Misplaced Pages

#722277

78-628: The El Vado dam was originally built by the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District as a storage facility for irrigation water to be used in the Middle Rio Grande Basin . Construction began in 1933 and the dam was completed in 1935. Impoundment of the reservoir, which filled by 1936, inundated El Vado, the largest town of Rio Arriba County . The town's name meant "the crossing" in Spanish, and it

156-433: A B-36 accidentally dropped a Mark 17 nuclear bomb 4.5 miles from the control tower while landing at Kirtland Air Force Base . Only the conventional trigger detonated, as the bomb was unarmed. These incidents were not reported as they were classified as secret for decades. Following the end of World War II , population shifts as well as suburban development, urban sprawl and gentrification, Albuquerque's downtown entered

234-596: A cultural area and center of commerce. It is referred to as " Old Town Albuquerque " or simply "Old Town". Historically it was sometimes referred to as "La Placita" ( Little Plaza in Spanish). On the north side of Old Town Plaza is San Felipe de Neri Church . Built in 1793, it is one of the oldest surviving buildings in the city. After the New Mexico Territory became a part of the United States in

312-513: A famous symbol of the city for decades. Outdated, it was razed in 1970 and the site was converted to a parking lot. In 2002, the Alvarado Transportation Center was built on the site in a style resembling the old landmark. The large metro station functions as the downtown headquarters for the city's transit department. It also serves as an intermodal hub for local buses, Greyhound buses, Amtrak passenger trains, and

390-740: A framework for a more balanced and sustainable approach to urban growth. Urban sprawl is limited on three sides—by the Sandia Pueblo to the north, the Isleta Pueblo and Kirtland Air Force Base to the south, and the Sandia Mountains to the east. Suburban growth continues at a strong pace to the west, beyond the Petroglyph National Monument, once thought to be a natural boundary to sprawl development. Because of less-costly land and lower taxes, much of

468-565: A hotel. Many Anglo merchants, mountain men, and settlers slowly filtered into Albuquerque, creating a major mercantile commercial center in Downtown Albuquerque . From this commercial center on July 4, 1882, Park Van Tassel became the first to fly a balloon in Albuquerque with a landing at Old Town. This was the first balloon flight in the New Mexico Territory. Due to a rising rate of violent crime, gunman Milt Yarberry

546-485: A period of decline. Many historic buildings were razed in the 1960s and 1970s to make way for new plazas, high-rises, and parking lots as part of the city's urban renewal phase. As of 2010 , only recently has Downtown Albuquerque come to regain much of its urban character, mainly through the construction of many new loft apartment buildings and the renovation of historic structures such as the KiMo Theater . During

624-559: A series of floods in the 1950s, passage of the "Arroyo Flood Control Act of 1963" provided for the construction of a series of concrete diversion channels. The network of channels was built by the Army Corps of Engineers during the 1960s and early 1970s. Iconic urban wildlife includes the roadrunner , Gunnison's prairie dog , coyote , and New Mexico whiptail lizard. The bosque is a popular destination for wildlife viewing, with opportunities to see porcupines and sandhill cranes in

702-607: A set of outlet works , capable of carrying 6,850 cubic feet per second (194 m/s). Unlike most dams, El Vado Dam has a faceplate made of steel instead of concrete or rock. The dam has been leaking for decades as water has been seeping through the faceplate, undermining the dam's foundation. Owned by the United States Bureau of Reclamation , the El Vado dam serves for storage and flood-control purposes. It incorporates an 8 megawatt power generation facility owned by

780-730: Is also a Laotian American temple and a sizable community in parts of this area as well as around Uptown. There is also an African American community around Highland. The Four Hills neighborhoods are located in and around the foothills on the outskirts of Southeast Albuquerque. The vast newer subdivision of Volterra lies west of the Four Hills area. Popular urban neighborhoods that can be found in Southeast Albuquerque include Nob Hill , Ridgecrest, Parkland Hills, Hyder Park, and University Heights. Traditionally consisting of agricultural and rural areas and suburban neighborhoods,

858-724: Is land and 1.8 square miles (4.7 km ) , or 0.96%, is water. Albuquerque lies within the fertile Rio Grande Valley with its Bosque forest, in the center of the Albuquerque Basin , flanked on the eastern side by the Sandia Mountains and to the west by the West Mesa . Located in central New Mexico, the city also has noticeable influences from the adjacent Colorado Plateau semi-desert, New Mexico Mountains forested with juniper and pine, and Southwest plateaus and plains steppe ecoregions, depending on where one

