April 2022
FACT SHEET
Río Culebrinas – Aguadilla, PR
Investigations (I)
Congressional District: Puerto Rico
1. DESCRIPTION
The Río Culebrinas basin, located in the northwestern part of Puerto Rico, has an area of 272 square kilometers and flows westerly through the areas of San Sebastián, Moca, Aguadilla, and Aguada, where the discharges into Aguadilla Bay in the Mona Passage. The Caño Madre Vieja is an old river outlet that flows across the study area and also discharges to Aguadilla Bay Floods from the Río Culebrinas and Caño Madre Vieja represent a threat to life and property of residents from Aguadilla and Aguada, with a combined population of approximately 120,000 inhabitants. The Rio Culebrinas Chief's Report was signed on August 2020. The recommended plan, proposes to construct two segments of earthen levees (~2 miles), a cutoff channel (~197-ft), drainage structures, interior drainage channels, and three paved road ramps across the levees to reduce flood damages to the southwest portion of Aguadilla and community of Espinar in Aguada. Refinements to the conceptual design are expected during Pre-construction Engineering and Design (PED) based on results from an updated Hydrology and Hydraulic model.
2. FUNDING
a. P.L. 115-123: Bi-Partisan Budget Act of 2018, Supplemental:
| Current Working Estimate |
$26,455,000 |
| Allocation thru FY21 |
$17,726,000 |
| Allocation for FY22 |
$0 |
- P.L. 115-123: Bi-Partisan Budget Act of 2018, Supplemental:
|
Allocation thru FY21 (Feasibility)
|
|
$ 400,000
|
- P.L. 117-43: Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act:
|
Total Work Plan (Construction)
Allocation for FY22
|
$ 26,455,000
$ 0
|
3. SPONSOR
The Municipality of Aguadilla
P.O. Box 1008, Victoria Station
Aguadilla, Puerto Rico 00605
4. STATUS
The Rio Culebrinas Chief’s Report was signed on August 2020. The project has been authorized for construction under WRDA 2020 Section 401(2).
A Construction New Start to initiate construction phase was granted and Federal cost share was fully funded under Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (DRSAA). PDT awaiting funds allocation to proceed with coordination with NFS to execute a Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) to initiate PED phase.
