Belen floods — again
Monsoon season once again ravaged the Hub City as between 2.95 and 3.2 inches of rain fell in a matter of two hours the night of Tuesday, July 6, causing flooding throughout Belen.
The excessive amount of rain that poured down in such a short amount of time caused a breach of the Highline Canal at Delgado Avenue, sending water into Belen and damaging roads, residents and businesses.
This is an aerial view of the Highline Canal at Delgado Avenue in Belen facing east. (File Photo from June 6, 2021)
The downpour began around 8:40 p.m., and as the storm continued, emergency services such as police and fire personnel were out, blocking roads where there were significant water flows. There were reports of several stalled vehicles on roadways, causing crews to rescue people from their vehicles.
At about 9:30 p.m., July 6, the city received reports that the Highline Canal at Delgado Avenue (near Belen High School) had been breached, sending tons of water into the city.
A new breach was discovered Wednesday morning along the New Belen Ditch on Mesa Road, about a quarter mile from the city’s northern boundary in the county. This contributed to continuing water flows in the areas of Impala and Aragon.
On Wednesday, many businesses and public facilities, such as the Belen Municipal Court and Magistrate Court were closed due to the flood.
The New Belen Ditch, which runs along Mesa Road, was topped but not breached. The overflow into Our Lady of Belen Memorial Gardens cemetery caused extensive damage to grave sites and toppled markers.
The city has been planning for flood mitigation since flooding in 2017. It received $1.7 million in 2019 from state capital outlay funding, and another grant from Homeland Security for restoration of a pond. There are also plans for a needed pond on Aragon Road, which historically has problems during the monsoon season.
After years of discussion, representatives from several local agencies met in October to begin plans to create a flood authority.
CEO and chief engineer for the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District Mike Hamman advised two things be done to prepare for forming a flood authority — create a flood master plan and do a rate study to determine the minimum amount of taxation needed to build and maintain flood control infrastructure.
Hamman estimated the cost of the two studies would be about $1.5 million. A flood control agency is created by the New Mexico Legislature and typically requires a plan as well as a defined area for taxation to support infrastructure.
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April 11, 2024
