SPONSOR: Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER).
AUTHORIZATION: Section 202 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-662)
REMAINING PROJECT COST: $1.585 Billion
FUNDING: 100% funded under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 to address damages from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.
LOCATION: Rio Puerto Nuevo is located in Metropolitan San Juan and it includes the Rio Piedras Drainage Basin and its tributaries, which drains 24 square miles.
DESCRIPTION: The Río Puerto Nuevo Basin drains 24 square miles, 75 percent of which is highly developed with a population of 250,000 persons. Rapid upstream runoff, inadequate channel capacity, constriction at bridges, and elimination of the flood plain by urbanization cause severe flooding to 7,500 residents, and 700 commercial and public structures valued at over $3 billion. The project includes six discreet project segments that will be constructed through separate contracts between now and 2032.
BENEFITS: When completed, the project will provide over $125 million average annual economic benefits and 100-year flood protection to more than 250,000 area residents.