WSP10134

• File Number: 8510.100.40
• Description: Rio Grande Compact Commission
• Basin: Rio Grande
• Water Division: 3
• Date: 1/1/1998
• Title: Report of the Civil Works Activities of the Albuquerque District Corps Engineers in the Rio Grande Basin During Calendar Year 1997
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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a distance of about 20 miles to approximately the AT &SF railroad bridge south of Belen. The Belen
Unit has a current estimated cost of$40 million. Construction of this unit is scheduled to begin in
2001.

b. Rio GTande Floodway. San Acacia to Bosque del Apache Unit. New Mexico. This
authorized project consists of the removal of 55 miles of existing spoil bank levee and the
construction of an engineered levee to a 100-year level of protection. The authorized levee is to be
located between the Low Flow Conveyance Channel and the Rio Grande floodway and was
authorized to be constructed from the San Acacia Diversion Dam downstream to Elephant Butte
Reservoir. However, Reclamation is currently considering relocating their Low Flow Conveyance
Channel landward, in the reach from the San Marcial railroad bridge downstream to Elephant Butte
Reservoir. Therefore, at this time, the Corps is only analyzing the construction of an engineered
levee from San Acacia to the San Marcial railroad bridge. The project, in addition to protecting
private and local government lands and improvements, also protects significant Federal facilities,
namely Reclamation's Low Flow Conveyance Channel and Bosque del Apache National Wildlife
Refuge. This resuhed in special cost sharing authorized by the Water Resources Development Act
(WRDA) of 1992. We are completing the supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SE1S)
and addressing the southwestem willow flycatcher and the Rio Grande silvery minnow, in accordance
with the Endangered Species Act. The proposed plan includes relocation of the San Marcial railroad
bridge and habitat improvements. These features are proposed to enhance the overall project and
address the endangered species concerns in this reach of the Rio Grande. The levee cross-section
is being redesigned to provide for seepage control of long duration flooding on the Rio Grande. The
draft SEIS and the redesign were completed in November 1997. Completion of the final documents
will follow public review of the SEIS in June 1998. These documents will update the project cost
as a basis for negotiation of the Project Cooperation Agreement. Construction award of the project
has been postponed by two factors. We have encountered uncertainty regarding the degree to which
the San Marcial railroad bridge is true flood control or environmental restoration. We are in the
process of resolving this with our higher authority. The second factor is a Corps-wide reduction in
FY98 and FY99 Construction General funds. Therefore, we do not expect construction award until
FYOO.

c. Alamosa. Colorado Local Protection Project. The Feasibility Report for a Local Protection
Project in Alamosa, Colorado was approved by the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors on
July 17, 1991, and the project was authorized for construction in the Water Resources Development
Act of 1992. A Project Cooperation Agreement between the city of Alamosa and the Corps was
executed in January, 1995. The project consists of a levee system that will provide 100-year
protection to Alamosa and East Alamosa. A construction contract was awarded to SEMA
construction out of Denver, Colorado in September 1997. Construction is scheduled to be complete
in November 1998.

d. Aceqp.ias Irrigation System. New Mexico. In 1997, there were no Corps acequia projects
constructed in the Rio Grande Basin. In FIscal Year (FY) 97, a total of $946,000 ofFederal funds
were allocated to the Acequia Program. An additional $1,000,000 was appropriated for the program
for FY 98. The state of New Mexico, the local sponsor, has provided $3.29 million through FY 97
for its share of the costs.

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