Adobe Whitewater Club of New Mexico

AWC — now an ACA Paddle America Club

News - Updated March 07, 2004
Various items of interest to paddlers . . .

Bosque Restoration, Middle Rio Grande Reconnaissance Study 

by Peter Coha

At the 11/19/2002 AWC meeting, April Fitzner, from the Corp of Army Engineers, presented an informative overview of the Bosque Restoration project. The Corp, the federal sponsor, is collaborating with City of Albuquerque Open Spaces and the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, as the local project sponsors. The project’s objective: A long term effort to restore the function and value of greater Middle Rio Grande Bosque Eco-system.

Three projects are currently in process:

Reconnaissance: A general study of the habitat enhancements and passive recreational use of the Bosque, adjacent to the City of Albuquerque between the North and South Diversion Channels.

Ecosystem Revitalization at Route 66: A feasibility study for ecosystem restoration and passive recreational opportunities along the Rio Grande Bosque, from I-40 to Bridge Street.

Albuquerque Tingley Beach/Bio Park: Restoration of the Tingley Pond area, located south of Central Avenue along the Rio Grande.

Ms Fitzner provided a good explanation of use and impact of the Jetty Jacks. Originally the Rio Grande was “a braided aggrading stream meandering freely across a wide floodplain much larger than the current floodway ecosystem.” The Jetty Jacks controlled the wide shallow braided river of the 60’s when there was a high amount of sentiment in the river. Now the river has been “tamed” by Cochiti and Jemez Dams. The Dams provide “flood and sentiment control” and “have contributed in part to the degradation of the ecosystem.” The jetty jacks helped create fixed banks and channel incision occurred.  “The net effect was an end to the overbank flooding necessary to regenerate the cottonwood forest.” This gave rise to the takeover of exotic riparian species.

As part of the restoration, the project has already started removing some jetty jacks and evaluating. The next step is removing non-native species and getting native species to come back. They are still soliciting input on habitat enhancements and passive recreational use.

As with many planning projects, public input is encouraged. (Meetings held in Aug, with more scheduled in Jan’03). The Corp is interested in pursuing collaborative efforts with other groups. The AWC members in attendance provided input on boating access locations and discussed the possibility of creating other features, as well. We obtained possible leads on other contacts for providing project input that may benefit club members. The club will need to actively work these.

Visit the Bosque Restoration web site at: www.bosquerevive.com for additional details or a copy of the Section 905(b) Analysis. Project comments can be made or questions asked through the web site.  Or visit the Club’s web site: www.adobeww.org for additional info

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