Last month, the Sustainability Office gave a presentation to the Board of County Commissioners on the management of stormwater runoff in Santa Fe County. Stormwater runoff is generated when rain or snowmelt flows over impervious surfaces, such as roads, parking lots, and rooftops, rather than seeping into the ground. As it moves across the landscape, runoff can wash oils, bacteria, chemicals, trash, and other pollutants into waterways. To protect water quality, the federal National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program requires a permit to discharge stormwater runoff from certain municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) and other activities. An MS4 includes publicly owned or operated streets, catch basins, ditches, storm drains, culverts, and other structures that might collect or transport stormwater runoff.

The City of Santa Fe, New Mexico Department of Transportation, and the urbanized area of Santa Fe County fall under permit number NMR040000. Permittees are required to implement a stormwater management program that addresses six control measures to prevent pollutants from entering waterways through runoff. These measures include strategies for 1) public education; 2) public engagement in stormwater management activities; 3) addressing illegal dumping and spills that could contaminate stormwater; 4) managing stormwater runoff from construction activities; 5) addressing stormwater runoff in new development and redevelopment; and 6) preventing pollution from municipal operations.

In Santa Fe County, stormwater management responsibilities are distributed across the Public Works Department, Growth Management Department, and Sustainability Office. For example, the Public Works Department manages stormwater along roadways and municipal worksites throughout the County. Public Works also helps to keep litter out of waterways by collecting and properly disposing of several thousand tons of trash and recycling each year at its convenience centers. The Growth Management Department reviews building plans and oversees code enforcement actions to ensure compliance with County codes to manage runoff. This Department also houses a team of staff that work on open space and park projects to educate the public and protect natural resources. Lastly, the Sustainability Office implements public outreach and education activities to promote environmental stewardship. These include annual Earth Day events, recycling education, and water conservation initiatives.

Every drop of water counts in our dry climate. Santa Fe County is currently working with consulting firm Bohannan Huston, Inc. to update and improve its stormwater management program to protect our waterways. This is an opportunity to protect water quality, continue to support river restoration projects, and promote the use of green stormwater infrastructure, like rain gardens, to soak up runoff and support plant life. Click here to learn more about stormwater management in the County and to view the County’s 2021 MS4 annual report to the Environmental Protection Agency. The County invites public comment on the report through October 1^st at 5:00 p.m.

Check out the last article in this month’s newsletter to learn what you can do to prevent stormwater pollution!

This year’s monsoon season has greened up gardens and landscapes throughout Santa Fe County. While many beneficial native plants have flourished thanks to the extra water, so have invasive plants. Native plants occur naturally in a region and have evolved as part of the ecosystem where they provide important habitat for native insects, birds, and other wildlife. An invasive plant, on the other hand, has intentionally or unintentionally been introduced into an area where it then causes harm to the local environment, economy, or human health. For example, dalmation toadflax (Linaria dalmatica) is native to the Mediterranean and is thought to have been introduced intentionally to the United States as an ornamental plant in the 1800s. In the U.S., it aggressively spreads through roadsides and fields, displacing native plants. Russian thistle (Salsola tragus), also known as tumbleweed, is native to parts of Europe and Asia. The plant is believed to have been introduced accidentally to the U.S. as a contaminant in flax seeds in the 1800s and has since spread throughout the West. In New Mexico, the plant disrupts native ecosystems and poses a fire hazard as dried tumbleweeds accumulate along fences and buildings.  

Early detection is key to managing invasive plants on your property. Click here for a list of weeds to watch for in New Mexico. Management strategies for invasive plants depend on the species and the extent of the infestation. Pulling or digging up the plant by the root before it goes to seed can help to manage small infestations. Be mindful of a plant’s potential to become invasive when shopping for new plants for your garden. The Guide to Native Plants for the Santa Fe Landscape includes a helpful list of native plants that you can incorporate into your garden. Familiarize yourself with the list of noxious and troublesome weeds of New Mexico before you shop for plants. This list currently highlights a few common garden plants that have the potential to become problematic in New Mexico. These include myrtle spurge (Euphorbia myrsinites, sometimes referred to as donkey tail spurge) and pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana). Try replacing pampas grass with native deergrass (Muhlenbergia rigens) or swapping out myrtle spurge for native prairie sagebrush (Artemisia frigida) for a low maintenance and wildlife-friendly landscape! 

While getting rid of noxious weeds, you can simultaneously work with nature in your landscaping by leaving in place and nurturing any pollinator-friendly and native plant "volunteers" that are already naturally growing in your garden and on your property!

Happy gardening!