Hahn Arroyo/Paseo del Nordeste - City of Albuquerque...Office staff, W. H. Hahn Coal Co., ca.1900...
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Hahn Arroyo/Paseo del Nordeste The Hahn Arroyo segment of the Paseo del Nordeste Trail is a quiet, three mile long path which follows a concrete lined channel through suburban neighborhoods. Although the route is short, there is much to see and discuss as we ride. The arroyo was named after a businessman who also gave his name to a small settlement north of Albuquerque, at the mouth of the arroyo. We will look at the man and explore the mystery of his relationship to that settlement. Along the way, we will also examine some of the details of how the city’s storm drain system works. This network of channels is designed to save lives and protect property but most of us pay it little attention until it is needed in a flood. Outdoor art—both public and private—is found throughout Albuquerque and we will look at examples of both. Finally, we’ll visit a branch of our public library system and talk about its namesake. Going west is easy, as the moderately sloped path descends steadily to its junction with the North Diversion Channel Trail. Total elevation loss, (or gain if you’re riding west to east), is about 300 feet. Those riding back up should leave more time for the return trip. Although the trail is on a dedicated right of way, it crosses many roads. Several intersections with quiet streets have poor views of cross traffic, so be sure to obey stop signs and look both ways before proceeding. The busy arterials have protected medians, allowing cyclists to cross one set of lanes at a time. For those who wish to drive to the trail, parking at the east end is available in the City/Albuquerque Public School parking lot adjacent to Sandia High School, just east of Pennsylvania Street and the trailhead. Enter the lot from Dellwood Road which is on the north side of the school. The lot has locking gates and does not list hours of operation. If in doubt, there is plenty of parking on the south side of Dellwood just east of Pennsylvania. However, there’s no parking on this stretch of Dellwood from 7 AM to 3 PM weekdays. The west end has no formal public parking. Further, the trail’s junction with the North Diversion Channel is inaccessible from the street. Just below the junction is a small city park with no public parking but nearby street side parking is available on Lafayette Drive. If you use this option, you can access the trail by riding east on Delmar Avenue for two blocks and then turning north on the short
Transcript of Hahn Arroyo/Paseo del Nordeste - City of Albuquerque...Office staff, W. H. Hahn Coal Co., ca.1900...
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HahnArroyo/PaseodelNordeste
TheHahnArroyosegmentofthePaseodelNordesteTrailisaquiet,threemilelongpathwhichfollowsaconcretelinedchannelthroughsuburbanneighborhoods.Althoughtherouteisshort,thereismuchtoseeanddiscussasweride.ThearroyowasnamedafterabusinessmanwhoalsogavehisnametoasmallsettlementnorthofAlbuquerque,atthemouthofthearroyo.Wewilllookatthemanandexplorethemysteryofhisrelationshiptothatsettlement.Alongtheway,wewillalsoexaminesomeofthedetailsofhowthecity’sstormdrainsystemworks.Thisnetworkofchannelsisdesignedtosavelivesandprotectpropertybutmostofuspayitlittleattentionuntilitisneededinaflood.Outdoorart—bothpublicandprivate—isfoundthroughoutAlbuquerqueandwewilllookatexamplesofboth.Finally,we’llvisitabranchofourpubliclibrarysystemandtalkaboutitsnamesake.
Goingwestiseasy,asthemoderatelyslopedpathdescendssteadilytoitsjunctionwiththeNorthDiversionChannelTrail.Totalelevationloss,(orgainifyou’reridingwesttoeast),isabout300feet.
Thoseridingbackupshouldleavemoretimeforthereturntrip.
Althoughthetrailisonadedicatedrightofway,itcrossesmanyroads.Severalintersectionswithquietstreetshavepoorviewsofcrosstraffic,sobesuretoobeystopsignsandlookbothwaysbeforeproceeding.Thebusyarterialshaveprotectedmedians,allowingcycliststocrossonesetoflanesatatime.
