From left, Los Alamos County Council Chair Theresa Cull, Board of Public Utilities Chair Robert Gibson and Deputy Utility Manager for Gas, Water and Sewer Services Clay Moseley get ready to snip the ribbon and ceremoniously reopen the Los Alamos Reservoir Wednesday morning along with New Mexico Environment Department Watershed Protection Section Program Manager Kate Lacey Younge, Keystone Restoration Ecology President Steve Vrooman and Utility Manager Philo Shelton. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
A view of the newly reopened Los Alamos Reservoir Wednesday morning. Completing the Los Alamos Canyon watershed restoration project was, Deputy Utility Manager for Gas, Water and Sewer Services Clay Moseley said, a ‘a process that was a long time coming.’ According to a County press release, the project started back in 2021 and was completed in August 2024. It involved multiple agencies – the New Mexico Environment Department, the U.S. Forest Service, the Army Corps of Engineer, Los Alamos National Laboratory, the state Historical Preservation Office and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in addition to the County. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
Los Alamos Reservoir looks good; Wednesday morning its dark-colored waters rippled and glittered in the sunlight while around its perimeter trees and foliage were starting to dress in autumn colors. It was picture perfect, making the three-year long effort to restore the reservoir worthwhile.
To mark the occasion, Los Alamos County Department of Public Utilities hosted a ribbon cutting Wednesday and representatives from several agencies involved in the restoration project attended the event.
According to a County press release, the County, New Mexico Environment Department, U.S. Forest Service, Army Corps of Engineers, Los Alamos National Laboratory, the state Historical Preservation Office and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service all took part in the project along with the contractor, Keystone Restoration Ecology. Keystone utilized bioengineering techniques that incorporate natural materials and processes to help the watershed heal itself. Additionally, it is reported in the press release that the access road was improved, the watershed flow regime was reconstructed and the reservoir was dredged.
The total project cost was $800,000. Work began in 2021 and was completed in August.
Deputy Utility Manager for Gas, Water and Sewer Services Clay Moseley described the process as “a long time coming.”
He added that it was a real milestone for former Utility Manager Tim Glascoe, who attended the ribbon cutting.
Moseley said the reservoir restoration was “near and dear to his (Glascoe’s) heart” after the watershed was damaged during the Cerro Grande Fire in 2000.
“It was always in Tim’s heart to get … (it) back in place,” Moseley said.
“It is really wonderful to be here at the end of the process, 24 years later,” Board of Public Utilities Chair Robert Gibson said.
He explained he served on council during the Cerro Grande Fire and to see the reservoir fully restored was great.
“This is something we can all enjoy,” Gibson said.
The reservoir has been around since before Los Alamos was even a town.
According to County documents, it was the sole source of water for the Los Alamos Boys Ranch School. It continued to provide water to the townsite but the 2000 Cerro Grande Fire and then the 2011 Las Conchas Fire damaged the reservoir.
It was also hit with flooding before the County was able to secure funding to restore the reservoir.
From left, Utility Manager Philo Shelton and NMED Watershed Protection Section Program Manager Kate Lacey Younge hold a map of the reservoir as Keystone Restoration Ecology President Steve Vrooman describes the work his company did on the project. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
Keystone Restoration Ecology President Steve Vrooman speaks during the ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday morning. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
New Mexico Environment Department Watershed Protection Section Program Manager Kate Lacey Younge speak during the ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday morning. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
Deputy Utility Manager for Gas, Water and Sewer Services Clay Moseley speaks during the ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday morning. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com