Land And Water

Goal 2: Protect and restore irrigated agricultural lands for livestock and agricultural production purposes and encourage/promote managed development on dry land.

"Dry Land Development" = "Conservation Development.

Conservation Sub-Divisions, Conservation Argicultural Development, "CONSERVATION"

What are the benefits/drawbacks?
More Info!

Comprehensive Plan Task Force Meeting Agenda

Task Force,
Outlined below are the topics which the Planning and Zoning Department find to be of high priority for discussion for this evenings Task Force Meeting. I wanted to send you this priority list before the meeting to somewhat outline our high priority concerns for the meeting tonight.

I look forward to introducing myself, listening to points of view of all members and interested people for the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan as well as discussing the topics listed below.

I look forward to seeing you tonight from 4 to 6 PM at the Rural Events Center on Hwy. #554.

Sincerely yours,

Christopher Palmer

Comprehensive Plan Task Force Meeting Agenda
July 23, 2008, Rural Events Center, Rio Arriba County
Topics of Discussion

V. Land and Water

Goal 1: Strengthen the connection between the land and water, and protect the water rights within the region.

Strategy.1: Map the acequias with priority dates of water rights and Mutual Domestic Water Associations and delineate the watersheds that serve them. Encourage the acequia and mutual domestic areas with serious water supply or water rights issues to work with the County and OSE in establishing Critical Management Areas and Stream Corridor Areas.

Goal 2: Protect and restore irrigated agricultural lands for livestock and agricultural production purposes and encourage/promote managed development on dry land.

Strategy 7: Identify, map and protect significant agricultural and grazing lands, prioritize lands for conservation, and work with non-profit conservation organizations to utilize conservation easements, grass banks, purchase of development rights (PDR), etc, where appropriate.

Strategy 9: Amend the Irrigated Agricultural Land Protection Ordinance to improve its effectiveness in conserving agricultural lands within subdivisions.

Strategy 10: Create an irrigated agricultural land overlay zone in the Design and Development Regulation ordinance so it applies to all irrigated lands.

Strategy 14: All new subdivisions should have community/shared wells and treated liquid waste systems, demonstrate a 100 year water adequacy plan and assure water rights to meet full demand at build out, including water for fire-fighting and facilities for storage, distribution and delivery for fire flows.

Strategy 17: Place limits on new domestic well uses as a condition of approval of any development through amendments to the Subdivision Regulations and Design and Development Regulation ordinance, such as shared wells, limiting amount of water to 1 ac/yr and metering each service connection.

Strategy 18: Promote and demonstrate domestic water conservation efforts, such as the use of drip irrigation, gray-water, water harvesting, low-flow fixtures, xeriscape landscaping through education programs and in the Subdivision Regulations and Design and Development Regulation ordinance.

Goal 3: Protect and restore the open spaces and natural resources such as the rivers, riparian areas, cienegas, floodplains, wildlife habitats, forests and grasslands.

Strategy 22: Protect riparian areas, wetlands, springs and watercourses through conservation easements, and establishing a 300’ wide riparian habitat corridor residential/commercial building setback from watercourses with flows greater than 1,000 cfs in a 100 year event (agricultural buildings are exempt from this setback).

Strategy 24: Protect and enhance riparian areas, springs, wetlands and river and stream corridors by promoting and implementing riparian restoration, re-vegetation, fencing enclosure projects and by minimizing the use of toxic herbicides in critical watershed areas.

Goal 5: Protect the region’s water supply and quality by creating opportunities for water recharge and storage.

Strategy 32: Establish Critical Management Areas and Stream Corridor Areas within the County in collaboration with the Office of the State Engineer and provide for their protection in the Subdivision Regulations and Design and Development Regulation ordinance.

Strategy 35: Pursue funding for water and wastewater maintenance and development projects from state and federal sources such as the State Water Trust Board, State Legislature, and NM Finance Authority.

