Valencia County Arroyo Flood Control District will have purpose

I would like to offer a counterpoint to the opposition raised about the formation of the Valencia County Arroyo Flood District.

While it’s true that Valencia County has various agencies tasked with flood management, including the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District and the Valencia Soil and Water Conservation District, the fact remains that neither entity has the comprehensive capability or statutory authority to manage the ongoing and increasingly severe flood threats that our county faces.

The statutory mandates of these agencies may include aspects of flood management related to their respective missions. Still, in practice, they are not equipped to focus on storm water flood control to the degree necessary to protect our growing community.

The MRGCD’s primary missions revolve around river flood control, groundwater management and irrigation water delivery. Their current infrastructure and focus are on irrigation and levee maintenance.

While they have river flood prevention in their mandate, their capabilities and legislative authorities are insufficient to manage large-scale urban flooding from upland arroyos outside of the benefited area of the district. The formation of the Valencia County Arroyo Flood District isn’t redundant — it fills a critical gap left by these existing agencies.

The tragic flooding in 2021, which damaged more than 75 homes, highlighted this gap. Despite having the MRGCD and VSWCD in place, the authorities, infrastructure and systems currently available could not prevent or mitigate this disaster.

Yes, forming an Arroyo Flood Control District will require additional revenue, but it is a targeted investment in public safety. We currently pay the mill levies and water delivery charges to the MRGCD and VSWCD toward their respective mandates, neither of which prioritizes the type of comprehensive flood protection needed to safeguard urban and rural communities from future disasters.

The assertion that existing agencies, with their office space and staff, should be able to handle flood control ignores the complexity and scale of the issue. Flood control is not simply allocating more resources or staff to existing entities — it requires a dedicated, coordinated approach with its infrastructure, management and planning.

Just as the Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority, the Southern Sandoval County Arroyo Flood Control Authority and the Eastern Sandoval County Arroyo Flood Control Authority have proven to be an effective solution for Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Bernalillo and Algodones, forming a similar authority in Valencia County will allow for long-term planning and action toward flood prevention.

These Flood Control Authorities have an outstanding performance record in building cost-effective flood control facilities that incorporate aesthetics, multi-use recreation, and stormwater quality improvements. AMAFCA has been in business for 61 years, a testament to the effectiveness of a single-mission agency with an elected board that focuses only on that mission.

Ultimately, the question isn’t about whether existing agencies should be doing more; it’s about creating an entity equipped and empowered to do the job right. The formation of an Arroyo Flood Control District prepares and addresses Valencia County’s specific and growing needs for future storms by having the appropriate infrastructure. If we fail to act now, we risk even more significant damage in the future.

Voting “yes” to form the Valencia County Arroyo Flood District is not just an investment in our community’s future; it’s a solution to a pressing problem. Let’s make sure we have the infrastructure and resources we need to protect our homes, businesses, farms, and families from the inevitable storms that lie ahead. I urge you to vote “yes” for forming the Valencia County Arroyo Flood District this November.

(Stephanie Russo Baca is the chairwoman of the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District.)