Santa Fe Standard

Santa Fe Public Schools (SFPS), the Santa Fe Watershed Association (SFWA), and the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe unveiled a rain garden at Ramirez Thomas Elementary in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 16th.

Ramirez Thomas Elementary was identified as one of the schools most affected by extreme heat, according to the city’s Heat Island Study. The new rain garden helps address this issue by increasing vegetation, which reduces surface temperatures and improves the outdoor environment for students and staff.

Supported by the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe in honor of the 100th Burning of Zozobra in 2024, the project transformed an existing retention basin into a vibrant rain garden. This garden captures and utilizes stormwater runoff, reduces flood risks, and contributes to local environmental health.

Key features of the garden include capturing 90,000 gallons of stormwater annually with rock “Zuni Bowls” to reduce runoff and erosion, using native, drought-tolerant plants to support wildlife and thrive without irrigation, and providing educational and environmental benefits through bilingual signage, improved air quality, and added green space.

The initiative was led by Aaron Kauffman of Southwest Urban Hydrology, who collaborated with SFPS to design, install the rain garden, and educate students about passive irrigation systems. These systems use rainwater instead of traditional irrigation, promoting long-term sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Since 2012, these organizations, along with the City of Santa Fe and Southwest Urban Hydrology, have worked together on projects at Santa Fe High, NYE Early Childhood Center, and Early College Opportunities (ECO) High School, demonstrating a commitment to sustainable water management and climate resilience.

“The Santa Fe Watershed Association is thrilled to support these projects, which represent a powerful intersection of education, sustainability, and community well-being,” said Morika Vorenberg Hensley, SWA Executive Director. “By working together, we are building a greener, healthier future for Santa Fe’s students and residents.”