PFAS Education​

The LCVA hosts monthly meetings on the topic of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are a group of toxic chemicals that have been found in wells and groundwater in La Cieneguilla and could continue to spread to La Cienega.  LCVA also sends out information on PFAS through its list serve to residents.  Through these monthly meetings LCVA, in partnership with Santa Fe County, is in the process of helping to provide education, resources, guidance and outreach to local residents impacted by PFAS.   Meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at the La Cienega Community Center at 136 Camino San Jose.  For more information and links to recordings of past presentations please see our PFAS page.

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Community Planning

LCVA initiated updates of the 2015 Community Plan for La Cienega and La Cieneguilla and meetings are held that the La Cienega Community Center at 136 Camino San Jose on the third Tuesday of each month and are open to the public. For more information and topics that will be addressed please click here.

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LCVA is working in coordination with Santa Fe County on water planning for springs restoration in order to protect traditional water users in La Cienega and La Cieneguilla.

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LCVA is also a member of the Pipeline Coalition:  The pipeline coalition was formed in response to City of Santa Fe’s Application to Create a Return Flow Pipeline from the Paseo Real Wastewater Treatment Plant to the Buckman Direct Diversion so that the City of Santa Fe can Receive Return Flow Credits and Use More Water from the Buckman Direct Diversion and consists of 21 members, individuals and associations.  LCVA is a founding member.  Santa Fe County was to share a portion of the project cost of the installation of the pipeline and to receive a portion of the return flow credits.  The Pipeline Coalition, through public participation, was able to get Santa Fe County to apply pressure to the City of Santa Fe to create a process for public input and in the hope of ensuring some continued delivery of clean water from the Wastewater Treatment Plant into the lower Santa Fe River which flows to the communities of La Cieneguilla, La Cienega, La Bajada and Cochiti.  The Pipeline Coalition is also seeking a resolution to the unmanaged Artificial Wetlands Created by the Wild Earth Guardians back in 2000 and seeks for the establishment of a new Wastewater Treatment Facility that is jointly managed by the City and the County to ensure County residents' interests are protected.  

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LCVA is working with the Santa Fe County Fire Department to create a program for fuels reduction along the bosque to help protect our community from fire and to address emergency preparedness in our area including  taking steps to increase flood protection, fire protection and emergency evacuation routes.

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La Cienega Community Center Library Improvements

LCVA is also working with Santa Fe County to reopen the library and make it more accessible and useful for local residents.  

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​Santa Fe Airport

LCVA also provided comments on the Santa Fe Airport Proposed 2024 Regulations which can be found here.

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BLM Shooting Range

LCVA is trying to keep apprised of developments with the BLM shooting range.  Please feel free to contact us to share any comments or concerns you have about the shooting range.

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Traffic and Drainage Issues

LCVA is pushing for Santa Fe County to conduct a traffic study and engineering report in order to create a plan to reduce the instances of speeding and dangerous road conditions in La Cienega and La Cieneguilla to ensure the safety of vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles throughout our community.  LCVA is also applying pressure to the City and County to properly pave and maintain roadways and drainage throughout the community.

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Wastewater Treatment Plant

LCVA supports the replacement of the Paseo Real Wastewater Reclamation Facility with a new facility which will screen more thoroughly for contaminants such as PFAS and heavy metals and which will bring the City of Santa Fe's treatment plant into compliance with Clean Water Act standards for releases of effluent water into the lower Santa Fe River.  This is important for the irrigators that use water from the lower Santa Fe River, for our children who play by the river, and for domestic animals and wildlife. 

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The LCVA also support the joint management of a wastewater treatment facility by Santa Fe County and the City of Santa Fe to ensure that Santa Fe County residents concerns are considered in decision-making going forward.

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COMMUNITY EVENTS

LCVA hosts various community events throughout the year.  For more information on events please click HERE.