Monte De Luz and Mesa Vista Sub Divisions Flooding 9-21-08

9-21-08 Flash Floods from Shadow Mt. roared through the Monte De Luz Sub Division and the Mesa Vista Sub Divisions located 1.5 miles North on US Hwy 285 N heading toward Ojo Caliente. The massive flood waters brought hundreds to TIRES down from the Mesa Vista Sub Division nearly 1/4 mile above the Monte De Luz Sub Division and blocked our culverts diverting massive amounts of water out of the arroyos.


The flood waters quickly eroded the entrance road to the Monte De Luz Sub Division effectively cutting off access to our Sub Division. Neighbors rallied to pull out the tires blocking our culverts and successfully opened the culvert but the damage had been done.

A walk up the arroyo .5 miles North and East of the Monte De Luz Sub Division lead to the discovery of literally thousands of tires placed in the arroyos and around culverts.


The tries were used in the Mesa Vista Sub Division as water diversion and for erosion control. Many of the tires broke loose from their placements and blocked many of the natural arroyos creating new paths due to the blockages. The Mesa Vista Sub Division sustained probably thousands of dollars as did our Sub Division.

What now?

USEPA, NM Environment Department, Solid Waste and RA County are all involved, but it will be the individual land owners who will end up fixing and paying for the restoration of our properties and Sub Divisions.

What about the tires? Do they pose a Health Hazard? What sorts of contamination threats to the ground, ground water and to our water tables? Unknown.

What will be done with the tires? Who will clean them up, Who will access the contamination issues... the questions are endless and the answers are even harder to find. Got Suggestions?