ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Lt. Col. Matthew Miller, commander, USACE-Albuquerque District, and Jacob Pauley, deputy, Planning Programs and Project Management, USACE-Albuquerque District, joined representatives from the Southern Sandoval County Arroyo Flood Control Authority, and local and state officials to celebrate the groundbreaking and start of construction on the Tortugas Arroyo Improvements Project, March 26, 2025.
The ceremony took place at the project site, which is approximately half a mile from the intersection of NM 528 and Don Julio Ct. in the Village of Corrales, N.M. The project site abuts the city limit of Rio Rancho, N.M.
Urban stormwater runoff is the largest contributor to pollutants in the nation’s waters. This project is designed to protect the Rio Grande from pollutants running off a Rio Rancho industrial park. It will remove floatable debris and sediment from the upstream industrial park. Sediment reduction will not only prevent urban runoff pollutants in sediment from reaching the river but will also allow for better downstream hydraulics by limiting sediment accumulation.
“Excited to be a part of this project,” said Miller. “Anything we can do to prevent contaminants from making their way to the river is something we can all get behind.”
Construction is expected to be completed by the end of summer.
“On time, on budget,” is how Shane Meihaus, project manager with the project’s contractor Compass Engineering, described the project during the groundbreaking.
The Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) between USACE-Albuquerque District and SSCAFCA, which provides federal support for the project’s construction, was signed Dec. 16, 2024.
The project is authorized under Section 595 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1999 (WRDA). The $3.8 million total project cost will be cost shared 75% federal, 25% SSCAFCA.
“It’s a great deal,” said Brian Sanchez, environmental infrastructure program manager, USACE-Albuquerque District. “It’s a great opportunity to continue to have this partnership and grow the community and do wonderful things for our partners out here.”
This is the second groundbreaking ceremony the Albuquerque District has participated in this year for a water quality improvement project with SSCAFCA.
“We’re really on a roll with these. It hasn’t been long since we’ve had one with SSCAFCA recently,” said Miller, referring to the Jan. 10 groundbreaking ceremony for the Middle Venada Arroyo Water Arroyo Quality Facility in Rio Rancho.