From Mountaintop to River Bottom Restoring New Mexico's Watersheds

From Mountaintop to River Bottom: Restoring New Mexico's Watersheds

September 30 - October 2
Albuquerque, New Mexico

Marriott Uptown, 2101 Louisiana Boulevard, NE

The first ever New Mexico Watershed Forum provides an opportunity to:

> Learn about other watershed projects and restoration techniques

> Increase Collaboration and communication about watershed restoration

> Network with watershed groups across New Mexico

> Share successes, challenges and innovations

This statewide forum will bring together agencies, organizations, professionals, educators and citizens with an interest in watershed management, restoration and protection. Presentations and workshops will provide tools and information for people doing watershed restoration on the ground. A day of field trips will provide on-site learning about restoration projects. We are also looking for:

V. Land and Water - Goals and Implementation Strategies

Rio Ojo Calients River Flows. What's The Danger !

Goal 3: Protect and restore the open spaces and natural resources s
uch as the rivers, riparian areas, cienegas, floodplains, wildlife habitats, forests and grasslands.

Lets look at the Rio Ojo Caliente River and the effects river flows and the effects in our community. The Rio Ojo Caliente River ( REAL TIME RIVER LEVEL INFORMATION )

(14 Landowners in 2005 ) experienced flooding at levels beginning at 400cfs and at higher levels. More flooding. Levels below 400 did not seem to pose much of a hazard to most landowners. All of the damage I saw on these properties was limited to the land. No Structures were involved. I also discovered we ( myself and neighbors ) had little knowledge of the laws, and ordinances which govern our living in the County. We all needed more information.

• Strategy 21: Support and encourage state legislation to protect the
watershed from the infestation of salt cedar and other invasive species and protect riparian areas.

Now lets look at the Rio Ojo Caliente and Flows.

River Level: 2005 to 2008
*click on image for larger view

Beginning in 2005 the Rio Ojo Caliente river experienced levels above 900CFS. This was the year the flows breached a levee (berm) flooding nearly two acres within our communityin 3 hours. This breach in the Levee (bern) has increased from 1’ in 2005 to over 15’ in 2008 and the flooding damages have also increased and more properties are now threatened with the real possibility of more flooding and at lower levels the previously experienced. Now flooding occurs at levels exceeding 350cfs in some areas.

April 2005 the Rio Ojo Caliente River reached levels above 1000cfs.

• Strategy 22: Protect riparian areas, wetlands, springs and watercourses through conservation easements, and establishing a 300’ wide riparian habitat corridor residential/commercial building setback from watercourses with flows greater than 1,000 cfs in a 100 year event (agricultural buildings are exempt from this setback).
*click on image for larger view

During this flow the river flooded several (7 neighbors ) properties along the river course from .5 miles above the confluence of the Rio Chama to 3.5 miles above the confluence of the Rio Chama River

2006 Flooding: County Declares State Of Disaster.
Rio Grande Sun: Flooding: Rio Arriba County Declares State Of Disaster.
This was a difficult time for some residents in our County. Residents on the Rio Chama, Rio Grande and Rio Ojo Caliente Rivers all experienced flooding and NOT Just because of Rivers!

• Strategy 23: Pursue State and Federal funding for forest thinning for urban interface buffers for fire safety, water yield and extended water retention, and to create mosaics of canopy openings to provide better bio-diversity and improve livestock and elk herd management through partnerships with the US Forest Service.
*click on image for larger view

Our Community: Flooding again occurred this spring, but this time the flooding came as a result of the flows from the previous season damages. (* Break in the Levee/Berm ) This was the first time the Rio Ojo Flooded nearly two acres + of neighboring properties and at “Low or Moderate Levels” 300- 400 cfs. Flooding occurred on these properties for a period of 9 days and took another month to subside from the pit area leaving a small pond.

Goal 4: Educate citizens of all ages about the values, history, principles, opportunities and economic benefits of the relationship between land and water so that future generations can continue to work the land.

April 2007 the Rio Ojo Caliente River again flooded these same landowners and 2 other neighbors in our Sub Division. ( Monte De Luz ) and three upstream @ 5. Miles above the confluence of the Rio Chama on the Rio Ojo Caliente:

Strategy 26: Inventory/survey historic and traditional buildings and features and adopt a Historic Landmark Ordinance describing preservation and restoration guidelines and identify programs and incentives for private owners for preservation of historic and cultural properties.
*click on image for larger view

Rio Ojo Caliente River 2008

Strategy 29: Support and expand community-based sustainable agricultural programs such as 4H programs, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and Community Stewardship Organizations (CSO).
*click on image for larger view

More of the same. Some landowners along the Rio Ojo are experiencing flooding on their lands.