SECTION 10

#1732781036723

936-557: Is located in north-central New Mexico. To its east are the Sandia–Manzano Mountains . The Rio Grande flows north to south through its center, while the West Mesa and Petroglyph National Monument make up the western part of the city. Albuquerque has one of the highest elevations of any major city in the U.S., ranging from 4,900 feet (1,500 m) above sea level near the Rio Grande to over 6,700 feet (2,000 m) in

1014-538: Is located. Albuquerque has one of the highest and most varied elevations of any major city in the United States, though the effects of this are greatly tempered by its southwesterly continental position. The elevation of the city ranges from 4,949 feet (1,508 m) above sea level near the Rio Grande (in the Valley) to 6,165 feet (1,879 m) in the foothill areas of Sandia Heights . At

1092-422: Is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico . Founded in 1706 as La Villa de Alburquerque by Santa Fe de Nuevo México governor Francisco Cuervo y Valdés , and named in honor of Francisco Fernández de la Cueva, 10th Duke of Alburquerque and Viceroy of New Spain , it served as an outpost on El Camino Real linking Mexico City to the northernmost territories of New Spain . Located in

1170-519: The Albuquerque Basin , the city is flanked by the Sandia Mountains to the east and the West Mesa to the west, with the Rio Grande and bosque flowing north-to-south through the middle of the city. According to the 2020 census , Albuquerque had 564,559 residents, making it the 32nd-most populous city in the United States and the fourth largest in the Southwest . The Albuquerque metropolitan area had 955,000 residents in 2023, and forms part of

1248-621: The Albuquerque International Sunport , the elevation is 5,355 feet (1,632 m) above sea level. The Rio Grande is classified, like the Nile , as an "exotic" river. The New Mexico portion of the Rio Grande lies within the Rio Grande Rift Valley, bordered by a system of faults , including those that lifted up the adjacent Sandia and Manzano Mountains , while lowering the area where

1326-846: The Albuquerque–Santa Fe–Los Alamos combined statistical area , which had a population of 1,162,523. Albuquerque is a hub for technology, fine arts, and media companies . It is home to several historic landmarks , the University of New Mexico , the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta , the Gathering of Nations , the New Mexico State Fair , and a diverse restaurant scene , which features both New Mexican and global cuisine . Petroglyphs carved into basalt in

1404-673: The Civil War , Albuquerque was occupied for a month in February 1862 by Confederate troops under General Henry Hopkins Sibley . He soon afterward advanced with his main body into northern New Mexico. During his retreat from Union troops into Texas , he made a stand on April 8, 1862, and fought the Battle of Albuquerque against a detachment of Union soldiers commanded by Colonel Edward R. S. Canby . This daylong engagement at long range led to few casualties. The residents of Albuquerque aided

1482-485: The Heron Dam could pass unimpeded through the dam. The capacity of the El Vado outlet works was increased to pass 6,600 cubic feet (190 m) per second. The El Vado dam is 229.5 feet (70.0 m) high and 1,326 feet (404 m) long, and holds 196,500 acre-feet (242,400,000 m) of water. It has a concrete lined spillway capable of discharging 17,800 cubic feet per second (500 m/s) of water. The dam also has

1560-408: The Isleta Pueblo and consultants have been developing a plan to reduce the risk of fire, prioritize fire fighting to focus on areas dominated by native vegetation, replant cottonwood and willows along the banks, restore riparian grasslands and search for ways to better manage the dam. During and after World War II , the city of Albuquerque has grown steadily. With growing urbanization, the role of

1638-585: The Maxwell Museum of Anthropology , University of New Mexico , the Uptown area, which includes three shopping malls ( Coronado Center , ABQ Uptown, and Winrock Town Center ), Hoffmantown, Journal Center, and Cliff's Amusement Park are all in this quadrant. Some of the most affluent neighborhoods in the city are here, including: High Desert , Tanoan, Sandia Heights, and North Albuquerque Acres. Parts of Sandia Heights and North Albuquerque Acres are outside

SECTION 20

#1732781036723

1716-555: The Rail Runner commuter rail line. In the early days of transcontinental air service, Albuquerque was an important stop on many transcontinental air routes, earning it the nickname "Crossroads of the Southwest". During the early 20th century, New Mexico's dry climate attracted many tuberculosis patients to the city in search of a cure; this was before penicillin was found to be effective. Several sanitaria were developed on

