Featured News
Santa Fe man finds solace in maintaining stretch of Santa Fe River
Santa Fe New Mexican
- By Robert Nott
- November 28, 2019
"When Michael Smith was struggling through a divorce in early 2018, he wasn’t sure where to turn for solace. So, he went back to a place that had always brought him peace: the river. Smith poured his time into improving a stretch of the Santa Fe River, pulling weeds, clearing out trash, trimming trees and cutting down invasive Siberian elms. The work cleared his head and gave him purpose...." Read the full article
Timeline of River Restoration
| 8/22/2016 |
from Melissa McDonald, River and Watershed Coordinator, Public Works Department, August 22, 2016 |
| 8/9/2016 |
City Partners with Non-Profits to Revitalize River Parkway from Leroy N. Pacheco, PE, City of Santa Fe Public Works Department, Roadway & Trails Engineering Division,River, Watershed & Trails Section Supervisor, August 9, 2016 |
| 8/20/2014 |
from The NEW MEXICAN Wednesday, August 20, 2014 |
| 8/21/2014 |
River volunteer deserves support from The NEW MEXICAN Thursday, August 21, 2014 |
| 8/25/2014 | |
| 8/28/2014 |
Get scientific opinion for river cleanup from The NEW MEXICAN Wednesday, August 28, 2014 |
| 8/31/2014 |
from The NEW MEXICAN Wednesday, August 31, 2014 |
| 9/2/2014 | |
| 9/7/2014 |
from The NEW MEXICAN Wednesday, September 7, 2014 |
| 9/12/2014 |
City OKs volunteer S.F. River cleanup from The NEW MEXICAN Wednesday, September 12, 2014 |
| 9/2/2014 until 11/13/14 |
Continuing the River Work: Cleaning, Trimming and Pulling Weeds until Winter Set in |
| 12/2/2014 |
Mayor Javier Gonzales Gave a Certificate to thank Michael Smith and all Supports! |
Michael Smith who leads the non-profit Friends of the Santa Fe River will wrap up three weeks of river riparian invasive-species removal at the end of this week. The work was done in cooperation with the City of Santa Fe Parks and Recreation Department, Fire Department, and the River, Watershed and Trails Section of the Public Works Department. Most significantly, Michael’s passion for the work succeeded in inspiring the cooperation and financial participation of a number of donors who support the work to remove invasive Siberian elms from the river parkway. This public/private partnership is founded upon a cooperative agreement that was approved by the city in 2015. We look forward to continued cooperation between the City of Santa Fe and Friends of the Santa Fe River in the years ahead.
In appreciation for all of the work accomplished in the last few weeks, the City of Santa Fe will host a public walk of the site with Michael Smith. The public is invited to attend the walk and learn more about the work being done in the riparian zone of the river. The short walk will commence at 11 AM on Thursday, August 25th, 2016 and will take no more than 30-minutes. Those interested should meet at the park tables along the Santa Fe River just south of El Alamo Street.
August 9, 2016: City Partners with Non-Profits to Revitalize River Parkway
SANTA FE, NM – The City of Santa Fe and the Friends of the Santa Fe River are working together this month to restore the Santa Fe River riparian zone to its natural condition. The work will take place on Alameda, along the river parkway, east of Paseo de Peralta. The work will remove non-native invasive Siberian elm and Russian olive trees that are competing for the sun, water and space with native poplars, willow, box elders and grasses. The river parkway when complete, will showcase what healthy native riparian zone. The public is invited to learn more about and support our non-profit partners by visiting the following sites:
August 20, 2014: City halts S.F. River cleanup (clipping from newspaper)
August 21, 2014: River volunteer deserves support (clipping from newspaper)
August 25, 2014: Full Support from Mayor Javier Gonzales
On Monday, August 25, Michael went to the Santa Fe Mayor's office to propose the project. By the next day, the Major's assistant told him that he had the full support from Mayor Javier Gonzales. The City Manager was informed that they would also support this project.
August 28, 2014: Get scientific opinions for river cleanup (clipping from newspaper)
August 31, 2014: A river hero (clipping from newspaper)
September 2, 2014: Start Cleaning and Trimming First
On Tuesday, September 2, the day after the Labor Day holiday, Michael and the crew got busy again to clean up and trim trees in the Santa Fe River in the section of east of Delgado Street.
September 7, 2014: River cleanup (clipping from newspaper)
September 12, 2014: City OKs volunteer S. F. River cleanup (clipping from newspaper)
The crew was working hard at the Santa Fe River again! They cleaned, trimmed and pulled weeds from Delgardo St east to the foot bridge behind the Compound Restaurant. See the before and after photos!
Many supporters found out about this project and donated to the Friends of the Santa Fe River non-profit organization to encourage such good work to continue! A council woman stopped and gave crews water and praises. A young mother told Michael that she felt safer now to walk with her baby along the river because the trails were open and inviting.
As of December 28, we have been received $14,775 in donations from private citizens and businesses in Santa Fe and outside of Santa Fe. Please see the Supporters page. Michael would like to thank all the supporters that helped make such a good thing happen for the river.
December 2, 2014: Mayor Javier Gonzales Gave a Certificate to Thank Michael Smith and all Supporters
Michael and the crew continue cleaning up, trimming trees and pulling weeds in the Santa Fe River from east of Delgado Street to the foot bridge passed the Compound Restaurant. They worked until the winter arrived.
On December 2nd, in Michael's surprise, Mayor Javier Gonzales on behalf of the City of Santa Fe presented a Certificate to Michael and thanked all supporters. We will show the video of the presentation soon.
There was an informal agreement between the Mayor and Michael that the Mayor would join the work force in the river if Michael would coming back to continue the work on the river in the following spring.
