Albuquerque, NM - The Rio Grande Water Festival, a free event will be held on Saturday, April 22, 2017 on Earth Day in the Sawmill Village plaza located within the Sawmill Community Land Trust.
The Rio Grande Water Festival will celebrate the completion of Mill Pond Refuge and acknowledge its supporters, as well as be a celebration of community with live music, food, flamenco dance performance, and slam poetry. Activities for children and adults alike will be focused on issues of sustainability, and include making art with recycled materials and seed balls.
Mill Pond Refuge is possible due to the collaboration between The New Mexico Water Collaborative, the Sawmill Community Land Trust and Pacificap Properties Inc.
Additional funding comes from Bernalillo County Commissioner Debbie O'Malley, Councilor Isaac Benton who will be present for the Thanking Ceremony as well as a representative of Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham and New Mexico Environment Secretary Butch Tongate.
Mill Pond Refuge is an urban green space(1.5 acre detention pond) situated in the middle of the Sawmill Community Land Trust. It uses recycled wastewater from the nearby Madera Crossing apartment building which treats 2000 gallons daily of toilet flushing water on site. "Mill Pond Refuge demonstrates a solution to water scarcity in our state by recycling wastewater and reusing it to create an urban park. It builds on the practical need to accommodate storm water, as well as creates a wildlife habitat and an amenity for the whole community to enjoy," said Yvette Tovar, Executive Director of The New Mexico Water Collaborative. With a perimeter walking path, benches and a great view Mill Pond Refuge demonstrates a zero water footprint green space in an urban setting.
The New Mexico Water Collaborative provides resources to support the implementation of water conservation and reclamation strategies, and to educate our communities in New Mexico about critical water issues.
Contact: Yvette Tovar Phone: 505-563-0615
Email: yvette.tovar@nmwatercollaborative.org Website: www.nmwatercollaborative.org