Corrales flood control channel this afternoon.
When I first started riding in July, the flood control channel was dry, and I could ride across the arroyo where the water ends, 300 yards from where I took this photo. At first, the flood control channel filled with water from rain collected on the west mesa up to 20 miles west of Corrales. That was the beginning of the second week of September. Since the beginning of October, the flood control channel has been filled with water. However, we have had zero rain in Corrales in October and little rain in Rio Rancho west of Corrales. I finally came to the realization that the water in the flood control channel is the treated wastewater from Rio Rancho backing up into the channel. I have not investigated why the water is backing up into the flood control channel now when the channel was dry in July, August, and the first week of September.
The treated wastewater from Rio Rancho is released into the mouth of the flood control channel near the levy and flows into the Rio Grande, as does the runoff collected by the flood control channel. Rio Rancho is the third largest city in New Mexico, with 109,060 people in 2023.
Cyclists, runners, and hikers who want to cross the flood control channel to continue north or south on the levee or the Bosque trail either have to ford the water or walk, run, or ride 200 yards into the flood control channel to get around the water.
The outlet for Rio Rancho’s treated wastewater.
Treated wastewater flowing toward the mouth of the flood control channel. The water smells like chlorine and detergents. I was surprised to see people fishing there the other day.
Different views of the treated wastewater outlet.
Erosion east of the current outlet. The erosion may be from before they reworked the area. The photo on the right is looking west from the eroded area.
The photo on the left was taken on 9/9/2023. The photo on the right was taken on 10/28/2023. You can see how much farther the water extends into the channel in the photo on the right.
Sasha and Glenda hovering over the heater.
It’s cold this week. The cats are clamoring for the space heaters we use to warm the spaces close to us. The cats were all piled up on me at 3:50 AM this morning. I had a cold ride this afternoon with the temps in the low 40s.
Cats from head to toe: Sasha on my chest in the foreground. Gwendolyn’s ears are on the right in the foreground. She was under the covers, resting her head on my shoulder. After Sasha is Marble, Spunk, Silver, and then Glenda is at the end of the bed, curled up on my feet. Loki was on Laurie out of the picture.
Off Center & Not Even 
You manage to make wastewater and erosion look stunning in these photos. Hope you and the kitties stay warm!
It was 17 degrees this morning. Huge drop in temperature. Thanks, JYP.
Thanks for this very interesting post about the water handling. And yes, we’re having the first colder days too. Jimi prefers to come much sooner back inside.
It was -8.3ºC this morning. It’s been getting down to 1.7ºC most mornings for the past few weeks. Thanks, Herman.
Hmmm… it makes me already look forward to spring 2024… 😉
For sure.
So, you don’t move much in bed then… !
As you can see, I can’t move. No, I don’t move much, so the kitties end up on me because Laurie moves around and gets up a lot. Thanks, Couriers.
Very interesting to read about the flood control channel. Unless the fact that there is water in the channel now, I wonder whether this amount is sufficient to provide nature with water… especially given the fact that it has not rained in your country for a long time.
The cats know where to find their place, now that the temperatures are a lot lower.
It would be nice if the treated wastewater was dumped into the river above the irrigation pumps. But they are 3.2 Km downstream of the pumps. Thanks, Rudi.
Thanks for the info Timothy. Always difficult for me to imagine the real situation 😉
So difficult. Our environments are so different.
They, the waste water department is asking for a lawsuit.
No. That area was redone as part of a management plan last year. The City of Albuquerque, with almost a million people in the metro area, dumps a lot more treated wastewater into the river. Thanks, Danzig.
I think you would get a serious an argument from my dad in this regard. It doesn’t matter how recent a management and mitigation plan has been implemented. It doesn’t matter regarding whether the wastewater discharge meets water quality standards. What does matter is the level of discharge. Just because ABQ has a population of more than a 1M people and discharges a lot more treated wastewater into the river means they have already have degraded the quality of surface water and likely have altered the quality of the water table. The other consideration is whether cities and towns downstream believe the water quality is sufficient because it is their source of drinking water. I’ve done enough water analyses in my dad’s lab it is likely ABQ is discharging gray water and are pretending since it meets standards it is compliant with the Clean Water Act. Standards are under constant review. Only the Trump Administration has allowed dirtier levels.
