The President’s Corner

D’Ann Waters

Fall is in full swing, and Thanksgiving is just around the corner. I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving. Right after Thanksgiving we all seem to go into the holiday mode and before we know it Christmas and the New Year celebrations are upon us. Our holiday kickoff, Riverglo, is right after Thanksgiving so mark your calendar for Friday, December 2nd! More information on that event is in the Riverglo article.

The San Juan Citizens Alliance group has a new river keeper, Sara Burch. She is also a new member of the River Reach Foundation, and we welcome her to our group and are excited to start working with her. Her introductory article is included in this edition of Ripples.

The River Reach Foundation is seeking to hire a part time Office Administrator to help with event planning and event operations. The
applicant should have some prior experience working with events and other non-profit organizations. There is a more complete article outlining the duties and requirements here in this newsletter and your resume or questions can be sent to river.reach.foundation@outlook.com  You will also find an application form on both our River Reach Foundation web site and on our Riverfest web site.

Finally, as many of you may have noticed, our “Riverfest” Facebook page was removed. We are not sure why this has happened, but we will soon have a new Facebook page. Follow us on “Riverfestnewmexico” as information about Riverfest 2023 will start appearing in January. Another newsworthy event is that we are now advertising on the Local NEWS Network here in Farmington. You might see the ads at local restaurants and some of the hotels. In April we will also be on their network in the Durango, Telluride, and Montezuma areas advertising Riverfest.

Animas River Jam 2022

Our 2nd Animas River Jam took place on the 8th of October. Not only was the weather beautiful but so was the music and a common comment that I heard from many people was that the event was so relaxing. We added something new this year and that was a food truck war. Patrons were invited to vote on which food truck was their favorite and the winner was the “Goody Wagon” that sold hot dogs, nachos, and sandwiches. The “Goody Wagon” will receive a free spot in our May 2023 Riverfest event.

Putting on this event was a little challenging as there were many other events going on in Farmington that same day, but we feel that although it was small, it was successful. So now our question to everyone is do you think we should continue this event and keep it small, and if so, is October a good month to hold it? We would appreciate any feedback you may have.

Riverglo 2022

Riverglo 2022 will be held on Friday, December 2nd between 6:00 and 8:00 PM. Discover Farmington’s holiday spirit along the Animas River! Join us on the River Reach Terrace at Berg Park for the annual Riverglo event. This is a free, family friendly music venue composed of local carolers. Walk along the trail and terrace lined by luminaries between Archway Court and the Little pavilion.

Purchase hot chocolate, hot apple cider, popcorn and holiday trinkets. Visit Santa Claus, the Grinch, and visit a live nativity scene presented by the Northside Church. Choral groups are from both Farmington and Piedra Vista High Schools along with Ladera and Country Club Elementary schools. This is a wonderful way to start our Christmas holiday season!

Introducing the Animas Riverkeeper

Meet the new Animas Riverkeeper, Sara Burch! Sara works for the San Juan Citizens Alliance located in Durango, CO and is a member of the River Reach Foundation. She is excited to work with communities along the Animas River to advocate for healthy ecosystems, clean water quality, and enhanced recreation opportunities for all.

A long-term goal for Sara is to work in partnership with the River Reach Foundation to increase river recreation opportunities between southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. The Animas River flows through scenic landscapes and hosts incredible riparian habitat along the stretch before its confluence with the San Juan River just below Farmington. In the future, she hopes to collaborate with partner organizations, land owners, and management agencies to identify areas where river access may be constructed in an effort to better connect our communities with our waterways, and each other. Sara is also interested in advocating for multi-recreational opportunities along the Animas River, including identifying areas where river trails may be extended, and continuing efforts to install educational interpretive signs.

Above all, Sara is looking forward to connecting with people interested in learning more about the Animas Watershed. She hopes to connect with people throughout the watershed to listen to unique perspectives on the Animas River, and better understand ways to serve the community. Sara is excited to enjoy the trails and parks along the Animas River in Aztec and Farmington this winter, as well as enjoy floating the river reaches throughout northern New Mexico this coming spring and summer! If you have any questions for Sara, please feel free to reach out to her at sara@sanjuancitizens.org She is looking forward to speaking with you!

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