North Valley Friends and Neighbors--
Those of you who are interested in preserving our valley ditch system and
working with us to formalize its status as a trails network should mark your
calendars for an event that we've schedule for the evening of November 3
(see the message posted below for more information).

Ditches With Trails Working Groups

The kick-off meeting for the Ditches With Trails Working Groups has been
finally scheduled. We are looking forward to your participation to address
the critical issues of safety, liability and trails management as well as a
number of other equally important topics related to ditches with trails
enhancements.

Thursday, November 3rd, 6:15-8:30pm
Los Griegos Multi Service Center
(1231 Candelaria Road NW).

The desired outcome for this meeting is to establish as many working groups
as possible as well as workplans, timelines, and individual assignments. The
attached paper outlines the purpose of each of the 8 working groups and
their associated goals and tasks. This information serves as a starting
point and we anticipate revisions and refinements to the goals and tasks.

Ditches-with-Trails Project
Working Groups
Draft: 5 October 2005

In June of 2005, the Steering Committee for the Ditches-with-Trails Project
hosted a “Project Kickoff Forum” and a series of walking tours in the North
Valley and South Valley areas of Albuquerque. The Steering Committee for
the Ditches with Trails Project currently includes representatives from the
Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (Sterling Grogan and Yasmeen Najmi),
National Park Service (Attila Bality), North Valley Coalition (Claude
Morelli), and Vecinos del Bosque Neighborhood Association (Richard Rivas).
These events were well attended by members of the public, elected
officials, and staff of local governments. The input received from them
has helped the Steering Committee to identify a set of key issues and
opportunities that must be addressed before a trail network can be formally
designated on MRGCD irrigation ditches and drainage canals in the
Albuquerque area.

The Committee envisions that private citizens and local government staff
will participate extensively in the process of addressing ditch-trail
issues and opportunities. To achieve this task, it has recommended that a
total of eight “Working Groups” be established. The Working Groups will be
facilitated by members of the Steering Committee and will focus on the
following topics: (1) design; (2) special projects; (3) natural and
cultural resources; (4) risk management and public safety; (5) trail
management and operations; (6) public outreach and communications; (7) the
North Valley pilot project; and (8) the South Valley pilot project.
What follows in the remainder of this document is a summary of the proposed
tasks for each Working Group. As usual, the Steering Committee invites and
welcomes comments and ideas on this proposal. Comments should be sent to:
Attila Bality, National Park Service at attila_bality@nps.gov (or via
postal mail at P.O. Box 728, Santa Fe, NM 87504).

Design Group

The Design Group will develop prototype design concepts and cost estimates
for the purpose of addressing trail issues and opportunities along ditch
and drain right-of-ways.

The group will ensure that the concepts it develops are fully compatible
with the MRGCD’s mission, operational needs, and maintenance concerns
(though it will also be free to propose reasonable modifications to MRGCD
procedures to accommodate trails where appropriate). Its focus will be
general in nature, with consideration of a variety of potential
improvements to the “design envelope” of trails in the system. The design
envelope is a three-dimensional volume running along the ditch and drain
right-of-ways. It incorporates all horizontal and vertical elements and
may include areas outside of the right-of-way (e.g., view sheds) where
appropriate.Topics the Design Group will address and tasks it will seek to accomplish
include:

A. Trail Users and User Needs Assessment

Task: Work cooperatively with the Trail Management & Operations
Group to develop a list of potential trail user categories by facility
type, and to conduct a needs assessment for each.

B. Trail Surfaces

Task: Establish general criteria for trail surface treatments along
ditches and drains given expected user types, user needs, historic/
cultural preservation concerns, MRGCD maintenance constraints, and the
requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. (Note: Trail surface
treatments may include either modifications to existing surfaces or
maintenance of the status quo).

Constraints:

• Where appropriate, ensure that proposed trail surfaces are smooth,
stable and slip-resistant, keeping in mind community preferences to
maintain plain dirt surfaces along most irrigation ditches.

• Ensure that all proposed trail surfaces can be maintained at
reasonable cost and will with not create or exacerbate problems such as
fugitive dust and bank erosion.C. Trail Access (Gates, Bridges & Parking)

• Task: Develop innovative gate designs to provide accessibility for
all potential trail users, while accommodating MRGCD maintenance needs and prohibiting unauthorized motorized vehicles.

• Task: Develop criteria for placing new bridges or replacing old
bridges across ditches and drains.

• Task: Develop (or identify) designs for bridges to cross ditches and
drains, considering both trail user needs and MRGCD maintenance concerns.

