Feds finish Rio Grande erosion protection project near Corrales
Federal crews completed work along the Rio Grande near Corrales to shield flood control systems and homes. The year-long construction effort safeguards local infrastructure alongside the river ecosystem. An evolving stretch of the river had put nearby areas at risk.
Runoff caused serious damage. “We had extensive bank erosion at this location. We lost approximately 140 feet of bank line,” said Robert Padilla, Supervisory Engineer for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, talking about the impacts of the 2023 spring runoff.
The changing water flow created hazards for neighboring facilities. “So the river is really in a disturbed condition right now, and it’s evolving in ways that are threatening local infrastructure,” said James Fluke, Senior Civil Engineer for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
The erosion threatened levees on both sides of a two-mile stretch of the river. Padilla described the area assets that faced danger.
“There’s homes; there’s water delivery infrastructure outside the levee system, so a lot of the motivation is to protect the community of Corrales, the pueblo of Sandia there,” said Padilla.
Workers began construction on the Corrales River Mile 199 Project in March. Crews temporarily rerouted the river to strengthen the riverbed. The three-phase project finished last month.
“Riverbank stabilization at the tow: we created this floodplain bench there, and some more stabilization,” said Padilla. He pointed out the physical improvements made to the site.
Fluke outlined the goals of the initiative. “For New Mexicans, it’s important to know that the projects that we’re working on are intended to benefit New Mexicans and to keep the river healthy for the species and for the local population and to function the way it should,” said Fluke.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation manages water resources and related infrastructure across the western states. The agency oversees river stabilization projects to maintain waterway flows.
The bureau said it will soon reseed areas near Corrales that were impacted by construction. The work continues efforts to support the surrounding ecosystem.
