City OKs $30K to study flood dangers

The Albuquerque City Council this week approved an allocation of $30,000 to the Ditch and Water Safety Task Force to conduct a study on the dangers of flash flooding in arroyos and ditches, and the viability of an advance warning system.

The legislation to fund the study was sponsored by Council President Cynthia Borrego.

During a Monday news conference at the confluence of the Embudo Arroyo and the North Diversion Channel, city officials talked about the recent deaths of people swept away as flash floods rolled through arroyos and ditches.

With about 100 miles of arroyos and ditches in the metro area, a warning system of flashing lights or sirens, similar to that used in other cities, could be implemented here, said city Fire Rescue Chief Gene Gallegos.

The system would alert people in and around arroyos of imminent flooding.