Corps to host public meeting on Portugues Dam

Published July 1, 2013

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District will conduct a public briefing next week as it comes close to finishing construction on Portugués Dam near Ponce.

The briefing will be held on July 9 and is designed to inform people on the water control plan for the project, which is designed to reduce impacts of Portugués River flooding in and around Ponce.  Construction on the 220-foot high roller-compacted-concrete dam has been underway since 2008 and is expected to be finished by the end of the year. 

"The purpose of the meeting is to provide information on the operational guidance and water control plan for the new dam,” said Luis Alejandro, Hydraulic Engineer. “We want to give all interested individuals, groups, and government agencies the opportunity to hear about the plan, comment, and ask questions.”

The meeting will be held at the CIAPR – Capítulo de Ponce located at #75 Blvd. Ruth Fernández in Ponce. The meeting will begin with an open house at 6 p.m., followed by a formal presentation at 7 p.m.  After the presentation, all interested stakeholders will have an opportunity to engage in discussion with representatives from the Corps and the Puerto Rico Department of Natural & Environmental Resources (DNER). 

Portugués Dam represents the final component of the Portugués and Bucaná (P&B) Rivers Project.  The project was authorized in 1970 and has resulted in construction of two dams (Cerrillos and Portugués) and associated channels to reduce impacts from flooding while providing water supply and recreation. 

For more information on the Portugués Dam project, visit the Jacksonville District website at
http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/FloodControl/PortuguesDam.aspx

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Contact
John Campbell
904-232-1004
john.h.campbell@usace.army.mil

Release no. 13-044