Early Saturday morning, crews from the City of Belen were on the scene managing standing water that forced the right lane of Main Street to close and completely shut down Picard Street. The post office parking lot also experienced flooding, prompting police, fire and water departments to deploy pump trucks and traffic control measures starting around 2 a.m.
Infrastructure upgrades pay off
Mayor Robert Noblin emphasized that the city’s recent investments in flood‑control infrastructure are already showing results. “There will always be concerns about flooding. We’ll have water standing in the usual areas,” he said, “but what’s a little bit different now is we’ve invested a lot of capital outlay, with the help of our legislators, into several ponds on the west side of the freeway. The ponds were able to capture several thousand acre‑feet of water, and therefore that water doesn’t make its way into the High Line Canal and therefore it doesn’t breach.”
The retention ponds, completed after the 2021 High Line Canal breach that inundated Main Street, are part of a broader drainage‑improvement plan approved by city officials and supported by state legislators. By diverting runoff away from the canal, the ponds reduce the volume of water that can overwhelm the historic waterway during heavy rains.
Continuing work and future plans
Mayor Noblin noted that while the recent upgrades have mitigated the immediate threat, additional work remains. Last year, Valencia County established a flood‑control district, and Belen plans to collaborate with the district on long‑term solutions. Potential projects include further retention facilities and a comprehensive 10‑ to 20‑year plan aimed at improving flood preparedness across the county.
Officials are urging residents to avoid the affected roadways—Picard Street, South Frontage Road near Sunrise Bluff, Camino Del Llano, and South Frontage Road at Cannon Road—until crews finish clearing the water and confirming safety.
Community response
Local business owners and commuters expressed relief that the city’s proactive measures prevented a repeat of the 2021 disaster, which caused extensive damage to homes and businesses along Main Street. “We’re grateful the city listened to the lessons from 2021 and acted quickly,” said a longtime resident of downtown Belen.
The city will continue monitoring water levels throughout the day and will provide updates through its website and social‑media channels. Residents with concerns are encouraged to contact the Belen Public Works Department.
Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.
