Los Alamos Canyon Watershed Restoration Project

  • Project valueNMRSP $300,000; County $250,000; DPU $250,000
  • Project scheduleCompletion scheduled for mid-June 2024
  • Contractor nameKeystone Restorative Ecology; Natural Channel Design
Reservoir Road

A River Stewardship Program (RSP) grant, sponsored by the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), was secured in 2021 to fund a project to restore the LA Canyon watershed both upstream and downstream of the LA reservoir. Stabilizing the watershed, using bio-engineering techniques, will enable the County to successfully stabilize the road and protect the pipeline & electric conduit between the Ice Rink Road and the reservoir. The project consists of environmental clearance, planning and permitting in FY2023 and construction in FY2024. Clearance, planning and permitting involves coordination between multiple agencies (NMED, US Forest Service, Army Corps of Engineers, DOE & LANL). Construction will include work to re-stabilize and restore the watershed, re-construct the watershed flow regime, dredge the reservoir, re-construct and protect the roadway and pipeline corridor and provide for some limited new amenities such as off-street parking and recreational facilities at the reservoir. Bio-engineering is a “softer” approach to watershed stabilization using natural materials and processes to help the watershed heal itself. The DPU and County are also providing some cost sharing funds to enable the success of this project.  

Budget: 

  • NMRSP $300,000 (FY2023)
  • County $250,000 (FY2024)
  • DPU $250,000 (FY2024)

 

Location

Los Alamos Reservoir,  87544  View Map

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