medio, Santa Fe County is maintaining the closure of the Rio en Medio Open Space.

On the evening of July 26, 2022, a large flash flood swept through Rio en Medio. The Rio en Medio Open Space, which lies downstream of the 2020 Medio Fire burn scar, was significantly affected. The trail along the river was washed away, the channel severely incised and widened; ash from the burn scar was deposited across the floodplain, and much of the riparian vegetation was uprooted. The floodplain is now a dangerous area with a lot of large debris. Additional rainfall within the Rio en Medio watershed could result in more floods, creating hazardous terrain for trail users.

The Rio en Medio Open Space has been closed since August 2020, when the Medio Fire began and remained closed due to the flooding hazards posed by the resulting burn scar.

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