Green Infrastructure U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region 6 Las Cruces Dam Environmental Restoration Project City of Las Cruces, New Mexico and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Under the authority of Section 1135 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in collaboration with the City of Las Cruces finished the 1st phase of the Las Cruces Dam Environmental Restoration Project in the spring of 2014. The total project area includes the restoration of 72 acres of Chihuahuan Desert Arroyo Riparian habitat, 3.6 acres of playa habitat, 6.35 acres of Cottonwood-Willow Riparian habitat, and the construction of two one-acre emergent wetland cells. The proposed action also includes the implementation of recreational features such as new trail systems, improvements to existing trails, pedestrian crossings, interpretative signage, and wildlife viewing blinds. The City of Las Cruces Utilities Department provided reclaimed wastewater infrastructure for supplementing the wetland and riparian areas. Without this infrastructure the constructed wetland could not function year round in the arid southwest. The Las Cruces Dam restoration project meets the criteria of multi-use, open space while incorporating many green infrastructure methods. The goal is to slow down stormwater runoff from major arroyo systems, the Alameda and the North & South Las Cruces Arroyos. Once the wetland and riparian areas are established they will function as both a filter and sediment trap that will help mitigate stormwater pollution and also prevent sediment transfer to the dam. One major goal of this project is to slow down and filter stormwater runoff. Point of Contact: City of Las Cruces Public Works Department Project Development Section 700 North Main Street Las Cruces, NM 88004 575-528-3135 http://www.las-cruces.org &EPA EPA Region 6 seeks to provide information and recognition for green infrastructure United Stat~s projects within our Region. If you would like your project featured, please contact Environmental Protection Suzanna Perea at 214-665-7217 or perea.suzanna@epa.gov. Agency ------- |