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2004 ASLA Professional Awards

Analysis & Planning Award of Honor

Middle Rio Grande Bosque Restoration Project, Albuquerque, NM
Sites Southwest LLC, Albuquerque, NM
Client: United States Army Corps of Engineers-Albuquerque District

This project could not only help to restore ravaged nature, but the human community that's now learning its responsibility to it. . . Excellent and thorough analysis of natural and man-made factions leading to effective strategies for re-vegetation and restoration of plant association. . . Clear and convincing graphic presentation.
2004 Professional Awards Jury Comments

The Middle Rio Grande Bosque Restoration Project presented a rare opportunity in the region for landscape architects to lead a project that integrates ecosystem restoration, recreation planning, cultural and environmental landscape interpretation, environmental justice, and community outreach. With the Middle Rio Grande Valley State Park in the heart of the project area and the center of the City of Albuquerque, these plans for restoration aim to balance and integrate its function as both a wildlife refuge and a regional open space in a major metropolitan area.

Existing Conditions and Potential for Restoration - Over the past 300 years, the riparian woodland or "bosque" flanking the river in the Albuquerque reach of the Rio Grande has become progressively degraded. In the last 100 years flood control, water diversion and urbanization have impaired the function of the bosque as wildlife habitat and recreational open space for people. (Images & Drawings: Site Southwest; Photos: City of Albuquerque, US Army Corps of Engineers-Albuquerque District, Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District)

Hydraulic Features - Depletion of the water table and the lack of flood events are key reasons for the degradation of the bosque. The historic floodplain is indicated on the map by the light shading. The irrigation canals, drains and storm sewer systems are critical to water distribution throughout the former floodplain. (Images & Drawings: Site Southwest; Photos: City of Albuquerque, US Army Corps of Engineers-Albuquerque District, Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District)

Vegetation Type - This map illustrates a vegetation community classifications in order to depict the present ecological conditions found in the Project Area. Salt cedar, Tree of Heaven and Russian olive are the dominant non-natives, while native areas include primarily coyote willow, cottonwood, New Mexico olive and Amorpha. (Images & Drawings: Site Southwest; Photos: City of Albuquerque, US Army Corps of Engineers-Albuquerque District, Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District)

Vegetation Structure - This map characterizes vegetation structure types by the vertical distribution of foliage present in the layers designated as overstory, midstory and understory. Information about the quality of habitat and potential fire hazard can be derived from the vegetation structure. (Images & Drawings: Site Southwest; Photos: City of Albuquerque, US Army Corps of Engineers-Albuquerque District, Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District)

Habitat Value - Habitat value here is represented by the relative density of animals during the summer months. The higher value habitat tends to be communities with significant brushy/shrubby areas and within these communities there tended to be a preference for edge, i.e. brush areas adjacent to open areas (e.g., near the levees) and water (e.g., ditches). (Images & Drawings: Site Southwest; Photos: City of Albuquerque, US Army Corps of Engineers-Albuquerque District, Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District)

Fire Hazard - Relative fire hazard is a function of fuel load and potential for spreading rapidly. High hazard areas are typically salt cedar and Russian olive-dominant shrub and wooded areas. Other areas of concern are near Cottonwood areas with high dead and down fuel loads. (Images & Drawings: Site Southwest; Photos: City of Albuquerque, US Army Corps of Engineers-Albuquerque District, Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District)

Land Ownership and Land Use- Most of the land within the project area is public land, owned by the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District and managed by the City of Albuquerque Open Space Division. Most of the adjacent land uses outside the Central/Rt 66 bridge area are residential. Adjacent parks provide opportunities for connection with the bosque. (Images & Drawings: Site Southwest; Photos: City of Albuquerque, US Army Corps of Engineers-Albuquerque District, Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District)

Trails and Access - This map portrays accessibility for recreational and interpretive uses. Points of access, formal and informal parking areas are also shown. (Images & Drawings: Site Southwest; Photos: City of Albuquerque, US Army Corps of Engineers-Albuquerque District, Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District)

Community Input on Restoration - During public meetings, community members mapped areas for priority in restoration. Many participants expressed concern over the shrinking wildlife habitat and requested that preserves be set aside where wildlife would be left undisturbed. (Images & Drawings: Site Southwest; Photos: City of Albuquerque, US Army Corps of Engineers-Albuquerque District, Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District)

Community Input on Education and Recreation - Community members were also asked to map priority areas for passive recreational activities. The trails they use most frequently for various uses were identified on the maps, as well as areas in need of improved access. Also noted was the interest in the potential areas for wildlife-viewing and cultural landscape interpretation. (Images & Drawings: Site Southwest; Photos: City of Albuquerque, US Army Corps of Engineers-Albuquerque District, Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District)

Refuge and Access Areas - This map shows priority areas (green) that will be the primary focus for study and development in subsequent phases of the project. Areas that have been targeted to become enhanced or well-developed are in existing or planned high-usage areas in order ensure the success of restoration efforts in these areas. Also shown are areas designated as refuges with limited accessibility. (Images & Drawings: Site Southwest; Photos: City of Albuquerque, US Army Corps of Engineers-Albuquerque District, Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District)

Restoration Opportunities for Further Study - This map and accompanying graphics illustrate key opportunities for the restoration of the bosque in the project area. There are two kinds of opportunities, restoration of the riparian woodland and restoration and/or creation of various types of wetlands. (Images & Drawings: Site Southwest; Photos: City of Albuquerque, US Army Corps of Engineers-Albuquerque District, Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District)

Educational and Recreational Enhancements for Further Study - This map and accompanying graphics portray potential interpretive and recreational enhancements for the bosque, such as trails, wildlife viewing areas, etc. Other than the bosque main trail, these enhancements will be concentrated in the high access areas. (Images & Drawings: Site Southwest; Photos: City of Albuquerque, US Army Corps of Engineers-Albuquerque District, Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District)

Proposed Restoration Strategies and Enhancements - This diagram portrays the process of restoration, moving from planning and analysis on the left to insertion of recreational and interpretive items on the right. In each case a series of potential actions are diagramed (Images & Drawings: Site Southwest; Photos: City of Albuquerque, US Army Corps of Engineers-Albuquerque District, Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District)

Bosque Restoration and Landscape Concept - This map is a conceptual landscape plan for reclamation of the bosque during the restoration phase. Example strategies and plants are shown. (Images & Drawings: Site Southwest; Photos: City of Albuquerque, US Army Corps of Engineers-Albuquerque District, Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District)

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