Forthosewhowishtodrivetothetrail,parkingattheeastendisavailableintheCity/AlbuquerquePublicSchoolparkinglotadjacenttoSandiaHighSchool,justeastofPennsylvaniaStreetandthetrailhead.EnterthelotfromDellwoodRoadwhichisonthenorthsideoftheschool.Thelothaslockinggatesanddoesnotlisthoursofoperation.Ifindoubt,thereisplentyofparkingonthesouthsideofDellwoodjusteastofPennsylvania.However,there’snoparkingonthisstretchofDellwoodfrom7AMto3PMweekdays.
Thewestendhasnoformalpublicparking.Further,thetrail’sjunctionwiththeNorthDiversionChannelisinaccessiblefromthestreet.JustbelowthejunctionisasmallcityparkwithnopublicparkingbutnearbystreetsideparkingisavailableonLafayetteDrive.Ifyouusethisoption,youcanaccessthetrailbyridingeastonDelmarAvenuefortwoblocksandthenturningnorthontheshort
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paveddrainagethattakesyourighttothepath.DelmarAvenueisonelongblocknorthofCandelariaRoadandLafayetteDriveisthreeblockswestofCarlisleBoulevard.
ParkingisavailablecurbsideatMontgomeryParkandalsointheparkinglotforErnaFergussonLibrary.Bothoftheselocationsareaboutmidwaybetweenthetwoendpoints.
Citybusescarrybikeracksandwithcarefulplanningtheycangetyoutothetrailandthenhome.The#13onComancheRoadandthe#7onCandelariaRoad,bothcommuterrouteswithlimitedschedules,canbringyoutobusstopsonPennsylvaniaStreetneartheeastendofthetrail.Fromeitherbusstop,youhavelessthan1/2mileridealongPennsylvania’sbikelanestothetrailhead.The#5onCarlisleBoulevardwillgetyouclosetothewestend.Formoredetailsseethecity’sbusinformationathttp://www.cabq.gov/transit/bus-routes-and-schedules.
Toreachtheeastendofthetrailbybicycle,usePennsylvaniaStreetwhichhasbikelanesandconnectswithmanybikewaystothenorth,southandeast.ToreachthewestendoftheHahnArroyo,usetheNorthDiversionChannelTrail/PaseodelNortdeste.TheHahn
ArroyotrailturnseastfromtheNorthDiversionChannelabout0.4milesnorthofComancheRoadandabout0.3milessouthofMontgomeryBoulevard.Formoredetails,seethecity’sbikewaymap:http://www.cabq.gov/parksandrecreation/recreation/bike/bike-map.
JunctionofHahnArroyoandPennsylvaniaStreet.
ThestartofthetrailissignedonthewestsideofPennsylvaniaStreetandis0.2milesnorthofCandelariaRoadand0.2milessouthofComancheRoad.ThesignatthestartofthetrailnotesyouareenteringPaseodelNordesteTrail.ThisisanextensionofthePaseodelNordesteTrailthatincludespartoftheNorthDiversionChannel(NDC)trail.WetreattheentireNDCasaseparatetour.
HahnArroyowasbuiltinthe1970’sbytheAlbuquerqueMetropolitanArroyoFloodControlAuthority,(AMAFCA).AMAFCAisapoliticalsubdivisionoftheStateofNewMexico,createdbythestatelegislaturein1963.ItspurposeistoprovidefloodcontrolforthegreaterAlbuquerqueareabybuildingandmaintainingfloodcontrolstructures.TheAuthorityisgovernedby
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Shade,tables&chairs-ParkingareanorthofSandiaHighSchool
Lookingeast–ThetrailheadandSandiaHighareontheright
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anelectedboard.
Concrete-linedHahnArroyobeginsjustafewblockseastofPennsylvaniaStreetwheredrainagefromDellwoodAvenueemptiesintothechannel.Determiningwheretoallowdrainagetoflowthroughstreetsandwheretorequireaseparatechannelinvolvesbalancingatleasttwofactors:Ontheonehand,theprivatehomedeveloperwishestomaximizetheavailablelandforhouseconstruction.Ontheotherhand,theCityandAMAFCAwanttoensurefloodwatersarecarriedawaysafely.
