Projects
PUBLIC SCOPING MEETING
Supplemental Watershed Plan-Environmental Assessment for the Upper Rio Penasco Sites 1, 2, and 3A Dam Rehabilitation Project
Sponsored by the Otero Soil and Water Conservation District
The United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), in cooperation with the Otero Soil and Water Conservation District, as the project Sponsor, will be preparing a Supplemental Watershed Plan-Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Upper Rio Penasco Sites 1, 2, and 3A Dam Rehabilitation Project. The Supplemental Watershed Plan-EA will be prepared and funded in accordance with the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (PL 83-566), which provides for cooperation between the Federal Government and the States and their political subdivisions to address resource concerns due to erosion, floodwater, and sediment and provide for improved utilization of the land and water resources. The project will identify and evaluate alternatives to bring the dams at Sites 1, 2, and 3A into compliance with current NRCS and State of New Mexico dam safety standards.
Current Project Status
Currently the NRCS and the Sponsor are initiating a scoping process to provide the community with an
opportunity to comment on issues, potential impacts, or alternatives that you would like to see considered in the Supplemental Plan-EA.
How can I learn more and provide comments?
To facilitate the community’s participation, NRCS will hold a Public Scoping Meeting Tuesday, January 28th, 2025 at 6:30 PM to provide more information about the project and to collect written public comments. Both in-person and virtual attendance options are available. Presentations will be given throughout the meeting to further describe the PL 83-566 Program, gather feedback from attendees, answer questions, and collect any written comments. Details on how to attend the Public Scoping Meeting can be found below:
In-Person Public Scoping Meeting
Mayhill Community Center
15 Civic Center Drive
Mayhill, NM 88339
Virtual Public Scoping Meeting
Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87934943843
Meeting ID: 879 3494 3843
Phone #: 1-719-359-4580
Comments can be submitted in any one of the following ways:
· Submit written comments at the in-person Public Scoping Meeting
· Mail written comments to:
USDA NRCS-New Mexico
Attn: Merceidez Fabok
100 Sun Avenue Northeast, Suite 602
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109-3434
· Email your comments to: Merceidez.Fabok@usda.gov
All comments must be postmarked by Thursday, February 27th, 2025.
Additional information can be found on the NRCS website: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/watershed-and-flood-prevention-operations-wfpo-program/new-mexico/watershed
Capital Outlay - Dam Restoration
Project Overview: The Otero SWCD proposes to extend the useful life of the three Upper Penasco Dams and address required maintenance issues. The dams were built in 1960 to contain a 25-year frequency storm with a 50-year life span. Working in conjunction with the US Forest Service (the dams are on forest service lands) we will hire a contractor(s) to bring the dam to near as-built condition. Phase one is complete. Work will resume after monsoon season.
Watershed Restoration
Small dams can be temporary or permanent; they are constructed across a drainage ditch, swale, or channel to lower the speed of concentrated flows for a certain design range of storm events. A dam can be built from wood logs, stone, pea gravel-filled sandbags or bricks and cement. Slow runoff speeds will reduce erosion as well as gully erosion in the channel and allows the sediment to establish.
Erosion Control Structure DiagramSmall Conservation Projects—Cost Share Program
Otero SWCD has a cost share program for small conservation projects. Any landowner addressing a natural resource concern, who can prove the ownership or lease on land within the Otero SWCD boundary and is a current Otero SWCD cooperator may apply.
Small Conservation Project ApplicationNM Bureau of Geology/NM Tech Projects
Sacramento Mountain Safety Brochure
