Saturday, July 4, 2009

State seeks river restoration proposals

More than $1 million earmarked for state's rivers and streams

El Defensor Chieftain Reports

Three years after declaring 2006 the Year of Water, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson says things are flowing well for the River Ecosystem Restoration Initiative.

The initiative — designed to sustain, re-establish and rehab the state's river and stream ecosystems — poured some $2.8 million into 15 projects during 2008. Last year's efforts saw improvements made in the Middle Rio Grande, Lower Rio Grande, the San Juan River and the Gila River, among others.

"I am proud of the dozens of river ecosystem restoration projects that have been launched all across New Mexico since we initiated the program in 2006," Richardson said in a news release. "This initiative has grown in popularity each year, with diverse projects and significant matching funds brought to the table.

This year, officials say another $1.5 million is bound for the initiative to continue its critical work.

With the money set to be distributed, state officials are looking for groups who can demonstrate that they are ready and able to carry the initiative further.

"This initiative — which has touched every area of our state — will help keep our water clean and our rivers healthy for New Mexicans to enjoy," New Mexico Environment Department Secretary Ron Curry said in the release. "We encourage groups with thoughtful, sustainable plans for improving our rivers and streams to apply."

Potential projects that could be initiated because of the latest round of funding include: physical habitat restoration within a stream; enhancement of environmental flow; improvement of riparian vegetative cover for the purpose of river restoration; reduction of pollutants to rivers; promoting the hydrologic interaction between the river channel and floodplain and restoring dynamic channel processes such as accretion on new banks, bar building, channel widening, and channel sinuosity.

The removal of non-native phreatophytes — including salt cedar and Russian olive trees — will be funded as part of a more comprehensive river restoration project.

Entities that can manage the technical and financial aspects of the proposed projects are eligible to receive the funding.

The River Ecosystem Restoration Initiative requires contractors to perform the work before seeking reimbursement through state contracts.

Project proposals are due by 3 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 10. Additionally, a pair of meetings to explain the application process will be held in mid-July. The second of the planned meetings will be held Wednesday, July 15, 3-4:30 p.m., at the Bureau of Land Management office in Socorro, 901 S. Highway 85.

Request for proposal packages are available on the New Mexico Environment Department's Web site at www.nmenv.state.nm.us/SWQB/RFP.

The RFP may also be obtained by contacting: Karen Menetrey, Procurement Manager, NMED, Surface Water Quality Bureau, Harold Runnels Building, Room N2050, 1190 St. Francis Drive, P.O. Box 5469, Santa Fe, NM 87502-5469.

Menetrey can be reached by phone at 505-827-0194 or by e-mail to Karen.Menetrey@state.nm.us.

For more information, call Marissa Stone Bardino at 505-827-0314.

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