ThePlaceNamesofNewMexicobyRobertJulyannotesthattheHahndrainagewasnamedafterasmallsettlementandtradingpointlocatedatthemouthofthearroyo.Itwasestablishedaround1910byWilliamH.Hahn.Thelocationwasalsoarailroadstop,builtin1909fourmilesnorthofAlbuquerque.Besidesthestation,thevillageofHahnhadadditionalrailroadfacilities.Historically,HahnwaswheresingletrackendedanddoubletrackbeganastrainsheadedsouthintoAlbuquerque.Intheadjacent1990UnitedStatesGeologicalSurveymap,HahnArroyocanbeseenenteringfromtheeast.Aswe’llsee,mostoftheHahn’swaterisnowinterceptedbytheNorthDiversionChannel.
W.H.HahnwasamerchantwhosoldcoalfromhiscommercialyardsindowntownAlbuquerqueandSantaFe.HewasalsopartowneroftheMadridmines,sourceofhiscoal.Foratime,heservedasvicepresidentofAmericanLumberCompanywhichwas,alongwiththerailroad,oneofthelargestemployersinearlyAngloAlbuquerque.Forabriefperiodhe
Officestaff,W.H.HahnCoalCo.,ca.1900
HahnwaslocatednearwhatisnowthenorthwestcornerofGriegosRd.&EdithBlvd.
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ownedaCadillacdealership.Around1917,HahnmovedtoLosAngeles.Somewhatsurprisingly,weknowlittleaboutwhyhestartedthevillagethatbearshisnameandwhatkindofbusinessheranthere.Theformersettlementisnowcoveredwithindustrialdevelopment.
JusteastofLouisianaBoulevard.
ThestructureextendingupwardfromthefloorofthechannelisaflowgaugeinstalledbytheUnitedStatesGeologicalSurvey(USGS)in1978.Itisnotcurrentlyinuse.Amoremodernapparatushasbeen
placedinHahnArroyojusteastofMonroeStreet,onthenorthsideofthechannel.Thenewergaugerecordswaterdepthandflowrateandiscapableoftransmittingdatabysatellite,allowingtheUSGStoobserveflowsinrealtime.Unfortunately,datafromtheHahngaugearenotavailableontheUSGSrealtimewebsite,
WaterWatch,(http://waterwatch.usgs.gov/?m=real&w=map&r=nm),whichtracksstreamflowacrossthestateandthecountry.TheUSGShasinstalledaraingaugeupstreamintheHahnwatershed,allowingtheagencytobuildamodelofhowrainfallandrunoffinteract.Thisinformationcanthenbeusedtoaidinthedesignandmodificationofthisandotherarroyos.ToddKelleyoftheUSGSnotedthatrecordflowinHahnoccurredinJune,1999,whenthewaterlevelreachedfivefeetandwasclosetooverflowingitschannel.Flowrateatthattimewas6230cubicfeetpersecond.Consistentwiththeisolatednatureofourthunderstorms,Toddnotedthatthisrecordflowwasalocalizedevent,withnoothermeasuredsitesreachingrecordflow.
Besidesmeasuringwaterflow,thegaugecontainsequipmenttomeasurewaterquality.TheUnitedStatesEnvironmentalProtectionAgency,(EPA),requiresthecitytomonitorwaterflowingintotheRioGrandeandensurethatitmeetscertainpuritystandards.
LouisianaBoulevard.
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USGSflowgaugejusteastofLouisianaBlvd.
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AprotectedmedianallowssafecrossingofLouisianaBoulevard.
CaliforniaStreet.
AsignhereexplainstherehabilitationprojectundertakenonthestretchofHahnArroyofromCaliforniaStreettoComancheRoad.Notethewalkingpathonthenorthsideofthechannelwhichisalsopartofthework.
Theproject,completedinDecember2011,wastheresultofcollaborationbetweenAMAFCAandtheCityofAlbuquerque.Overmanyyears,thechannelhaddeterioratedandwasinneedofreconstruction.Whileplanningforthework,AMAFCA,cityadministrators,planners,publicartspeopleandpoliticiansallcontributedtoavisionoftherenovatedarroyothatincludedart,plantingofvegetation,reststops,awalkingpathonthenorthsideandotheramenities.
