A watershed is an area of land drained by a river, river system, or body of water and bounded by mountains or ridges of high land. Other terms to describe a watershed are basin or catchment, basically any topographic area where water drains. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states “We all live in a watershed—the area that drains to a common waterway such as a stream, lake, estuary, wetland or even the ocean—and our individual actions can directly affect it.” The EPA and its partners are working together on a watershed basis to protect the nation’s water resources. For more information about watersheds including the Watershed Academy, Surf Your Watershed, Adopt Your Watershed, Targeted Watersheds, etc., utilize the following link to EPA’s Watershed site - http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/ .

The MRG-A Watershed extends from the southern border of Santa Ana Pueblo to the northern border of Isleta Pueblo. This watershed is home to approximately 50% of the population of New Mexico and includes two counties, two cities, four tribes and numerous towns, villages, and unincorporated communities. Much of this basin is highly urbanized but it also encompasses rural areas and is subject to a mixture of point source and non-point source discharges from municipal, industrial, commercial, agricultural and rural sources, and their related water quality problems. Potential pollution sources include wastewater treatment plant outfalls, septic tanks, Superfund sites, underground storage tanks, concentrated animal feeding operations and urban runoff from large expanses of impervious surfaces.

The MRG-A Watershed is currently listed on the 2008–2010 State of New Mexico Clean Water Act §303(d) list of impaired water bodies, with fecal coliform identified as a pollutant of concern. Fecal coliform is found in the digestive tracts of all warm blooded animals including humans and their presence indicates the contamination of water with fecal material. The presence of fecal coliform bacteria is an indicator of the possible presence of other microbial pathogens that may interfere with designated uses and potentially present human health concerns.

Middle Rio Grande-Albuquerque Watershed Group Ciudad Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) convened and coordinated the Middle Rio Grande Watershed Group in 2004 with funding made available through the Clean Water Act §319 Program grant funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and New Mexico Environment Department’s (NMED) Surface Water Quality Bureau (SWQB). Many members of the Middle Rio Grande Water Quality Standards Work Group, a multi-agency group originally formed in response to a joint concern regarding water quality standards (for arsenic, as well as specific discrepancies between state and tribal standards) in the Middle Rio Grande, joined the Watershed Group. Both groups currently merged and continue to meet on a quarterly basis as the Middle Rio Grande Water Quality Standards Work Group. (Check our calendar for the next meeting or contact Ciudad SWCD at 505-761-4986 or carol.moritz@nm.nacdnet.net to be included on the listserve for these meetings).

This group is made up of representatives from the Cities of Albuquerque, Rio Rancho and Bernalillo, the Counties of Bernalillo and Sandoval as well as the following groups and organizations: Ciudad Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Water Assembly, University of New Mexico, Pueblos of Sandia, Santa Ana and Isleta , Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD), Mid-Region Council of Governments (MRCOG), Albuquerque Metropolitan arroyo flood control authority(AMAFCA) southern Sandoval County Arroyo Flood Control Authority (SSCAFCA), and numerous non-profit groups. Traditional water users have and continue to play a key role.

Create and implement an overall framework and plan for public education, dialogue and action to measurably improve surface water quality as measured by a reduction of bacteriological pollution in the Middle Rio Grande watershed by:

• Creating a Watershed Restoration Action Strategy (WRAS) with measurable benchmarks
• Seeking and inviting stakeholder participation
• Elevating public awareness about the importance of watersheds
• Providing citizens with practical ways to help improve water quality
• Updating the WRAS as needed for continued long term improvement of watershed health
• Achieving New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission water quality criteria for the Rio Grande
• Pursuing future funding sources for implementing Best Management Practice projects
• Enhancing ecological function in the Middle Rio Grande

The initial focus of the Watershed Group was the creation of the Middle Rio Grande-Albuquerque (MRG-A) Watershed Restoration Action Strategy (WRAS) which was the first step in formulating specific effective measures in support of the long-term environmental health of the watershed.  The WRAS was designed with input from the Watershed Group, by interviewing and seeking buy-in from grassroots communities and traditional water users as well as involving targeted watershed decision-making stakeholders by inviting them to participate in regular Watershed meetings and giving formal WRAS presentations to them. The latest update to the WRAS was completed in December, 2008 and will continue to undergo periodic revision in response to public comment, internal reviews, and feedback from projects.  The WRAS has been and continues to be presented to the general public for feedback and ongoing revision (Contact Ciudad SWCD at (505)761-4986 or carol.moritz@nm.nacdnet.net to set up a presentation for your group or organization).