• Task: Develop gate design and installation guidelines for use by
private land owners and developers who build projects alongside trail
right-of-ways.

• Task: Develop guidelines for providing automobile, horse trailer,
and bicycle parking at trail heads.D. Landscape Art (Trail Aesthetics and Character)

• Task: Develop conceptual designs for “sense of place” features at
trailheads, junctions between ditches, and at key points along trails that
incorporate majestic cottonwoods, farms, viewsheds of volcanoes and the
Sandia Mountains, artwork, etc.

• Task: Develop installation criteria and design guidelines for
fencing along ditch and drain right-of-ways.

• Task: Develop alternatives to “shotcrete” or other hard treatments
along the banks of ditches.E. Trail Signs

• Task: Develop design concepts and messaging for wayfinding,
educational, regulatory, and warning signs for placement along trails, at
trailheads, and along roadways leading to trailheads.F. Roadway Crossings

• Task: Develop alternatives for addressing safety and continuity of
travel at arterials, collectors and other street crossings.

• Task: Develop design alternatives for culverts.Special Projects Group
The Special Projects Group will engage South Valley and North Valley
residents in ditch-corridor stewardship for the purpose of increasing
interest in and understanding of the values supported by the MRGCD
facilities.

• Task: Organize ditch clean-ups, walk audits, and familiarization
tours of the MRGCD facilities.

• Task: Cooperate with the members of the North Valley and South
Valley Pilot Project Groups to organize two or three events per year in the
demonstration project areas.

Natural & Cultural Resources Group

The Natural & Cultural Resources Group will document the natural, historic
and cultural values of the Albuquerque-area ditch system for the purpose of
increasing public awareness of resource values beyond recreational trails.

• Task: Collect Geographic Information System (GIS) data.

• Task: Conduct community-based mapping exercises to help evaluate corridors.

• Task: Conduct a cultural landscape inventory in cooperation with the
University of New Mexico (UNM) and that National Park Service (NPS).

• Task: Prepare presentations, discussion papers, and studies.Risk Management & Public Safety Group The Risk Management & Public Safety Group will investigate and resolve liability concerns for the purpose of formalizing recreational use of ditch
corridors.
• Task: Address trail user and neighborhood safety issues regarding
threats to personal safety and moving water, as well as larger public
safety issues related to the use of ditch trails.

• Task: Develop recommendations for managing risk and visitor safety.

• Task: Work with the New Mexico Legislature and other legislative
bodies to address liability concerns.Trail Management & Operations Group
The Trail Management & Operations Group will explore stewardship
opportunities for the purpose of creating a sustainable management and
maintenance framework for the trail network.

• Task: Work cooperatively with the Design Group to develop a list of
potential trail user categories by facility type and conduct a needs
assessment for each.

• Task: Develop alternatives for managing and maintaining a trails
network within the MRGCD right of way throughout Bernalillo County.
Alternatives to consider could include: (1) MRGCD expands agency mission to
address recreation, (2) joint management of ditch trails by City, County
and State government, and (3) Regional Trail Authority.

• Task: Identify opportunities for funding, management, community work
projects, adopt-a-trail programs, etc.

• Task: Identify and explore opportunities for partnership with the
City agencies, County agencies, youth groups, neighborhood associations,
etc.Public Outreach & Communications Group
The Public Outreach & Communications Group will develop and implement a
Project Outreach Plan for the purpose of generating interest in the
Ditches-with-Trails project and keeping the public and elected officials
informed of its progress.

• Task: Develop a Public Outreach Plan incorporating a variety of
communications tools (websites, feature articles, tours, a listserv, etc.).

• Task: Implement the Public Outreach Plan.North Valley Pilot Project Group
The North Valley Pilot Project Group will showcase the Griegos Drain from
Los Ranchos de Albuquerque to south of Montano. Investigate linkages to
Drain including Los Poblanos Open Space, Alvarado Elementary School,
neighborhood connections, etc. Develop action plan for pedestrian bridge
over Griegos Lateral and for the crossing at Montano Road. Incorporate
information and recommendations from the Design Group and Natural &
Cultural Resources Group into pilot area demonstration project.

South Valley Pilot Project Group

To increase the number of children utilizing the Atrisco and Arenal ditches
as safe routes to school. Coordinate with Projects Group for clean-ups and
familiarization tours. Incorporate information and recommendations from the
Design Group and Natural & Cultural Resources Group into pilot area
demonstration project.

• Task: Initiate “walking school bus” by Spring 2006.

• Task: Implement ditch safety measures.

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