Black Arroyo Trail
Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico
The Black Arroyo Trail was completed as the second phase of a recreational and wildlife habitat protection project that also stabilizes a highly erosive arroyo. The multi-use pedestrian and bicycle path provides regional connectivity and multi-modal access for surrounding neighborhoods, limits impacts to environmentally sensitive areas, provides educational opportunities through informational signage and features along the trail, and minimizes impacts to the natural topography of the area as it winds through desert sage brush and natural arroyos. As part of the project, BHI designed the trail and a prefabricated elevated pedestrian bridge over the Black Arroyo. The main drainage feature was a large gabion grade control/arroyo bank stabilization structure near the bridge.