RIO RANCHO, N.M. – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Albuquerque District Commander Lt. Col. Matthew Miller and other district employees joined officials from the Southern Sandoval County Arroyo Flood Control Authority, the city of Rio Rancho, N.M., and New Mexico state representatives to celebrate the groundbreaking and beginning of construction on the Middle Venada Arroyo Water Arroyo Quality Facility, Jan. 10, 2025.
The project will help reduce environmental impacts of storm water run-off from the City of Rio Rancho and the Town of Bernalillo into the Rio Grande. Floatable debris and sediment will be removed from urban stormwater flows. Sediment reduction not only prevents urban runoff pollutants in sediment from reaching the river but will also allow for better downstream hydraulics by limiting sediment accumulation in the Lower Venada.
The reduction in downstream sediment loading and cleaner stormwater runoff discharged into the Rio Grande also benefits the community and improves environmental impacts to the Rio Grande ecosystem.
The $3.6 million project is expected to begin construction later this month and be completed in June 2025.