Every month the group gathers to coordinate ongoing projects, identify priority projects to develop Best Management Practices (BMPs),  plan water quality research, and arrange outreach and education events to broaden the public’s awareness of and involvement in water quality activities.

• • All of our meeting minutes since 2005 are available for the public to follow our progress.
  • Join us and our federal, state, non-profit, and local agency partners by checking our Facebook for meeting events.
  • Sign up for our email group to stay up to date on all resources, updates, events, and meetings.

Watershed Plans are an ever changing strategy and work plan developed through a collaborative process to improve water quality throughout specific watershed(s). Under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act every state is required to assess sources of pollution and implement projects to mitigate this pollution for public health, ecology function, and to meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s Water Quality Standards.

• • The San Juan Watershed Group, Animas Watershed Partnership, and Mountain Studies Institute worked together to publish the EPA approved Lower Animas Watershed Based Plan in 2016.
  • Several Watershed Plans within the San Juan Basin have been developed and updated over the years – find them all here.

The San Juan Watershed Group was first formed in 2001 after the New Mexico Environment Department observed high concentrations of algae blooms in the Animas River. Since then, the SJWG has coordinated with the state government, other watershed groups, and non-profits to conduct water quality testing throughout the San Juan Watershed. Monitoring continues by the state and the group as areas and/or drainages of concern are further identified and prioritized for project implementation. 

• • Several nutrient and bacteria sampling result reports have provided direction to drainages and tributaries to the Animas River should be prioritized to reduce pollution, including the Florida River, Kiffen Creek, Steven’s Arroyo, and Ditch Canyon.
  • From 2013-2014, San Juan Watershed Group and San Juan Soil & Water Conservation District conducted a Microbial Source Tracking study and collected water samples along the Animas and San Juan River to track the sources of E. coli and human fecal bacteria pollution. The presence of ruminant (cattle, deer, sheep, etc.) bacteria was a significant concentration throughout both rivers. Human bacteria was less pervasive, but still showed a consistent presence in both rivers. 

After conducting bacterial and nutrient water quality sampling in coordination with the New Mexico Environment Department in the early 2000’s, the San Juan Watershed Group has applied and received multiple grants from the Clean Water Act (319) funded NMED Watershed Protection Section to start working towards solutions. Several stretches of the Animas and San Juan Rivers are impaired for fecal bacteria, nutrients, temperature,and/or sedimentation, and our 319 projects are targeted to address a variety of contributing pollution sources.

• • Between 2011 and 2014 the SJWG oversaw the Collaborative Water Quality Improvement Project for the San Juan River Watershed. Several manure management, livestock fencing, soil conservation, fertilizer management, and restoration Best Management Practices (BMPs) were done on the La Plata, Animas, and San Juan Rivers.
  • Since 2017 the group has been coordinating the projects under the Lower Animas Watershed Based Plan Phase 1 Project, which aims to reduce fecal bacterial pollution to the river through riparian restoration, manure management, and bank stabilization BMPs.
  • The momentum of the Phase 1 Project continues in the Lower Animas Watershed Based Plan Phase 2 Project, which funds educational workshops, a Septic and Illegal Dumping Campaign, and free riparian assessments for landowners along the Animas River.

Over the years the San Juan Watershed Group has shared our legacy and mission to partners and the public via conferences, workshops, and meetings. A variety of presentations are available as an educational resource on water quality, invasive species management, and riparian restoration.