The Lower Montoyas Bank Stabilization Project was completed on Thursday, Jan. 12, and celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony the next day.

The project was funded by a FEMA/DHSEM Pre-disaster Mitigation Grant in the amount of 3.2 million dollars with additional funding from state of New Mexico Capital Outlay Funds, the city of Rio Rancho and SSCAFCA Bond Funds at a total cost of $4.032 million.

Stabilization Project during construction phase.(Courtesy Photo)

Arroyo flooding has been an issue in Rio Rancho for a while and has caused some traffic issues on Northern and Southern Blvds. before.

In 2013, several residents who lived near the main roads had their homes flooded and were told to evacuate by firefighters.

The Arroyo de los Montoyas doesn’t fill up very often. This year rainfall hasn’t been too extreme.

According to a study conducted by SSCAFCA in 2021, Rio Rancho contains one big watershed spanning from the edge of Corrales to the northwest corner of Rio Rancho. Every year, that area accumulates an average annual precipitation of about 10 inches, with values ranging from 4-16 inches. Rainfall totals are at their worst during July and August.

Most of the arroyo is uninhabited, but the water flow is uninterrupted for miles because of that. The arroyo is, however, home to insects, lizards and burrowing owls.

Flood control’s goal was to increase the flood-carrying capacity and provide erosion protection along the Arroyo de los Montoyas between NM 528 and city of Rio Rancho/village of Corrales municipal boundary.

The project was designed by the South Sandoval County Arroyo Flood Control Authority and structurally engineered by Smith Engineering Company. It was built by Vital Consulting Group with project management and oversight provided by SSCAFCA.

The project was funded by a FEMA/DHSEM Pre-disaster Mitigation Grant in the amount of 3.2 million dollars with additional funding from state of New Mexico Capital Outlay Funds, the city of Rio Rancho and SSCAFCA Bond Funds.

Flood control says that future projects in the area such as the Paseo Del Volcan project will not be affected.

Much of the Montoyas Arroyo main stem between Northern Meadows and the Harvey Jones Channel will require bank protection and grade control as the arroyo moves closer to existing housing and roads.

The next priority section is near Broadmoor Blvd. and High Resort Blvd. as erosion is the worst there.