Work is continuing at the diversion on the Santa Cruz River. The Ortega, La Mesilla, and Garcia ditches have hired Eluid Salazar to reconfigure the outlet from the sand trap which returns water to the river. The East Rio Arriba Soil and Water Conservation District is helping with the cost through their Acequia Cost Share Program.
Debris flows on the river late in 2023 dammed an area below the pressa, raising the level of the river above the outlet. In fact, the river was flooding into the ditches on both sides of the river, bringing in sand and making it impossible to turn off the water for maintenance. The work being done now should fix that problem, as well as reducing the flooding that was occurring in near Walnut Lane.
