Breaking Ground on Bosque Restoration
With shovels in hand, dignitaries and students alike, broke ground on the $25 million dollar Bosque Revitalization project.
The project encompasses more than 900 acres of bosque area and will concentrate on removing non-native plant species and replacing them with native vegetation, improvements in recreational areas to include picnic areas and boat launches, and removal of 'jetty-jack' systems that were once used as flood control.
Former U.S. Senator, Pete Domenici led the activities. The Senator was instrumental in securing the necessary funding for the project before retiring from the Senate in 2008. Domenici applauded the efforts of all agencies, including the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, and noted that the interagency cooperation is creating a better quality of life for all New Mexicans.
The restoration project was awarded by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to Ajac Enterprises. Three other subcontractors will be working in conjunction withAjac, and all are New Mexico based companies.
The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District is the sponsoring agency and board members Eugene Abeita and Karen Dunning attended the groundbreaking for the district.
The Bosque Restoration, from the northern boundary of Sandia Pueblo to the northern edge of Isleta Pueblo, will take about 3 years to complete.