Governance of Buckman Direct Diversion (BDD) requires an unparalleled level of coordination and cooperation, since the project is owned jointly by the City of Santa Fe and Santa Fe County, with one private community, Las Campanas, as a limited partner. The BDD Board must work through a number of challenges related to jurisdictional issues and regularly joins together for the common good of the region.
The City of Santa Fe, Santa Fe County and Las Campanas joined together in the BDD Project when they were required to share a single diversion point for San Juan-Chama water rights and native Rio Grande water rights at a site near the old Buckman town site. This site, on U.S. Forest Service land, was selected to be the most feasible site for diversion of the river water after exhaustive studies. The U.S. Forest Service also required the three entities to underwrite the federal preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement.
The BDD Project Board was created by the City of Santa Fe and Santa Fe County via a “Joint Powers Agreement” (JPA) in 2005 to oversee implementation, build, and operation of the BDD Project. The City, County and their limited partner, Las Campanas, developed a “Facility Operating and Procedure Agreement” (FOPA) that governs how the BDD is operated. This agreement is overseen by the BDD Board.
The City of Santa Fe is currently authorized by the “Support Entity and Fiscal Services Agreement” (SEFSA) between the City and County to provide Administrative and Financial Support for the BDD. This agreement is revisited every five years. The City of Santa Fe is authorized by the Project Management and Fiscal Services Agreement (PMFSA) between the City and County to manage BDD.
PUBLIC NOTICE: Seeking Citizen Member and Alternate Member for Buckman Direct Diversion Board
The BDD Board is seeking interested Santa Fe community members to serve on the Board.
The BDD Board is a Joint Powers Act entity consisting of the City of Santa Fe and Santa Fe County and oversees the Buckman Direct Diversion Project. The Buckman Direct Diversion Project is a water supply project co-owned by the City and County. The project diverts Rio Grande surface water to supply drinking water to the City of Santa Fe and Santa Fe County. Las Campanas serves as a limited partner and receives raw water for irrigation of its facilities. The BDD Project was completed in 2010 and has been operational since 2011. The Board consists of five members: two City councilors, two County Commissioners and one citizen member.
The Board meets once per month, most usually on the first Thursday of the month. Additional special meetings may occur. The meetings have typically started at 4:00 p.m. but may begin earlier.
The Board seeks applicants for the citizen member position and for the alternate citizen member position. The alternate may participate in meetings but does not vote unless the citizen member is absent.
Please contact Bernardine Padilla at brpadilla@santafenm.gov or 505-955-4519 to receive a copy of the application. Applications must be received by 5 pm Friday, February 23, 2024.
Posted in the Santa Fe New Mexican’s Public Notice section.