1794-609: The Rio Grande watershed. 24% of the 3,755,307,600 cubic feet (106,338,470 m ) annual supply is allocated to the MRGCD, while 56% is allocated to the city of Albuquerque. River volumes peak between March and June due to the spring runoff, but demand for irrigation peaks between July and October. Both the Isleta diversion dam just south of Albuquerque and the San Acacia diversion dam further south are able to route all water out of

1872-851: The Rio Grande Nature Center , and the Rio Grande Valley State Park . The Conservancy collaborated in the Albuquerque Overbank Project, which started in 1998, with organizations such as the Department of Biology of the University of New Mexico , the Bureau of Reclamation, the City of Albuquerque Open Space Division and others. This project cleared an attached bar of a dense 1.4 hectares (3.5 acres) stand of Russian olive, lowered part of

1950-465: The Rio Puerco confluence south of Belen . Of these, 12 or 13 were densely clustered near present-day Bernalillo , and the remainder were spread out to the south. Two Tiwa pueblos lie on the outskirts of present-day Albuquerque. Both have been continuously inhabited for many centuries: Sandia Pueblo was founded in the 14th century, and Pueblo of Isleta is documented in written records since

2028-475: The West Mesa to serve TB patients. Presbyterian Hospital and St. Joseph Hospital, two of the largest hospitals in the Southwest, had their beginnings during this period. Influential New Deal –era governor Clyde Tingley and famed Southwestern architect John Gaw Meem were among those who came to New Mexico seeking recovery from TB. The first travelers on Route 66 appeared in Albuquerque in 1926. Soon dozens of motels, restaurants, and gift shops sprouted along

2106-476: The 21st century, Albuquerque's population has continued to grow rapidly. The population of the city proper was estimated at 564,559 in 2020, 528,497 in 2009, and 448,607 in the 2000 census. During 2005 and 2006, the city celebrated its tricentennial with a diverse program of cultural events. The passage of the Planned Growth Strategy in 2002–2004 was the community's strongest effort to create

2184-624: The Bureau of Reclamation took responsibility for El Vado dam and for maintaining the Rio Grande river channel from Velarde to the narrows of Elephant Butte Reservoir. The Corps of Engineers maintains Cochiti Dam. The Conservancy remains responsible for the three diversion dams and all the irrigation facilities. As of 2012 the Conservancy was responsible for an area of 278,000 acres (113,000 ha), of which 128,787 acres (52,118 ha) could be irrigated and 70,000 acres (28,000 ha) were in fact being irrigated by 11,000 farmers. The Conservancy

2262-646: The Cochiti, Angostura, Isleta, and San Acacia diversion dams to channel water into irrigation canals for each section of the river. 180 miles (290 km) of new main canal were built and 294 miles (473 km) of lateral ditches in addition to 214 miles (344 km) of existing laterals. 341 miles (549 km) of drainage canal were built to lower the water table. 118,000 acres (48,000 ha) were developed, of which 20,700 acres (8,400 ha) were Indian lands. 59,159 acres (23,941 ha) were being irrigated. The initial construction project had been rushed. Few of

2340-578: The Conservancy has gradually shifted from supporting agriculture to preserving the riverside ecology and helping to recharge the Albuquerque aquifer. In the Albuquerque metropolitan area, three quarters of the 316 miles (509 km) of channels are used for recreational purposes, and in the Conservancy as a whole one third of the waterways have recreational use. Ditches are used as horse, bike and running trails, wildlife habitat and fishing holes. The Conservancy owns and manages 30,000 acres (12,000 ha) of bosque including Tingley Park , San Gabriel Park ,

2418-740: The Corps of Engineers. The suit claimed violation of the Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental Policy Act . The Conservancy became involved in 2002. Eventually Rio Grande Silvery Minnow v. Bureau of Reclamation was dismissed in 2010. However, the Department of Reclamation is working on various improvements to management of the river to assist in improving the water supply and habitats of both species. Irrigated agriculture does not contribute noticeable amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus to

El Vado Dam - Misplaced Pages Continue

2496-681: The El Vado Dam and the diversion dams. The Cochiti Diversion Dam was inundated by the newly built Cochiti Storage Dam , completed in 1975. The project also undertook extensive work on the river channel, straightening and strengthened the banks and clearing the floodway. In 1971 a dam was completed on the Rio Chama to hold water brought from the San Juan River through a tunnel. With the Middle Rio Grande Project