Thetileworkyouseehereisunusual.Referredtoaslitho-mosaicart,thetilesaregluedtoameshbackingandinstalledbyacontractoronsite.Inthelitho-mosaicprocess,theartistworksindoors,arrangingandsecuringtilesandthenaconstructioncrewhandlestheoutdoorinstallationofthecompletedmosaic.Muchofthedesignandlayoutwasdonebycommunitymembers,includingmanychildren.WorkingthroughtheHarwoodArtCenter,participantsfirstidentifiedlivingthingsseeninandaroundNewMexico’sditches.Next,theymadedrawings,enlargedthem,andusedthemaspatternsfor
layingtiles.
Uniquetothispublicartinstallationwasthebroadbaseofcommunityparticipation.Everyonewasinvitedtocontribute.Theresultwasstrongbuy-infromthesurroundingneighborhoods,afeelingofownershipandthecreationofanattractivepublicspacethatinvitesuse.Youcanseethefullstoryhere:http://vimeo.com/43425354.
Anotherunusualfeatureoftherehabilitationprojectisthevarietyofmeansusedtowaterthevegetation.Notethesmalldepressionsinthedirtwhichhavebeenexcavatednearthepath.Theselowspotscatchwaterrunoff.Additionalwater
1.0/2.1Miles
Waterdamagetothearroyobottom
FishmosaicnearSanPedroDrive
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comesfromcitywells.Periodically,thecity’sdrinkingwaterwellsmustbeshutdownformaintenanceandduringperiodswithoutpumping,thesewellsaccumulatesediment.Whenthepumpsarere-startedthissediment-ladenwatermustbeclearedoutbeforethewellwatercanbeusedfordrinking.Ratherthanwastethisundrinkablewater,thecitypipesitintoHahnarroyo,whereitisdrainedintoanotherpipesystemendinginacisternnearMontgomeryPark,justaheadalongthetrail.Fromthecistern,thewaterisredistributedtothevegetation.TheintakeforthisdistributionsystemcanbeseenonthearroyofloorjustupstreamfromthelargesteelfilteringstructurewestofSanPedroDrive.
Toseethesculptureofthetworeptiles,gosouthonCaliforniaStreettoKiowaAvenue.AtKiowa,CaliforniabecomesAztecRoad.RideonehalfofablocksouthonAztecandlookforthesculptureinthefrontyardontheright.
SanPedroDrive.Thisintersectionhasmoretilesandlandscapingaswellasabicycleairpump,courtesyofAMAFCA.Benchesandapavilionproviderestandshade.
TheadjacentCityphotoshowsatorrentofwaterinthearroyojustwestofSanPedroDrive.Thisoccurredduringa2013rainstorm.Whilemostofuslookatfloodingasafascinatingandfearfulevent,floodcontrolengineerstakeamoredispassionateapproach,methodicallyexaminingthetechnicalfeaturesoffastmovingwaterinordertominimizeitsdamage.Afewofthesefeaturesareworthdiscussinghere.Tostart,imaginethrowingapebbleintoaquietpond.Circularwavestravelingatacertain
Justoffthetrail–AztecRoadnearCaliforniaStreet
June,2013Flood–LookingwestfromSanPedroDrive.Notethestandingwave.
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speedspreadoutfromthepebble.Nowimaginethrowingapebbleintoamovingstream.Ifthestreamflowisslowerthanthespeedatwhichthewavesspreadfromthepebble,thesewaveswillcontinuetospreaddownstreamandupstream,albeitmoreslowlyupstream.Butifstreamflowmovesfasterthanthepebble’swaves,thewaveswillspreaddownstreamonly.Streamflowwhichmovesslowerthanthespeedofitswavesissaidtobesubcriticalwhilewatermovingfasterissaidtobesupercritical.Wateratsupercriticalflowhassubstantiallymoreenergythansubcriticalflow.
