The United States Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) announced the reopening of the Smugglers Gulch canyon collector this week since it shut down on Sept. 23, 2024, due to excessive sediment in flows from Mexico. The collector is now operational and containing all flows, with no transboundary flows observed.
During the closure, an estimated 3.4 million gallons of water flowed across the border. While a significant amount of sediment remains at the collector, it will be removed once dry and ready for hauling.
To mitigate future sediment issues, the USIBWC is implementing measures, including using hay bales at Smugglers Gulch to filter sediment from Mexican flows. Additionally, an assessment was conducted on an abandoned canyon collector upstream of Smugglers Gulch for potential conversion into a sediment catchment basin.
The USIBWC reports it continues to engage with Mexican authorities to address the lack of erosion and sediment control at their construction site, which contributes to the downstream sediment build-up at Smugglers Gulch. Erosion control and sediment catchment basin installation will be discussed on Oct. 31 at the site.
This story was generated with assistance from an AI and was reviewed by a member of our publication.