Now Lets Look at PEAK FLOW DATA

Rio Arriba County, New Mexico

Hydrologic Unit Code 13020102

Latitude 36°20'59.07", Longitude 106°02'39.07" NAD83

Drainage area 419 square miles

Contributing drainage area 419 square miles

Gage datum 6,358.84 feet above sea level NGVD29

1930's to Current. Rio Ojo Caliente River
PEAK STREAM FLOWS
*click on image for larger view
Do you see something We should note?
How many flows above 1000cfs ?
4000 cfs: Glad I got a boat.
A lot of People are getting WET at 4000cfs.

Surf - The Rio Caliente River Watershed
Citizen-based Groups at work in this watershed (Provided by Adopt your Watershed)
No New Mexico Based CITIZEN GROUPS?
Adopt your Watershed

USGS Real-Time Water Data for New Mexico
*click on image for larger viewOther Rivers That Flow Through Rio Arriba
Our Life Lines... Water!
USGS 08279500 RIO GRANDE AT EMBUDO, NM
USGS 08290000 RIO CHAMA NEAR CHAMITA, NM
USGS 08313000 RIO GRANDE AT OTOWI BRIDGE, NM
Goals and Implementation Strategies
Cost of Natural Diasters In New Mexico

1. Flood – There were sixty three (63) declared disasters for flooding, three of which were federally declared. The total cost for flood events for the time period is $57,709,211

Lynn Noel Task Force Member- Ojo Caliente,NM

Lynn& Kama














Email: hulinm@valornet.com
Mailing Address: Lynn Noel and Susan Darling: PO Box 1114, Espanola, NM. 87532
Phone: 505-412-2770
Blog: The Sustainable Rio Ojo Caliente River Community
YouTube: http://youtube.com/user/hulih20

Task Force Groups:
- Land and Water Task Force Group 1
- Economic Development ( Group 2 )
- Hazards Mitigation Task Force (Group 6 )

Bio:
Born: Burbank,CA 1955
Raised in Hawaii. Molokai
Lived: California, Washington State, Hawaii, and Alaska (Traveled ALL USA)
Home: Ojo Caliente, New Mexico

Profession(s) : Computer Consultant/Trainer , Naturalist, Rescue Responder People and Wild Life.
Us Navy- Corpsman 1973-1977

Hobbies: Woodworking, Drum Making, Tele-mark Skiing, Whitewater Boating, Mt. Biking, Learning Languages and more about other Cultures , our Land and Water and Native Plants. All that Sustains us!

Languages: English, Hawaiian, ( Learning Tewa and Spanish )

Culture: Hawaiian. "Ohana".means family in an extended sense of the term including blood related, adoptive or intentional. It emphasizes that family and friends are bound together and members must cooperate and remember one another.

Simply Put. “Ohana means family and family means nobody gets left behind. Or forgotten."
What does your culture say about family? Teach me Please!

New Mexico is now my home. You are now my family. ( By my knowledge )
Dysfunctional as we are ( Families, Community, State and Country- USA) at times
I still LOVE and Need YOU ALL.
Hope you still Love and need Me Too!
Mahalo- Lynn Noel

Skills and Services Offered: Anything to do with Modern Technologies. Information/Training, Photo and Video Production Assistance, Field Work. Athletic ( for an old guy ) and have the gear. Unlimited energy and enthusiasm tempered by age, road rash and some wisdom. Safety is NO ACCIDENT!

boating with my neighbor on the Rio Ojo Caliente River. May 2008 600+cfs

Sustainable Living Practices: New and Old Technologies. Our Owner Built and Designed Home, Land, Outbuildings, Our Gardening and Land Practices. We're doing it and learning more all the time. Solar and Mini Hydro Power Wind. Would love to get OFF THE GRID. Make all our Communities Sustainable.

My Partner In Crime!

