Middle Rio GrandeHabitat Restoration

10/6/2000

Click here to start

Table of Contents

Middle Rio GrandeHabitat Restoration

First Law of River RestorationComplex problems often have easy-to-understand wrong answers

MIDDLE RIO GRANDE HABITAT RESTORATION

Discharge at the San Marcial Gage1896-1945 1,110,000 Acre-Ft. ave. annual flow1946-1978 573,000 Acre-Ft. ave. annual flow1979-1993 1,100,000 Acre-Ft. ave. annual flow33% of the record is about 570,000 Acre-Ft/Yr67% of the record is about 1,100,000 Acre-Ft/Yr

San Acacia and San Marcial Mean Daily Peaks

Otowi and Downstream Gage Peaks

Channel Response Model

Cochiti Reach Width and Sinuosity

Width TrendsCochiti to Angostura 23 miles1918 850 Ft.1962 400 Ft. 1992 250 Ft. 29%Angostura to Bernalillo Bridge 6 miles 1972 1150 Ft. 1995 400 Ft. 35%

Width Trends (Cont.)Rio Puerco to San Acacia 10 miles1918 1750 Ft.1962 700 Ft. 1992 400 Ft. 23%San Acacia to San Marcial 28 miles1918 1600 Ft.1962 500 Ft. 1992 425 Ft. 27%Width from San Acacia to Escondida will be about 200 Ft. in the next 2-6 years

Flow DepthAngostura to Bernalillo 6 miles1962 1.6 Ft.1999 3.6 Ft.Rio Puerco to San Acacia 10.3 miles1962 2.5 Ft.1992 3.6 Ft.San Acacia to Escondida 11 miles1962 2 Ft.1992 4 Ft.

Channel VelocityAngostura to Bernalillo 6 miles1971 3.2 Ft/S1995 4.3 Ft/SRio Puerco to San Acacia 10.3 miles1962 3.7 Ft/S1992 4.5 Ft/SSan Acacia to Escondida 11 miles1962 3.7 Ft/S1992 4.5 Ft/S

Average Bed ElevationAngostura to Bernalillo1971-1995 lowered 7.3 Ft.Rio Puerco to San Acacia1962-1992 lowered 3 Ft.San Acacia to Escondida1962-1999 lowered 9.6 Ft.

Bed Material SizeAngostura to BernalliloNow a gravel bed channelRio Puerco to San AcaciaNow a partially gravel bed channelSan Acacia to EscondidaNow a partially gravel bed channelWill be entirely gravel bedded channel in about 3 years.

Rio Grande, San Acacia Reach Geomorphic SummaryIn addition to material already covered

There is a Critical Need for Habitat RestorationDiscussion

Potential Restoration Goals

Potential Restoration Activities

We suggest that larger scale projects such as Santa Ana (reach based approach) results in more effective restoration thansmall scale projects such as the Albuquerque Overbank Project (local approach) Discussion

Author: BOR