In 2005, New Mexico Environment Department staff tested water in dozens of places on Jemez Mountain streams and found 34 new violations of state water-quality standards.
The public has until July 10 to review and comment on a draft document by the state Environment Department setting new standards for the "total maximum daily load" in the Jemez River watershed, identifying sources of pollutants and setting goals for restoring water-quality health.
Arsenic, boron, temperature and sediment levels were higher on several spots tested along the Jemez River, Rio Guadalupe and Rio de las Vacas, among others. While some of the stream impairments are from natural sources, others are because of runoff from highways and roads, recreational use, grazing, site clearing for homes, and river flow changes from irrigation.
The Jemez River and its tributaries flow into the Rio Grande. About 94 percent of the area surveyed by the state is managed by the Santa Fe National Forest, according to the draft document.
The streams tested trickle through places popular with campers, hikers, anglers, hunters and off-road vehicle enthusiasts. The lands surrounding the streams are a wide mixture of wetlands, grass savannas, piñon and juniper forests and towering ponderosa pine forests.
Contaminants, high temperatures and sediment in the Jemez Mountain coldwater streams can harm fish and other aquatic life.
The water monitoring staff from the Surface Water Quality Bureau found improved water quality on some areas of the Jemez River and the Rio Cebolla.
A public meeting to discuss the document is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. June 25 at the Jemez Springs village offices.
Included in the document are daily loads for:
- East Fork Jemez (San Antonio Creek to Valles Caldera National Preserve boundary) — arsenic and temperature;
- Jemez River (Zia Pueblo boundary to Jemez Pueblo boundary) — arsenic and boron;
- Jemez River (Jemez Pueblo boundary to Rio Guadalupe) — arsenic and boron;
- Jemez River (Rio Guadalupe to Soda Dam near Jemez Springs) — arsenic, boron, nutrients and temperature;
- Jemez River (Soda Dam near Jemez Springs to East Fork Jemez) — arsenic;
- Rio de las Vacas (Rio Cebolla to Clear Creek) — nutrients;
- Rio Guadalupe (Jemez River to confluence with Rio Cebolla) — temperature;
- Rito de las Palomas (Rio de las Vacas to headwaters) — sedimentation/siltation and temperature;
- Rito Peñas Negras (Rio de las Vacas to headwaters) — nutrients; and,
- San Antontio Creek (East Fork Jemez to Valles Caldera National Preserve boundary) — arsenic.
The document lists the stream reaches for each water testing site, the impairments found and the sources.
Contact Staci Matlock at 986-3055 or smatlock@sfnewmexican.com.
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