Susan Darling
26+ Years in the Pojoaque Valley.
48 years in New Mexico
We're Small Business Owners. Creature ComfortsNM.com
Susan is also an Artist. Sculpture, Glass, and Music.

Please Share.
What your community is doing. Not doing.
What you are doing? Not doing
How could YOU/Your Family and your Community become Energy Independent and Self Sustaining?


Rio Arriba County Comprehensive Plan 2008 ( Does anyone else only see 42 pages here? )
Groups and Strategies:
Below are the Group (s) I would like to be involved with and the Strategies I would like to work on. Thank you again for inviting me to the Task Force. I look forward to working with my community and our Leaders on these very important community issues.
Mahalo- Lynn Noel

* Note: The linked text is to Google Searches for information relating to the “TEXT” topic. I will refine these links as I have time. Just a Starting Point. Mahalo Lynn.

Top 10 Most Unwanted Threats to the Web of Life

Land and Water Task Force ( Group 1 )

V. Land and Water

Goal 1: Strengthen the connection between the land and water, and protect the water rights within the region.

Strategy 1: Map the acequias with priority dates of water rights and Mutual Domestic Water Associations and delineate the watersheds that serve them. Encourage the acequia and mutual domestic areas with serious water supply or water rights issues to work with the County and OSE in establishing Critical Management Areas and Stream Corridor Areas . ( I would like to volunteer to assist in Mapping our Watersheds.)

Goal 2: Protect and restore irrigated agricultural lands for livestock and agricultural production purposes and encourage/promote managed development on dry land.

Strategy 7: Identify, map and protect significant agricultural and grazing lands, prioritize lands for conservation, and work with non-profit conservation organizations to utilize conservation easements, grass banks, purchase of development rights (PDR), etc, where appropriate. New Mexico Natural Heritage Report

Strategy 14: All new subdivisions should have community/shared wells and treated
Liquid waste systems, demonstrate a 100 year water adequacy plan and assure water rights to meet full demand at build out, including water for fire-fighting and facilities for storage, distribution and delivery for fire flows.

Strategy 18: Promote and demonstrate domestic water conservation efforts , such as the use of drip irrigation, gray-water, water harvesting, low-flow fixtures, xeriscape landscaping through education programs and in the Subdivision Regulations and Design and Development Regulation ordinance.

Goal 3: Protect and restore the open spaces and natural resources such as the rivers, riparian areas, cienegas, floodplains, wildlife habitats, forests and grasslands.

Dams and Diversions NM

Strategy 21: Support and encourage state legislation to protect the watershedfrom the infestation of salt cedar and other invasive species and protect riparian areas.

Strategy 22: Protect riparian areas, wetlands, springs and watercourses through conservation easements, and establishing a 300’ wide riparian habitat corridor residential/commercial building setback from watercourses with flows greater than 1,000 cfs in a 100 year event (agricultural buildings are exempt from this setback)

Strategy 23: Pursue State and Federal funding for forest thinning for urban interface buffers for fire safety, water yield and extended water retention, and to create mosaics of canopy openings to provide better bio-diversity and improve livestockand elk herd management through partnerships with the US Forest Service.

Strategy 24: Protect and enhance riparian areas, springs, wetlands and river and stream corridors by promoting and implementing riparian restoration, re-vegetation, fencing enclosure projects and by minimizing the use of toxic herbicides in critical watershed areas.

Goal 4: Educate citizens of all ages about the values, history, principles, opportunities and economic benefits of the relationship between land and water so that future generations can continue to work the land.

New Mexico Natural Heritage Report

Strategy 26: Inventory/survey historic and traditional buildings and features and adopt a Historic Landmark Ordinance describing preservation and restoration guidelines and identify programs and incentives for private owners for preservation of historic and cultural properties.

New Mexico Natural Heritage Report

Strategy 28: Identify funding sources, such as USDA Value Added Grants, to support agriculture business diversification and work with the NMSU Cooperative Extensionoffice on identifying opportunities and training for crop specialization.

Strategy 29: Support and expand community-based sustainable agricultural programssuch as 4H programs, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)and Community Stewardship Organizations (CSO)

Strategy 31: Provide and promote education to property owners on water rights and water use.

