Economy & Environment
Environmental Stewardship
From planning to construction, the BDD Project strives to protect the environment through minimizing its impact on land, wildlife, plants, trees and shrubs, the Rio Grande and aquatic life.
The Final Environmental Impact Statement and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services’ Biological Opinion on the Effects and Actions of the Assessment of the BDD Project found that, for a project of its size and complexity, the BDD Project is expected to have only a very minor effect on the environment.
Protecting Endangered Species
Southwestern
Willow Flycatcher
To protect the endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, crews are avoiding construction activities along the Rio Grande from April 15-June 30 of each year, during the bird’s spring migration throughout the area.
New Mexico Burrowing Owl
In addition, crews have been monitoring a New Mexico Burrowing Owl site along Caja del Rio Road. The Burrowing Owl is listed as an endangered species, but its burrows (such as abandoned prairie dog holes) and habitat are not protected. However, just to be sure no damage was done, the BDD Project pipeline was routed about 15 feet away from the burrows with construction fencing around the burrows to prevent any disturbance.
The
Design Build (DB) contractor consulted with the New Mexico Department of
Game & Fish
to “examine” the burrows and make sure that the owls had moved
on for the winter prior to beginning major construction in the area.
As of the spring of 2009, there was evidence that the owls were returning to the area. At least one pair was spotted along Caja del Rio Road, according to the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish.
Preserving Native Trees
Crews have also worked to save as many trees native
to New Mexico as possible. The contractor is only cutting down trees directly
impacted by construction of structure and pipelines in the approved 40-foot-wide
right-of-way for the construction area. Many trees within the right-of-way
will remain and are being protected during construction. Whenever possible,
the contractor trims trees instead of removing them.
Those removed trees that are indigenous to the area (such as piñon) were temporarily relocated to a “nursery” area at the Water Treatment Plant site that was watered by a drip system. The relocated trees are being replanted in the right-of-way area when construction is completed.
In addition, areas disturbed by construction are being replanted with native plants and seed mix, and invasive non-native species are being removed.
Permit findings
The FEIS identified a temporary impact on Las Campanas during construction of the pipelines, but noted the pipelines are to be built in existing utility easements to minimize their impact. Power lines will be buried underground; a PNM power substation needed for the project is planned for a spot next to an existing buried power line in a utility corridor along Caja del Rio Road.
While some of the BDD Project facilities will be partially visible from the White Rock Overlook, the facilities are located and designed to minimize their visibility by blending in with natural surroundings.
To reduce impact on river life, diversion of the Rio Grande will be restricted or eliminated if the river drops below a certain level. The diversion facility will include fish screens to prevent fish and fish eggs from entering the diversion structure.
For more information about the BDD Project’s construction impact on the environment, persons can contact Liz Anderson, environmental compliance coordinator, at (505) 301-8195 or Mike Raybourn, construction manager, at (505) 975-4397.
Protecting the Rio Grande
More than two-thirds of the water that will be diverted annually by the BDD Project is San Juan-Chama Project water that has been imported into the Rio Grande watershed. That water can be diverted from the Rio Grande by the BDD Project only if it has been previously ordered from the federal reservoir owners and released from Heron Reservoir, El Vado Reservoir or Abiquiu Reservoir for diversion at the BDD.
This water will increase the flow in the Rio Grande upstream of the BDD Project. Diversion of the water will have no effect downstream.
The remaining one-third of the annual diversions will either be additional San Juan-Chama water or water supported by water rights that have been acquired by the City, County or Las Campanas, and transferred through the State Engineer application and permit process to the Rio Grande.
State water law and federal requirements to protect the endangered Rio Grande silvery minnow will either curtail or stop the BDD diversion of native Rio Grande water rights during low-flow conditions.
Water for the Santa Fe River
The City of Santa Fe has
announced its intent to dedicate as much as 1,000 acre-feet per year to the
Santa Fe River. Current City water customer needs and commitments require
essentially all of the City’s rights to water
in the Santa Fe River to be treated for drinking water supply. This City
plan to support the river cannot be implemented until the BDD Project is
operational. The Living River will
- Recharge the City well field
- Support a healthy plant community
- Provide for an enriched quality of life in Santa Fe
The Santa Fe Living River project is planned to substantially increase flows downstream of the reservoirs by increases to the currently available overflow of available reservoir space in the Santa Fe River Canyon.
Environmentally Friendly Building
The Design Build contractor for the BDD Project is working to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) certify the Water Treatment Plant Operations Building. As of September 2009, the facility had received 16 anticipated points from the U.S. Green Building Council for design point submittals, with 13 additional points to be evaluated following construction. Certification requires 26 points.
Keeping the Construction Zone Clean
During construction, the DB contractor, CH2M Hill Western Summit Constructors Joint Venture, is required to keep the construction zone clean through activities such as:
Regularly emptying trash and litter receptacles- Handling, storing and transferring petroleum and other chemicals in ways that prevent and control spills
- Placing sheeting beneath stationary equipment that has oil, fuel or other lubricants changed
- Cleaning heavy equipment before it is used on the project and inspecting it daily for leaks
- Handling asphalt, concrete and other construction materials in ways that prevent their release into surface water
- Preventing wastewater from concrete batching, vehicle wash-down, or aggregate processing from entering the water course
Controlling Dust and Noise
Also, the DB contractor is responsible for dust
control in the construction project area using non-chlorinated water in or
near aquatic habitats, riparian areas and flood plains. The contractor is
additionally required to minimize noise caused by construction operations.