2574-479: The Incorporated County of Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities. El Vado Lake, the reservoir formed by the dam, has 3,200 acres (1,300 ha) and is surrounded by El Vado Lake State Park . The lake is a popular location for swimming, fishing and recreational boating. Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD) was formed in 1925 to manage

2652-669: The Max Q commercial district, Albuquerque International Sunport , American Society of Radiologic Technologists , Central New Mexico Community College , UNM South Campus , Presbyterian Hospital Duke City BMX, University Stadium , Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park , The Pit , Mesa del Sol , Isleta Amphitheater , Netflix Studios , Isleta Resort & Casino, the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History , New Mexico Veterans Memorial, and Talin Market are all located in

2730-609: The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District was made in 1923, but failed due to legal problems. The backers persisted, and the district was successfully established as of 16 August 1925. The goals of the Conservancy were to protect the villages in the valley from floods, drain the swamps and provide water for irrigating the farms. In most areas the plan was to reduce the water table to 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 1.8 m). Irrigation water would be provided for 128,787 acres (52,118 ha) of arable land. 18% of

2808-627: The Republican Union to rid the city of the occupying Confederate troops. When the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad arrived in 1880, it bypassed the Plaza, locating the passenger depot and railyards about 2 miles (3 km) east in what quickly became known as New Albuquerque or New Town. The railway company built a hospital for its workers that was later used as a juvenile psychiatric facility. It has since been converted to

2886-512: The Rio Grande valley had developed initial irrigation systems in the Rio Grande valley by the 10th century AD. These systems used a main acequia (shared irrigation ditch) into which water was diverted from the river, with secondary ditches leading off the main channel named for specific families. Maintenance of the main acequia would be a community responsibility. The Spanish arrived in New Mexico in 1598, and used Indian labor to extend

2964-511: The Sandia foothills in the east. The Rio Grande's bosque has been significantly reduced and its natural flood cycle disrupted by dams built further upstream. A corridor of bosque surrounding the river within the city has been preserved as Rio Grande Valley State Park . A few remaining natural arroyos provide riparian habitat within the city, though natural arroyos draining into the Rio Grande have largely been replaced with concrete channels. After

3042-594: The Southeast quadrant of Albuquerque. The southern half of the International District lies along Central Ave and Louisiana Blvd. Here, many immigrant communities have settled and thrive, having established numerous businesses. Albuquerque's Vietnamese American community is partly business-centered in this area, as well as the Eubank, Juan Tabo, and Central areas, and other parts of Albuquerque. There

3120-554: The Southwest quadrant comprises the south-end of Downtown Albuquerque, the Barelas neighborhood, the rapidly growing west side, and the community of South Valley, New Mexico , often called "The South Valley". The quadrant extends all the way to the Isleta Indian Reservation. Newer suburban subdivisions on the West Mesa near the southwestern city limits join homes of older construction, some dating as far back as

3198-415: The U.S. Census. By 1990, it was 384,736 and in 2007 it was 518,271. In June 2007, Albuquerque was listed as the sixth fastest-growing city in the United States. In 1990, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Albuquerque's population as 34.5% Hispanic and 58.3% non-Hispanic white. On April 11, 1950, a USAF B-29 bomber carrying a nuclear weapon crashed into a mountain near Manzano Base . On May 22, 1957,

El Vado Dam - Misplaced Pages Continue

3276-401: The area, such as Barelas , Corrales , Isleta Pueblo , Los Ranchos , and Sandia Pueblo . After gaining independence in 1821, Mexico established a military presence here. The town of Alburquerque was built in the traditional Spanish villa pattern: a central plaza surrounded by government buildings, homes, and a church. This central plaza area has been preserved and is open to the public as

3354-463: The bar to promote flooding, and built channel on the bar to encourage growth of cottonwood and willows. The changing ecology of the site is being carefully monitored, and initial results have been very encouraging, apparently restoring native plants and making the water flow more variable in response to discharges. A 2003 report noted that there had been silting upstream of the Acacia diversion dam but

3432-573: The city into quadrants. This quadrant has been experiencing a housing expansion since the late 1950s. It abuts the base of the Sandia Mountains and contains portions of the foothills neighborhoods, which are significantly higher in elevation than the rest of the city. Running from Central Ave and the Railrunner tracks to the Sandia Peak Aerial Tram , this is the largest quadrant both geographically and by population. Martineztown,

