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Project Titles:
- Rehabilitate Valves, PVC Irrigation (FFS #R2GH)
- Replace 4 Miles of Barbed-Wire Fence (FFS #R2GJ)
State: New Mexico
Project Description: Recovery Act funds will be utilized for two projects at Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in San Miguel County, New Mexico.
The most prominent of the two projects will rehabilitate a nine-mile water delivery and pipeline system that supplies essential migratory bird habitat. The funds will replace aging pipes and valves which control the flow of water not just to the refuge lakes and wetlands but also to flood irrigated fields and 3 pivot irrigation systems used to cultivate Las Vegas’ 500 acres of grain crop. Las Vegas raises mostly wheat and corn in order to feed migratory birds that call the New Mexico refuge home.
The second project will replace approximately four miles of dilapidated barbed-wire fencing along the refuge’s northern border with fencing adequate to keep out domestic predators and livestock. The fencing will also more accurately define Las Vegas’ boundary.
Las Vegas NWR is located in northeastern New Mexico. The refuge has a multiplicity of ecosystems; it is made up of short-grass prairies, lakes, wetlands and canyons.
August 2010 Project Update: Refuge officials estimate that the project to build four miles of new fencing is now 90 percent complete. The refuge should be protected by new four-strand barbed wire fencing by the end of the year. Contractor, Riley Industrial Services has yet to begin building the actual nine-mile water transmission pipeline. Parts on back order have caused a delay in laying pipe, but all of the excavation work is complete and the project is on schedule.
October 2010 Project Update: Las Vegas Refuge Manager Rob Larranaga shares that the four-mile fencing project was completed in September 2010 by ACS Fencing of Roswell, New Mexico. The new four-strand wire fencing is effectively keeping out domestic predators and livestock along the refuge’s northern border.
The water transmission pipeline project is now 90 percent complete and “should be wrapped up over the next couple weeks as the remaining supplies come in,” Larranaga added. The project, which is being performed by the Deerfield Corporation of Albuquerque, New Mexico, is improving water flow and control on the refuge’s bird habitat areas.
March 2011 Project Update: Las Vegas Refuge Manager Rob Larrañaga reports the water transmission pipeline project at the refuge is now complete. The project was performed by the Deerfield Corporation of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and wrapped up in February.
Larrañaga says an efficient water management pipeline is essential for the refuge, since the area receives only 16 inches of rain a year and is dealing with drought conditions due to reduced snow packs over several years.
“Managing the water delivery system is imperative,” Larrañaga added. “This project has given us 5.5 miles of a water line delivery system which will be used to supply water to 40 wetland units on the refuge and support the production of 500 acres of grain for migratory waterfowl and other wildlife.”
The 8,6000-acre refuge in northeastern New Mexico is home to a wide variety of bird and waterfowl species, including geese, ducks, swans, cranes, and raptors.
Ericka Martinez of Deerfield Corporation says the pipeline project created four construction jobs and notes the experience of performing a refuge construction project was very positive for the company.
“It was a really good scenario. There was a lot of open communication and we worked together quite well,” Martinez explains.
For more information, check out the Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge Fact Sheet!
For more information on the completion of projects at Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge, check out the Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge Completion Fact Sheet!
Photos:
Originally posted 03/26/2010
Updated 08/19/2010
Updated 10/22/2010
Updated 11/17/2010
Updated 03/30/2011
Page Completed 03/31/2011