Strategy 31a: Acknowledge traditional place-names as cultural patrimony by utilizing, restoring or instituting a preference for the traditional place names or at least the mention of variant place names in the conduct of county business and in the promotion of our region (El Rito Encino as for Post Office "Youngsville" and Camino Monte Vista as for "County Road 544"). Adopt a limited procedure for names standardization. New Mexico Natural Heritage Report

Strategy 31b:
Partner with the New Mexico Acequia Association's "Sembrando Semillas"and other youth organizations whose stated goal is to foster a future for agrarian practices, and thereby assist in maintaining our citizen's ties to the land.

Goal 5: Protect the region’s water supply and quality by creating opportunities for water recharge and storage.

Strategy 32: Establish Critical Management Areas and Stream Corridor Areas within the County in collaboration with the Office of the State Engineer and provide for their protection in the Subdivision Regulations and Design and Development Regulation ordinance.

Strategy 33: Encourage property owners of outdated or inadequate septic tanks and
leach fields to improve their existing systems, such as through tax incentives or low rate loans, and provide for more stringent county guidelines and inspections.

Strategy 34: Pursue funding at New Mexico State water funding institutions such as the Water Trust Board, the NM Legislature and the New Mexico Finance Authority for a variety of groundwater studies, watershed protection and restoration treatments.

Strategy 36: Support the establishment of Watershed Groups involved in developing a Watershed Restoration Action Strategy (WRAS) for funding of watershed improvement activities such as EPA/NMED 319 funds.

Strategy 37: Pursue funding for the establishment and maintenance of a Rio Arriba County Aquifer Monitoring Program as a decision making tool for Rio Arriba County with a broad local, state and federal partnerships.

Goal 6: Encourage compact and sustainable growth that reflects traditional settlement patterns, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and enhances our unique diversity and quality of life.

Strategy 42: Prepare a Rio Arriba Green Building Guide that describes sustainable development practices and green building techniques to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and include it with subdivision application packets.

Goal 8: Encourage use of xeriscape principles and native plants in landscape improvements.

Strategy 45: Adopt landscape guidelines that require native or drought-tolerant vegetation, and low-flow water fixtures. Provide incentives for replacing existing non- native or exotic plant species with native or drought-tolerant plants.

Goal 9: Recognize, honor and protect historical grazing rights as a means of local agricultural production which will be protected for future generations.

Strategy 47: NM Game and Fish Department and other state and federal agencies shall manage big game, prohibit the introduction of predators and work cooperatively with local ranchers in resource management so that existing grazing permits (rights) are sustained and increased when feasible. (See Appendix C)

Economic Development Task Force (Group 2)

New Mexico Links

Goal 1: Strengthen and support opportunities for local arts and culture.

Strategy 1: Identify the needs of small and locally-owned arts and culture businesses/organizations and work with the local chambers of commerce and regional economic development agencies to develop strategies to address these need.

Strategy 2: Create a Rio Arriba Arts Commission to promote the performing and visual arts, assist in identifying funding sources and markets, and identify models for artisan- based economic development projects through the Regional Development Corporation and other economic development organizations

Goal 2: Promote and support the expansion of agricultural-based businesses.

Strategy 4: Work with the NMSU Extension Office, Rural Events Center, Oñate Center, the State of New Mexico Renewable Energy Initiative and other organizations to identify opportunities for biomass and greenhouses for organic farming.

Strategy 6: Promote the creation of Community-Supported Agriculture(CSA) organizations in partnership with the Sustainable Agriculture Center in Alcalde.

Goal 3: Create a County-wide workforce training/education program, especially to keep our youth in the area.

Strategy 7: Inventory existing workforce and professional development opportunities
n the region and work with Northern New Mexico College, the New Mexico Small Business Development Center, New Mexico State Cooperative Extension Program the New Mexico Film Office, LANL and its Technology Transfer Division.

Strategy 9: Work with employers to create scholarships for targeted industries to encourage participation.

Strategy 10: Partner with and provide support to the Youth Corps and other youth organizations to identify young adults’ needs and requirements for returning or staying in the County to live and work, and develop programs in response to those needs.

Goal 4: Promote the use and purchase of local goods and services that support local
businesses.

