Southern Sandoval County Arroyo Flood Control Authority

07/31/2026

On Wednesday, we cut the ribbon on the Athens & Trevino channel improvements project.

The Trevino channel is buried deep in the urban core of the city and provides drainage for city streets and neighborhoods. Due to the urbanized nature of the runoff entering the channel, it was severely incised, destabilizing the banks and hindering maintenance activities. The Trevino section of the project placed the runoff into buried pipes which stabilized the banks, provided maintenance access, and a pedestrian pathway.

The Athens channel connects drainage from Athens Court to the Lisbon Channel. During intense rain events Athens Court and a section of Lisbon Drive would be inundated with water and sediment. The Athens section of the project increased the drainage capacity by repaving the road, installing curb and gutter, storm drain inlets, and buried pipes.

Pictured below, cutting the ribbon on this project, from left to right:

Peter Prukop, Construction Manager, SSCAFCA; Elizabeth Ramsell, House 60 District Legislative Aide to Representative Joshua Hernandez; Andy Edmondson, Facility Operations Director, SSCAFCA; Ron Abramshe, Chair of the Board of Directors, SSCAFCA; Esqui Padilla, Salls Brothers Construction; Senator Jay Block Lt Col, USAF (Retired) Block, Councilor Deb Dapson; Bel Marquez, PE (Ret.), PMP, CFM, Board of Directors, SSCAFCA and Dave Gatterman, Executive Engineer, SSCAFCA

07/28/2026

Athens and Trevino Channel Improvements Ribbon Cutting
Wednesday, July 29th, 2026 @ 4:30 pm @ Athens Ct. in Rio Rancho

07/28/2026

Happy World Conservation Day! 🌍

Let's celebrate by taking action to protect our environment and raise awareness about the importance of protecting our planet’s natural resources. Join us in our mission to thriving!

Learn more about how to here:
https://keeptheriogrand.org/

06/24/2026

Arroyos serve a critical purpose in our city, preventing flooding by steering rainwater away from our homes. This also means that they are essentially a highway to the Rio Grande. Make sure to discard debris, litter, and yard waste properly to keep these ditches and the Rio clean.

05/27/2026

Check out the SSCAFCA Near Real Time Rainfall page on our website:

https://sscafca.edacnm.org/

05/26/2026

Lats week we cut the ribbon on the Lisbon Channel Improvements Project in the City of Rio Rancho, and also unveiled art work on the dissipators.

The Lisbon Channel Improvements Project was designed and constructed to protect adjacent development and infrastructure from lateral and vertical erosion. The project was engineered by Wilson & Company, Inc., Engineers and Architects and built by Compass Engineering & Construction Services, LLC

Artists Albert Rosales and Luke Catanach painted the seven energy dissipators on the Lisbon Channel with images of animals that live in or make their way through our arroyos.

Pictured below from left to right: Shane Meihaus, Compass Engineering & Construction Services, LLC; David Gatterman, Executive Engineer, SSCAFCA; Peter Prukop, Construction Manager, SSCAFCA; Deb Dapson, Councilor, City of Rio Rancho; Eddie Paulsgrove, Director, SSCAFCA; Bel Marquez, PE (Ret.), PMP, CFM, Director, SSCAFCA, Paul Wymer, Mayor, City of Rio Rancho; Christopher A. Perea, Wilson & Company, Inc., Engineers and Architects; Yolanda Buckles, NMDHSEM; Jeremy Klass, Ph.D. NMDHSEM; and Lead Artist Albert Rosales

05/18/2026

Ribbon Cutting for the Lisbon Channel Improvements Project on Tuesday May 19th at 10:00 am at the Lisbon Channel in Rio Rancho.

In conjunction with the ribbon cutting, we will be unveiling artwork that two local artists created on the energy dissipators in the channel – a great way to merge functional infrastructure with creative expression.

05/01/2026

04/24/2026

🌲 Arbor Day at SSCAFCA started with the Sandoval Extension Master Gardeners tending to the Pollinator Demonstration Garden and the crew from Santiago's Native Landscape planting a Modesto ash. Happy Arbor Day!

Santiago's Native Landscape Services, LLC

04/10/2026

On Tuesday April 7th, the Southern Sandoval County Arroyo Flood Control Authority (SSCAFCA) and the Army Corps of Engineers cut the ribbon on the Middle Venada Water Quality Facility project which provides stormwater quality treatment for the Venada watershed west of NM528. The facility is designed to remove floatable debris (e.g. Styrofoam cups, water bottles, etc.), floatable liquids (e.g. oils, fats, etc.), and bed load sediment (which can carry contaminants such as metals) from stormwater prior to be being discharged to the Rio Grande. This treatment is accomplished using inverted ports that allow water to back up behind the water quality structure and discharge, using a siphon effect, from below the water surface to the downstream side of the structure. Bed load sediments are moved upstream of the structure by creating a large settling pond, slowing the velocity of the stormwater, allowing the heavier sediments to settle out.

This project was funded by US Army Corps of Engineers using Section 595 authority from the Water Resources Development Act, a capital outlay appropriation from the State of New Mexico Legislature, and local bond fund proceeds from SSCAFCA’s bonding authority.



Pictured from right to left: Andrés Sanchez, Design Services Director, SSCAFCA; Deb Dapson, District 1 City Councilor, City of Rio Rancho; Senator Cindy Nava, NM State Legislature; Lt. Col. Matthew T. Miller, USACE; Bel Marquez, PE (Ret.), PMP, CFM, Chair Pro Tem, SSCAFCA; Andy Edmondson, Facilities Operations Director, SSCAFCA; Eddie Paulsgrove, Board Member, SSCAFCA; Cynthia Longley, CBKN DIRTWORKS INC; Dave Gatterman, Executive Engineer, SSCAFCA