There are many potential surface water quality issues and problems due to a combination of urban and rural land uses in this watershed however the group chose to address the documented presence of fecal coliform as the focus of this current pollution prevention effort.  The reasoning was that fecal coliform is often used as an indicator of overall watershed health.  Many of the Best Management Practices (BMPs) used to reduce the input of fecal coliform are also anticipated to result in the reduction of other pollutants that may enter the river.

The Watershed group utilized the Middle Rio Grande Microbial Source Tracking Study (MRG-MST), which was released in December 2004, as a key reference in the planning and writing of this Watershed Restoration Action Strategy (WRAS).  The MRG-MST study results show migratory avian waterfowl, human sewage and canines are the leading sources of fecal coliform in the MRG-A watershed, as seen below: 

Source: Middle Rio Grande Microbial Source Tracking Assessment Report, December 2004.

Other resources utilized were:

• Middle Rio Grande Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for Fecal Coliform in Stormwater. May 2002
• City of Albuquerque Antibiotic Resistance Analysis of Contamination in Stormwater Final Report. June 2002
• Public Health Study and Assessment of Middle Rio Grande and Albuquerque’s Reclaimed Water. August 2000

The 2002 TMDL for fecal coliform in storm water for the Albuquerque reach of the Rio Grande is being addressed through education, engineering, and enforcement.

• There is increased public understanding of watershed approaches and increased participation in water quality improvement activities.
• Water quality data is shared across jurisdictions to facilitate project implementation.
• Regulations and local policies support watershed improvement initiatives.

The following is a condensed version of Table 1: Phased Framework of Strategies & Activities from the WRAS (for more detailed information see the WRAS Executive Summary, page iii):

The Rio Grande-Albuquerque Watershed Information Exchange system is sponsored by Ciudad Soil and Water Conservation District, with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean Water Act 319(h) funds, administered through the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) to fulfill a need to share watershed health information among the jurisdictions, entities and stakeholders involved in the stewardship of the Rio Grande-Albuquerque Reach Watershed (Phase II-Engineering BMP). The process of information sharing will provide a greater understanding of the health of the overall watershed and will enhance the planning and management necessary to insure its well being. Information sharing among the entities using this website can help target geographical areas that need further study, on the ground work and/or monitoring, and can help assess general trends and dynamics of water quality in the watershed. Information sharing will also help assure that all available resources are maximized and used to augment rather than duplicate efforts planned or completed by the various jurisdictions, entities and stakeholders.

We invite you join us in providing better stewardship of the Rio Grande-Albuquerque Reach Watershed by registering your agency, group or organization today and sharing the research, work or monitoring you have completed, are in the process of carrying out or are planning. We suggest posting project reports, project photos, monitoring results as appropriate, opportunities for collaboration, sources of grant funds and any other pertinent information.

The Exchange was completed in December, 2008 and the District is seeking funding to hire a Watershed Coordinator to actively solicit water quality information from stakeholders within the watershed to insure this system functions to its maximum potential. The Watershed Coordinator will also be responsible for seeking funding sources to continue to implement the WRAS so that its goals can be achieved as planned by 2016.

The main idea behind Best Management Practices (BMPs) is to implement a plan that will be effective, practical, and cost efficient at reducing pollution runoff into the Rio Grande and your participation in implementing BMPs will have an positive impact. Common sense is a BMP we all can use to reduce pollution.

Here are some simple suggestions to give you a start at implementing BMPs that are effective and practical at reducing pollution runoff: 

Best Management Practice	Goal	Cost
Follow city ordinances when walking your dog. (“Scoop the Poop”)	100% Pollution Reduction	Minimal
Reduce use of fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides on your lawn.	100% Pollution Reduction	No Cost
Use proper receptacles for disposal of all of your trash.	100% Pollution Reduction	No Cost
Keep in mind and remind others that “We All Live in a Watershed” and “Our individual Actions can  directly affect it”.	100% Pollution Reduction	No Cost

For more information on what you can do contact Ciudad SWCD at (505)761-4986 or carol.moritz@nm.nacdnet.net .