Strategy 11: Create a Rio Arriba First” Business Directory of licensed local businesses, and services within the County, and/or with individual communities such as Española and Chama.

Strategy 12: Institute and promote a buy-local campaign through a County publication and media announcements in order to reduce economic leakage and increase the circulation of capital in the county.

Strategy 13: Institute local preference incentives in the County’s purchasing system for goods and services that utilize local businesses and organizations.

Strategy 14: Require businesses that receive funding from the Rio Arriba County Lodgers and Tax Board to acknowledge the source of funding in their advertisements and promotional materials.

Goal 5: Encourage the creation and retention of home-based businesses.

Strategy 16: Investigate the feasibility of a County business incubator

Strategy 19: Create partnerships with local Tribes and tribal entities(such as the Tsay Corporation , Santa Clara Development Corporation and the Jicarilla Apache Nation) to support and utilize new and existing convention centers, hotels, recreational activities, cultural sites and dining establishments.

Strategy 20: Work with the BLM and the Forest Service to develop brochures and promote outdoor recreational activities

Goal 7: Develop a job retention programto keep jobs in Rio Arriba County.

Strategy 22: Investigate incentives to employers and County contractors to establish a youth training and employment provision in their operations.

Strategy 23: Work with existing youth development programs and agencies to promote youth activities that foster entrepreneurialisum and business skills.

Goal 8: Improve and expand the telecommunications system to provide local jobs and education opportunities and to support business growth.

Strategy 24: Establish a county-wide investment partnership involving NM Finance Authority, LANL, school districts, Northern New Mexico College, local governments, utility providers and the private sector to bring telecommunications to all areas of the County.

Strategy 25: Expand rural wireless internet services by pursuing legislative funding and encouraging local utilities to run embedded fiber optics in utility lines and install new wireless networks.

Goal 9: Encourage environmentally-friendly light industry and manufacturing uses.

Strategy 26: Investigate partnerships with local utility companies to attract renewable energy production and identify and develop locations for targeted clean industries.

Housing Task Force (Group 3)

Goal 1: Promote site-built, higher residential density and infill developments in areas where adequate infrastructure exists or will be provided.

Strategy 1: Offer density bonuses or other incentives for development that rehabilitates existing housing stock or is an infill development in an existing village or community.

Goal 2: Provide incentives and education for affordable home ownership.

Strategy 2: Form an affordable housing task force to address issues of affordable housing in the County.

Strategy 3: Conduct a housing affordability analysis of needs in the County.

Strategy 5: Partner with organizations that educate potential homebuyers such as the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority , Habitat for Humanity and Empowering Business Spirit(EBS).

Goal 3: Provide incentives for the rehabilitation of existing site-built residential structures.

Strategy 6: With the help of affordable housing organizations, such as the Habitat for Humanity, Home wise and the Enterprise Foundation, identify and promote programs and incentives for home rehabilitation and property owners.

Goal 4: Encourage the use of sustainable development practices.

Strategy 7: Research other successful best practices utilized and create a building code within the County and institute sustainable building practices, such as working with the Legislature and Construction Industries Division (CID) to promote traditional adobe housing.

Goal 5: Encourage a diversity of housing opportunities.

Strategy 8: Identify housing needs that are not being met in the County. Examples may include workforce, senior, multi-familyand special needs housing and identify opportunities that exist for financing of special projects with organizations such as the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority.

Land and Water Task Force ( Group 1 )

Land and Water Task Force ( Group 1 )
Label: Land and Water Task Force

Task Force Group Member List
Charmian:
Charmian:
Gabriel T. Boyle
Email: GTBoyle@rio-arriba.org
505-753-7774

Members:
Lynn Noel
Email: hulinm@valornet.com
505-412-2770

Henry Ochao
Email: elrito101@windstream.net

Chuck and Jean Nielson
Email: c-nielson@hughes.net

Lucy Collier,
Email: lcpm@valornet.com

Don Diego Gonzales,
Email: dondiego@valornet.com

Robert Chavez,
Email: rlchavez@cybermesa.com

Lynn Craven,
Email: lynn.cravens@gmail.com

Tony Valdez
Email: tonvalde@nmsu.edu