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Buckman board hears alternatives to keep sediment out of Rio Grande intake
Summary
At its Dec. 4 meeting in Santa Fe, the Buckman Direct Diversion board heard a technical presentation on Rio Grande sediment transport and intake redesign options — from top-of-column intakes and Obermeyer gates to “rainy wells” and bioacoustic fish fences — and directed staff to carry out a multi-criteria alternatives analysis.
On Dec. 4, 2025, the Buckman Direct Diversion Board in Santa Fe heard a detailed technical briefing from AECOM and Wright Water Engineers on sediment transport near the BDD Rio Grande intake and a range of design options intended to reduce sediment entering the diversion.
The presentation, given by John Sephora of AECOM and Wayne Lorenz of Wright Water Engineers, explained that sediment in the river is highly variable and concentrated near the bed. "The BDD intake is taking water from the entire water column, and mainly from the bottom," Sephora said, noting measurements that showed average suspended-sediment concentrations and large differences between the bottom and the top six inches of the water column. Wayne Lorenz added that…
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