3510-567: The city limits proper. A few houses in the farthest reach of this quadrant lie in the Cibola National Forest , just over the line into Sandoval County . This quadrant contains historic Old Town Albuquerque , which dates to the 18th century, as well as the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center . The area has a mixture of commercial districts and low to high-income neighborhoods. Northwest Albuquerque includes

3588-476: The city to make an annual holiday snowman. Albuquerque is geographically divided into four unequal quadrants that are officially part of mailing addresses, placed immediately after the street name. They are Northeast (NE), Northwest (NW), Southeast (SE), and Southwest (SW). Albuquerque's official quadrant system uses Central Ave for the north–south division and the railroad tracks for the east–west division. I-25 and I-40 are also sometimes used informally to divide

3666-467: The dam altogether. Again, it suggested emplacement of Gradient Restoration Facilities to control erosion as sediment above and below the dam returned to normal levels. Citations Sources Albuquerque Albuquerque ( / ˈ æ l b ə k ɜːr k i / AL -bə-kur-kee ; Spanish: [alβuˈkeɾke] ), also known as ABQ , Burque , and the Duke City ,

3744-421: The ditches were cemented, and maintenance was neglected. Salt grass, weeds and bush began to encroach. Sediment continued to build up in the main river bed, making it possible that the river would continue to rise and would render the work that had been done pointless, with waterlogging returning. Another problem was that the Conservancy was charging assessments based on the benefits delivered. These were highest for

3822-545: The early 17th century. It was then chosen as the site of the San Agustín de la Isleta Mission , a Catholic mission . The historic Navajo , Apache , and Comanche peoples were likely to have set camps in the Albuquerque area, as there is evidence of trade and cultural exchange among the different Native American groups going back centuries before European arrival. Albuquerque was founded in 1706 as an outpost as La Villa de Alburquerque by Francisco Cuervo y Valdés in

3900-653: The foothill areas of Sandia Heights and Glenwood Hills. The civic apex is found in an undeveloped area within the Albuquerque Open Space; there, the terrain rises to an elevation of approximately 6,880 feet (2,100 m), and the metropolitan area's highest point is Sandia Crest at an altitude of 10,678 feet (3,255 m). According to the United States Census Bureau , Albuquerque has a total area of 189.5 square miles (490.9 km ) , of which 187.7 square miles (486.2 km )

3978-651: The green is due to large swaths of conifer forests. However, Robert Julyan notes in The Place Names of New Mexico , "the most likely explanation is the one believed by the Sandia Pueblo Indians: the Spaniards, when they encountered the Pueblo in 1540, called it Sandia, because they thought the squash growing there were watermelons, and the name Sandia soon was transferred to the mountains east of

SECTION 50

#1732781036723

4056-752: The growth in the metropolitan area is taking place outside of the city of Albuquerque itself. In Rio Rancho to the northwest, the communities east of the mountains, and the incorporated parts of Valencia County , population growth rates approach twice that of Albuquerque. The primary cities in Valencia County are Los Lunas and Belen , both of which are home to growing industrial complexes and new residential subdivisions. The mountain towns of Tijeras , Edgewood , and Moriarty , while close enough to Albuquerque to be considered suburbs, have experienced much less growth compared to Rio Rancho, Bernalillo, Los Lunas, and Belen. Limited water supply and rugged terrain are

4134-704: The irrigation systems and control floods in the Albuquerque Basin . It is responsible for the stretch of river from the Cochiti Dam in Sandoval County in the north, through Bernalillo County , Valencia County and Socorro County to the Elephant Butte Reservoir in the south. It manages the Angostura , Isleta and San Acacia diversion dams, which feed an extensive network of irrigation canals and ditches. The Pueblo people of

4212-458: The land was Indian land, which caused some concern over whether Indian rights were being sufficiently protected, but the plan was finally approved by the president on 13 March 1928. By 1935 the Conservancy had built almost 200 miles (320 km) of levees along the river banks, and a system of jetties and checks to protect against floods. The Conservancy had built the El Vado storage dam, and

4290-598: The largest section of Downtown , Rio Grande Nature Center State Park and the Bosque ("woodlands"), Petroglyph National Monument, Double Eagle II Airport , the Paradise Hills neighborhood, Taylor Ranch, and Cottonwood Mall . This quadrant also contains the North Valley settlement, outside the city limits, which has some expensive homes and small ranches along the Rio Grande . The city of Albuquerque engulfs

