ALAMOSA — The Alamosa County Board of County Commissioners, Rachael Baird, development services director, and Heather Brooks, city manager, both with the City of Alamosa, made a presentation during the April 26 work session regarding the Alamosa Levee along the Rio Grande.

Baird told commissioners the city hired engineering firm AECOM for levee work estimates; construction is estimated to be $25.5 million, and total engineering costs at $1.3 million. The city and county will split these costs if they decide to proceed.

"If we were able to find 80% of grants for this, 80-20 [80% grant/20% local funding] is not unusual. If we were able to find 80% in grants, that would mean we would need to come up with $5 million. If we collectively [the city and county] each would need to come up with $2.5 million or about $500,000 a year for five years. That is much more manageable if we can think of it that way," said Baird."

According to Baird, the current levee began construction in 1985 in three phases, with the last phase designed by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE). In 2008, the levee was inspected and rated as unacceptable by USACE and removed from the Corps Rehabilitation and Inspection Program. In 2006, the city retained Wood Inc. to complete a Phase 1 Levee Assessment to have the levee accreditation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); the study was completed in 2021, and identified deficiencies that need to be met for FEMA accreditation.

In April 2022, the Colorado Water Conservation Board warned the city that it needed to start making progress on certification. The city hired the engineering firm of AECOM in February and in March the firm made its estimates.

Baird said the next steps would be to sign an agreement with AECOM, start the five-year engineering process, and seek funding such as grants and a possible bond issue. Then construct the levee improvements and obtain FEMA levee accreditation.

The commissioners did not take any action as it was a work session, Commissioner Lori Laske thanked Baird and Brooks, adding, "I appreciate the partnership. I think it will be a good partnership going forward."