April 2022
FACT SHEET
Rio Grande de Arecibo PR (C)
Construction (C)
Congressional District: Puerto Rico
1. DESCRIPTION
This project was authorized by the Water Resources Development Act of 1996, Section 101(a)(26). The drainage basin covers 272 square miles characterized by steep mountains and the associated high velocity runoff. Extensive floods occurred in May and October 1985, January 1992, and again in September 1996 with Hurricane Hortense. When Hurricane Georges hit the island in 1998, the municipality of Arecibo experienced the 100 year flood event, resulting in significant damages to commercial and residential properties and the loss of the Victor Rojas Bridge. In the aftermath of Hurricane Georges, the President’s Long-Term Recovery Task Force identified the construction of the Arecibo flood control project a top priority. The recommended plan combines a floodwall and two miles of levee along the Arecibo River; channel improvements, a plug, and channel diversion on the Santiago River; and a short levee on the Tanamá River.
2. FUNDING
| Estimated Total Cost |
$124,200,000 |
| Estimated Federal Cost |
$77,900,000 |
a. Regular Civil Works Funds:
| Allocation thru FY20 |
$22,798,000 |
b. P.L. 115-123: Bi-Partisan Budget Act (BBA) of 2018, Supplemental:
| Current Working Estimate |
$174,129,000 |
| Allocation thru FY21 |
$13,410,600 |
| Allocation for FY22 |
$1,128,200 |
3. SPONSOR
Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources
P.O. Box 366147
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936
4. STATUS
Contract 1, the Arecibo and Tanamá Levees and the Rio Santiago Diversion Channel, was turned over to the Non-Federal Sponsor for continued operation and maintenance on 10 January 2012. The remaining project segments are funded under the BBA of 2018 (P.L. 115-123). Plans and specifications for future supplemental contract was brokered to St. Louis District. The following contract will be executed using BBA 2018 funds:
Contract 2B, the Rio Santiago channel widening and bridge reconstruction, is not being executed due to the 2019 PED modeling efforts demonstrating similar project benefits were achieved without Contract 2B.
Supplemental Contract 1: Contract consists of segments 2A and 3. Contract award is scheduled for April 2023.