4368-432: The life-sustaining Rio Grande now flows. Albuquerque lies in the Albuquerque Basin , a portion of the Rio Grande rift . The Sandia Mountains are the predominant geographic feature visible in Albuquerque. Sandía is Spanish for " watermelon ", and is popularly believed to be a reference to the brilliant pink and green coloration of the mountains at sunset. The pink is due to large exposures of granodiorite cliffs, and

4446-407: The main limiting factors for development in these towns. The Mid Region Council of Governments (MRCOG), which includes constituents from throughout the Albuquerque area, was formed to ensure that these governments along the middle Rio Grande would be able to meet the needs of their rapidly rising populations. MRCOG's cornerstone project is currently the New Mexico Rail Runner Express . Albuquerque

4524-474: The mid-19th century, a federal garrison and quartermaster depot, the Post of Albuquerque, were established here, operating from 1846 to 1867. In Beyond the Mississippi (1867), Albert D. Richardson , traveling to California via coach, passed through Albuquerque in late October 1859—its population was 3,000 at the time—and described it as "one of the richest and pleasantest towns, with a Spanish cathedral and other buildings more than two hundred years old." During

4602-422: The most common fish in the river. The diversion dams have cut its habitat into four separate segments. It is now classified as endangered and its population continues to decline. In 1999 a suit was brought by a group of environmentalist organizations on behalf of the silvery minnow and the threatened Southwestern willow flycatcher , whose riparian habitat was also threatened, against the Bureau of Reclamation and

4680-405: The old route now have brown, historical highway markers denoting it as Pre-1937 Route 66. The establishment of Kirtland Air Force Base in 1939, Sandia Base in the early 1940s, and Sandia National Laboratories in 1949, would make Albuquerque a key player of the Atomic Age. Meanwhile, the city continued to expand outward into the Northeast Heights, reaching a population of 201,189 by 1960 per

4758-401: The problem was caused by increased use of the river for irrigation in the San Luis Valley upstream in Colorado . Development and deforestation there caused silt to be washed into the river. Where the river widens and slows in the middle Rio Grande valley around Albuquerque the silt was deposited, raising the riverbed and the water table and causing waterlogging in the farmlands that border

SECTION 60

#1732781036723

4836-439: The provincial kingdom of Santa Fe de Nuevo México . The settlement was named after the original town of Viceroy Francisco Fernández de la Cueva , 10th duke of Alburquerque , who was from Alburquerque, Badajoz in southwest Spain. Albuquerque developed primarily for farming and sheep herds. It was a strategically located trading and military outpost along the Camino Real . It served other Tiquex and Hispano towns settled in

4914-449: The pueblo." He also notes that the Sandia Pueblo Indians call the mountain Bien Mur , "Big Mountain." Albuquerque lies at the northern edge of the Chihuahuan Desert transitioning into the Colorado Plateau . The Sandia Mountains represent the northern edge of the Arizona/New Mexico Mountains ecoregion . The environments of Albuquerque include the Rio Grande bosque , (floodplain cottonwood forest), arid scrub, and mesas that turn into

4992-454: The reclaimed fields, whose owners were least able to pay and often were forced to sell. The Conservancy ran into financial difficulties in the 1940s. It was unable to raise enough money for maintenance, let alone capital projects, and much of the land that could be irrigated was not because the farmers could not afford the water assessment fees. The earth levees were not able to contain a major flood in 1941, which inundated communities throughout

5070-436: The river during low-flow conditions. During the irrigation period, the river downstream from the Isleta Diversion Dam may largely dry up unless irrigation water is returned to the river or a summer storm provides a brief influx of water. The river may not start running steadily until the end of October, when irrigation stops. This has caused problems for fish such as the Rio Grande silvery minnow . This fish used to be one of

5148-445: The river valley, including some of downtown Albuquerque. The Conservancy turned to the United States Bureau of Reclamation for help in reviewing and rehabilitating the work. Planning was approved in 1948, and the Middle Rio Grande Project was approved in May 1950. During the 1950s a series of projects was undertaken by the Bureau of Reclamation and the Corps of Engineers under the Rio Grande Comprehensive Plan. They rehabilitated

5226-430: The river. By the time the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District was founded in 1923, more than 60,000 acres (24,000 ha) of farmland had become swamps or alkaline and salt grass fields. Floods were another hazard, often destroying whole villages. The acequia running through the city of Albuquerque, parallel to the river, had become an unsanitary drainage ditch, serving as a common sewer. A first attempt to create