Thanks, Elizabeth.
Interesting post in anumber of ways TImothy. ANd stunning pics,e very one actually which is quite a feat.
Thanks, Shey.
If water smells like chlorine and detergent, I doubt there are any fish in it.
I doubt there are fish in it, too. Thanks, Liz.
You’re welcome, Tim.
Just so you know, I keep sending water clouds!
Amazing colors and shots.
Did you say people were fishing in there?!
I see you stay extra fluffy warm in bed!!!
They were fishing, but I doubt there were any fish to be caught. Thanks, Marina.
Still…
I agree with JYP, you manage to turn a not-so-wonderful situation into works of art. Obviously, if people fish there, it’s simply for the joy of fishing, surely not to eat whatever they catch? I’m hoping if the water is treated, it’s not overly pollutant. Which feels like an oxymoron but dang.
The treated water supposedly meets EPA standards for clean surface runoff. It’s going to be a lot cleaner than the untreated runoff that runs down the flood control channel. Those folks were fishing for the sake of fishing. I doubt there were any fish to be caught. Thanks, Dale.
I like the “supposed” but yeah, better than completely untreated. They had to be. Wonder if they caught anything…
Not that I saw.
I’m not sure I’d eat any fish from the chlorinated waste water. Maybe it’s just habit. You must have the winter grease in your shifters as mine nearly freeze solid when I ride in the 40’s. I like the geometry in the flood control areas as well as the fuzziness with the kitties.
It’s too dry out here for derailleurs and shifting mechanisms to freeze. You simply be cold. Thanks, Brad.
These photos are amazing!!! No wonder you enjoy spending time outdoors, snapping photos and tracking the landscape. Also, the cats are adorable!
Thanks, Samantha. The kitties are comforting.
Amazing photos.
Thanks, Cindy.
Nice view and interesting scenery. The best stars are those furry friends you have.
Thanks, YC.
That is quite a pile of cats, Tim! Cats love heaters like tube worms love deep sea hydrothermal vents. 🙂
I can’t imagine fishing in chlorinated, detergent laden water. Were they taking the fish home to eat?
Cats are heat magnets. I can’t image eating fish caught in the Rio Grande as it runs through our area. People fishing there yesterday. I don’t think there are fish that close to the outlet. Thanks, Lavinia.
So sad to see the water like this Tim. Still, your pics are amazing❣️That is one herd of cats. I’m not sure how you sleep. I have one on each side on top of me or licking me all night. It’s bitter sweet💕 xo
The cats don’t lick me. The only disturbance is when they paw and the sheets to let them under the covers. Thanks, Cindy.
Still laughing at the cat line-up.
Going back to look again.
Okay, I’m back and still laughing!
The whole thing with the water and flood thing and ditch is an odd reality where you live. The powers that be have really figured that out nicely.
Maybe the fishermen think it’s okay to fish in bleach water because the fish will be purified?
Just a guess.
xo
I’m happy you got a laugh out of the pile of cats. As you might guess, I don’t move much when I’m in bed. I went to the doctor for a check up on Halloween, and she asked me how many times I get up in the night to pee. She was quite surprised when I said I rarely get up in the night to pee. You know that I am at that advanced age where guys usually get up in the night to pee. I told her I can’t get out from under the cats. I should have showed her that photo.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
Long live the cats!
Or…Long Lie The Cats…. on Tim!!!! xx
I let let sleeping cats lie.
Not sure of my cat cold units, is a 7 cat night equivalent to a 3 dog night? Seeing temps dip into the freezing range last week, but went back up into the 70s .. fall is holding on with its fingertips. Had two runs in the 20 degree (w/ windchiill) mark and wow, was my lungs and body not ready for that. Hard to complain about the cold based on where we (currently) choose to live, but I like to ease into the winter season, not wake up one day and have frost on the windows.
At least a 3 dog night. It’s been in the mid 70s, but is supposed to start dropping again tomorrow. Thanks, Brian.
Gosh I can’t imagine people fishing there. Those kitties look so comfy on your bed .. and warm of course
I don’t think there are any fish to be caught. The kitties are warm and comforting. Thanks, Julie.