ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Albuquerque District has scheduled a virtual public meeting for Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, beginning at 6:00 p.m. to discuss the status and future of the Conchas Lodge at Conchas Lake, N.M.
The meeting will be held virtually, and the link and call-in information will be available on the district’s website at: https://www.spa.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Recreation/Conchas-Lake/CL/ the morning of Dec. 11. The website also has photos of the Lodge and information on how to submit comments before and after the public meeting.
The Corps has completed its feasibility study on the restoration of Conchas Lodge and has found that renovation of the Lodge is not economically or structurally feasible.
During the meeting, members of the Albuquerque District’s Conchas Lodge project delivery team will share how the Corps came to this determination, the future of the Lodge, and how the public can be involved.
The slide presentation from the meeting will be available on the website by Dec. 13, 2024.
Approved by President Franklin Roosevelt on July 29, 1935, Conchas Dam was a Works Relief Program under the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act (ERAA) of 1935.
Later it was included in the Flood Control Act of 1936. In addition to flood control, the dam also aided in irrigation practices. The project was a joint effort of the Works Progress Administration, the Public Works Administration, and the Civilian Conservation Corps.
The National Park Service used material removed from the nearby town that housed workers during construction and incorporated them in the construction of the Lodge. Unlike the Corps’ administration and housing buildings, Conchas Lodge incorporated a combination of styles typical to the cultural history of the Southwestern United States.
The Lodge has been closed and disused since the departure of its last concessionaire in 2005 and has experienced ongoing deterioration in the years since. Additionally, the results of a Hazardous Materials Survey found asbestos containing materials, lead based paint, and lead containing materials present in various materials at Conchas Lodge and the surrounding buildings. The effects of abandonment and vandalism have become more apparent, raising concern about the Corps’ stewardship of Conchas Lodge.
The Corps is considering multiple options to document the history of Conchas Lodge. Current alternatives for consideration include documentation of oral and written histories, interpretive signage, education products, and markers. Additional public input will be essential for making an informed decision about preserving the history of Conchas Lodge and meeting obligations under the National Historic Preservation Act.
Get the latest updates and news on what’s happening at Conchas Lake on the official Conchas Lake Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ConchasLake.
More information about the public meeting and how to comment is on the Albuquerque District’s website: https://www.spa.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Recreation/Conchas-Lake/CL/.
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