SSCAFCA signs agreement with USACE for water quality facility

RIO RANCHO — The Southern Sandoval County Arroyo Flood Control Authority and the United States Army Corps of Engineers signed an agreement of partnership in the Middle Venada Water Quality Facility project Oct. 8 at SSCAFCA’s office on Commercial Drive.

Lt. Col. Matthew T. Miller, who assumed command USACE-Albuquerque Distance, signed on behalf of the corps, and SSCAFCA Executive Engineer Dave Gattermann signed for the authority.

“Back in 2009, the national research council did a study on pollutants in the waterways of the United States, and urban areas are the largest contributor of pollutants in the United States,” Gattermann explained.

That does not include Rio Rancho’s urban areas, according to him, but he explained any city would contribute some pollutant to waterways.

“This is one of the main reasons why we’re doing this, to help limit the number of pollutants that actually get off the city into the river for storm waters at the bottom of the watershed,” he said.

USACE is contributing $1.5 million to the project’s construction. The project costs a total of $2.1 million. SSCAFCA will cover the remaining costs with state capital outlay and voter-approved bond funds.

The project itself lies southwest of the NM 528 and Enchanted Hills Boulevard intersection bordering both Rio Rancho and Bernalillo. Its purpose is to firstly protect the Rio Grande from pollutants running off of urban environment, including managing floatable debris, trash or pollutants. The second is to provide for sediment management on the watershed, reducing sediment transport to the river and limiting the quantity of sediment from entering the lower Venada arroyo reach.

Miller said the project would go into effect as soon as possible. “We’re not going to let this sit on a shelf,” he said.

For more information, visit sscafca.org.