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NMDOT outlines multi-agency plan to address I‑25 flooding south of Belen
Summary
NMDOT officials told commissioners flooding and sedimentation from upstream drainage and orchards are eroding slopes and occasionally overtopping I‑25; the department proposed coordinated debris removal, channel work and partnerships with newly formed flood authority and local entities and offered technical and funding support.
New Mexico Department of Transportation officials presented Feb. 4 on recurring flooding and sedimentation that threatens safety on I‑25 south of Belen and outlined potential funding and operational partnerships.
NMDOT Assistant District Engineer Greg Clark and Secretary Ricky Serna described sediment-laden sheet flow that originates above the escarpment, deposits in the MRGCD (Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District) ditch and continues through pecan orchards, eroding roadside swales and occasionally overtopping the interstate. Clark said the problem combines off‑site flows and sand deposition that reduce ditch capacity and cause erosion into DOT right-of-way.
The department proposed a multi-pronged approach: reestablish roadside swales, remove spoils and silt, widen channels, and partner with eligible quasi-government entities (including a recently formed flood control authority and property owners) to reuse material for berms and flood mitigation. Serna said NMDOT could help secure federal or congressionally supported funding and provide permitting and technical support; Clark noted reports identifying the issue date back to about 2017.
Commissioners emphasized coordination, liability concerns and opportunities to align with Congressman Vasquez’s office for federal funding. Clark and Serna confirmed NMDOT’s willingness to meet county staff, provide engineer estimates and participate in joint project planning.
Next steps: NMDOT offered to continue coordination, help prepare reports and estimates, and work with county staff and the new flood authority on a shared plan to reduce sediment and keep water off the roadway.
