Los Chavez Wasteway

Los Chavez Wasteway

Belen, New Mexico 87002

Official Website

About this Location

The Los Chavez Outfall is located on the west side of the Rio Grande at approximately river mile 157. From the heading of the outfall channel, water is delivered through the bosque and onto an attached sandbar. During low flow conditions, the outfall channel meanders through the bar before entering the active channel of the Rio Grande.

Prior to the construction of an Outfall Control Structure (OCS) water discharge to the outfall was intermittent and variable. Since the construction of an OCS at the outfall heading, the District has been able to deliver precise, low flow volumes of water (4-5 cubic feet per second [cfs]) to the outfall. This seemingly small amount of water has benefited the main channel and surrounding bosque habitat in that the outfall now supports beavers and native vegetation on the sandbar and within the riparian zone. The project activities described below are intended to build upon the existing site conditions and further enhance the habitats.

Content from Official Website