At today’s Santa Fe River Festival, Mayor David Coss and County Commissioner Harry Montoya jointly announced that the parties have come to an agreement that when the Buckman Diversion comes on line in 2011, the county will donate water to the Santa Fe River.

The diversion is expected to provide the county with 2,000 acre feet per year.  With expected demand, the couty believes that it can donate 1,000 excess acre feet per year to the river on a temporary basis.  Maybe for as long as 10 to 20 years.

While not a permanent solution, at least this is a start to building returning a real recreational fishery to the river.  1,000 acre feet should provide a base flow to the river in times when the city and teh water utility have let the river run dry.