U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Wetland Management Infrastructure Grant for Valle de Oro NWR and Sevilleta NWR Restoration Project

Valle de Oro NWR has recently signed a Memo of Understanding with the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) for the creation of wetland habitat at Valle de Oro NWR and for the creation of South Western Willow Flycatcher habitat at Sevilleta NWR. These projects are being conducted to provide Reclamation with these types of habitat in association with Valle de Oro NWR. The wetland habitat can be created on-site. It has been determined that restoration at Sevilleta NWR holds the best promise for creating viable Southwestern Willow Flycatcher habitat at a NWR within the Middle Rio Grande. This project will be directly tied into the mission of Valle de Oro NWR through education and outreach program at the new refuge as it relates to the conservation of the Middle Rio Grande and our partnership with Reclamation. DU will work cooperatively with the Service staff to: 1) design and install a groundwater supply well at Valle de Oro NWR; 2) purchase any additional water management infrastructure that the parties cooperatively decide is needed for the Valle de Oro NWR; 3) purchase a water control structure for Sevilleta NWR to enhance and restore a wetland for Southwestern Willow Flycatcher; and 4) provide additional engineering design work for Valle de Oro NWR beyond the 30 percent level.

The Service, as the primary landowner and manager of Valle de Oro NWR and Sevilleta NWR, seeks to: a) transform much of Valle de Oro NWR¿s undeveloped lands to provide optimal and dependable habitat for resident and migratory wildlife, as well as provide floodplain management opportunities and services to the residents of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County and b) improve the ability to manage a wetland at Sevilleta NWR for the benefit of endangered species by purchasing a water control structure. The Service has substantial involvement in all aspects of this project to improve habitat in association with the Valle de Oro and Sevilleta NWRs. The Service will be working on the ground with DU in collaboration with designing and installing the groundwater supply well at Valle de Oro NWR and the design work for Sevilleta NWR. This includes: a) providing information on desired habitat at Valle de Oro and Sevilleta NWR; b) providing baseline data on the groundwater, surface water and topography at Valle de Oro NWR; c) providing results from wetland workshops for Valle de Oro NWR and Sevilleta NWR; d) providing information on aquifer properties and optimal production zones for a new well at Valle de Oro NWR; and e) providing information on gate size and necessary characteristics for an irrigation gate at Sevilleta NWR.