5304-484: The river. The Albuquerque waste-water treatment plant contributes more, but not a great deal. However, in the 1990s high concentrations of un-ionized ammonia were found, caused by impaired water use in the section of the Rio Grande between the Jemez River and the Isleta Dam. The ammonia is toxic to some species of fish and invertebrates. Improved drainage has dried out the wetlands, harming native plants and wildlife. The frequency of wildfires has increased. In response,

5382-462: The roadside to serve them. Route 66 originally ran through the city on a north–south alignment along Fourth Street. In 1937 it was realigned along Central Avenue , a more direct east–west route. The intersection of Fourth and Central downtown was the principal crossroads of the city for decades. The majority of the surviving structures from the Route 66 era are on Central, though there are also some on Fourth. Signs between Bernalillo and Los Lunas along

5460-406: The system of irrigation ditches. In 1848 Mexico ceded the territory to the United States. Railways arrived in 1880, bringing new settlers. The Federal government encouraged irrigation, which probably peaked in the early 1890s. After this there was a steady decline in irrigation due to "droughts, sedimentation , aggradation of the main channel, salinization , seepage and waterlogging". Part of

5538-502: The village of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque . A small portion of the rapidly developing area on the west side of the river south of the Petroglyphs, known as the " West Mesa " or "Westside", consisting primarily of traditional residential subdivisions, also extends into this quadrant. The city proper is bordered on the north by the North Valley, the village of Corrales , and the city of Rio Rancho . Kirtland Air Force Base , Sandia National Laboratories , Sandia Science & Technology Park,

5616-542: The western part of the city bear testimony to a Native American presence in the area dating back many centuries. These are preserved in the Petroglyph National Monument . The Tanoan and Keresan peoples had lived along the Rio Grande for centuries before European colonists arrived in the area that developed as Albuquerque. By the 1500s, there were around 20 Tiwa pueblos along a 60-mile (97 km) stretch of river from present-day Algodones to

5694-527: The width of the downstream channels in Socorro county had decreased sharply since the diversion dam was built. The river has cut a deeper channel in its bed and now runs faster. This made it harder for fish to travel upstream. The report suggested that if eight Gradient Restoration Facilities were installed in the downstream reach, that should be enough to slow the water, allowing sediment to settle and making fish passage easier. A 2005 report considered removing

5772-447: The winter. Cooper's hawks are common in city parks. Iconic vegetation includes the Rio Grande cottonwood in the bosque, and tree cholla , prickly pear , yucca , chamisa , and oneseed juniper in upland areas. The foothill open space at the eastern border also features Sonoran scrub oak and piñon pine . Desert willows are commonly planted throughout the city. Tumbleweeds are a common weed in disturbed areas, and are used by

5850-536: Was also the city's first mayor, is the oldest continuing Jewish organization in the city. By 1900, Albuquerque boasted a population of 8,000 and all the modern amenities, including an electric street railway connecting Old Town, New Town, and the recently established University of New Mexico campus on the East Mesa. In 1902, the Alvarado Hotel was built adjacent to the new passenger depot, and it remained

5928-455: Was appointed the town's first marshal that year. New Albuquerque was incorporated as a town in 1885, with Henry N. Jaffa its first mayor. It was incorporated as a city in 1891. Old Town remained a separate community until the 1920s, when it was absorbed by Albuquerque. Old Albuquerque High School , the city's first public high school, was established in 1879. Congregation Albert , a Reform synagogue established in 1897, by Henry N. Jaffa, who

6006-533: Was maintaining four diversion dams and reservoirs, 834 miles (1,342 km) of canals and ditches and 404 miles (650 km) of riverside drains. The Conservancy is a major recipient of water from the San Juan–Chama Project , a series of tunnels and diversions that take water from the drainage basin of the San Juan River – a tributary of the Colorado River – to supplement water resources in

6084-536: Was named so because it was an important ford and trading center on the Rio Chama during the 19th century. The dam was rehabilitated by the Bureau of Reclamation in 1954-1955. In the 1960s and 1970s, the San Juan–Chama Project built a diversion through a tunnel from the San Juan River basin to the Rio Chama, requiring an extensive retrofit of the dam's water conveyance facilities. The outlet works at El Vado Dam were enlarged between 1965 and 1966 so that releases from

#722277