McKinley Channel Flood Control Project 70% completed

The Army Corps of Engineers McKinley Channel Flood Control Project is 70% complete.

The project was expected to be completed in Spring 2022.

"Reconstruction continues along Spruce Avenue," a City of Alamogordo news release states. "The remainder of the work will include concrete lining on the east side of Scenic Drive up to the large detention basin that will be built."

The City asked residents to avoid areas where construction equipment was in operation.

The current construction is part of Phase 8 of the McKinley Channel Project.

The McKinley Channel Project is part of the City of Alamogordo's partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers to provide flood control for the City.

About half of the City of Alamogordo is in what is termed a Special Flood Hazard Area per the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Maps.

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When the South Channel portion of the project was completed, more than 300 structures were no longer designated in the Special Flood Hazard Area according to the City of Alamogordo.

"When the McKinley Channel is complete, there will be more structures within the project area that will be able to be taken out of the Special Flood Hazard Area," the City of Alamogordo website states.

The McKinley Channel Project was developed in eight stages with the final stage beginning in May 2019.

"This project consists of two concrete lined diversion channels (South Channel and McKinley Channel) with 100-year capacity that will intercept flood flows from the Sacramento Mountains," the City news release states. "Construction of the project has been staged over the past decade to meet funding constraints by the City and the US Army Corps of Engineers.

"The South Diversion Channel was constructed in four phases from 2001 to 2009, and construction was initiated on the McKinley Channel in 2011. This phase is for the final portion of the McKinley Channel, which includes a sediment basin and remaining channel concrete lining."

Nicole Maxwell can be contacted by email at nmaxwell@alamogordonews.com, by phone at 575-415-6605 or on Twitter at @nicmaxreporter.

This article originally appeared on Alamogordo Daily News: McKinley Channel Flood Control Project 70% completed

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