Further,whentheflowslowsfromsuper-tosubcritical,(achangereferredtoasa“hydraulicjump”),agooddealofthisenergyisreleased.Thisdissipatedenergyisexpressedthroughturbulence,rapidsandincreasedwaterheight.Astandingwave--asshownintheforegroundofthephotoonthepreviouspage--isanothermanifestationofahydraulicjump.Thereleasedenergyhasdestructivepowerwhichmustbemanagedinordertominimizedamagetoproperty.Forthosewhowantmoredetailsaswellassomeimpressivephotosofhydraulicjumps,seeWikipedia,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_jump.
JustwestofSanPedroDrive,notethelargesteelfilteringstructureandthesignexplainingitsfunction.ThefilterwasdesignedbyAMAFCAandmodeledattheUniversityofNewMexicoHydrologyLab.Itwascreatedtobalancetwopotentiallyconflictingrequirementsissuedbytwodifferentfederalagencies.Ontheonehand,thefederalEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyrequiresthatstormwaterenteringariverbescrubbedcleanofpollutants.Ontheotherhand,theArmyCorpsofEngineersdiscouragesbarriersinwaterwaysasthesemayhindersmoothflow.TheadjacentCityphotoshowsthestructureduringthe2013flood.
Justeastofthesteelstructureandlocatedonthefloorofthearroyoistheintakefortherecycledwatermentionedearlier.
ComancheRoad.
CrossingComancheRoad,youenterMontgomeryPark.Thisisaspaciousfacilitywithgrass,trees,swings,playingfields,andtenniscourts.ParkingisavailableontheeastsideoftheparkoffComancheRoad--justeastofwherethetrailcrossesComanche.Curbsideparking
ErnaFergussonBranchLibrary
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Steelfilteringstructure-June,2013flood
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isavailableontheresidentialstreetsborderingMontgomeryPark.Adjacenttotheparkisthecity’sPaloDuroSeniorCenterandmunicipalpool.TheparkisnamedfortheMontgomeryfamily,whoin1909homesteadedlandnearwhatisnowtheintersectionofMontgomeryandCarlisleBoulevards.
SanMateoBoulevard.
InthesoutheastcorneroftheintersectionofHahnArroyoandSanMateoBoulevardistheErnaFergussonbranchoftheAlbuquerque/BernalilloCountyPublicLibrary.Thebusylibraryoffersparking,restrooms,drinkingwater,andaquietplacetorestaswellasbooks,periodicals,computersandhelpfullibrarians.
ErnaFergusson,(1888-1964),wasateacher,atravelguideandanauthor.ShewasthedaughterofHarveyFergusson,prominentlawyer,territorialdelegate,andafterstatehood,UnitedStatesRepresentative.HergrandfatherwasFranzHuningwhosettledinAlbuquerqueinthemid-nineteenthcenturyandthroughhisbusinesses,becameawealthy,widelyrespectedcitizen.ErnatraveledthesouthwestandlaterLatinAmerica,publishingmanyarticlesandbooksaboutherexperiences.ShealsowroteextensivelyaboutthehistoryandcurrentaffairsofAlbuquerqueandNewMexico.Herbest-knownwork,DancingGods:IndianCeremonialsInNewMexicoandArizona,waspublishedin1931.HerwritingsplayedasignificantroleinpopularizingsouthwesternculturethroughouttheUnitedStates.Interestingly,shewasanearlyadvocateofconservation,decryingtheslaughterof
buffalo,overgrazing,destructivedevelopment,andtheloggingoftheBosque.AbriefbiographyofherbyDavidA.Remleycanbefoundatthisandseveralotherlibrarybranches.
Theeastandsouthsidesofthelibrary,adjacentwalkwaysandthenearbySanMateotrafficmedianareallsitesofapublicartinstallationtitled,“AlphabetSoup.”PeteBeeman,thecreatoroftheartnotedthatlettersarethebuildingblocksofourlanguage,ofourlearningandofourcivilizationandinhisinstallationtheyswarmoutofthelibraryintoourlives.PeteisaPortland-basedartistwhohasdoneotherlarge-scalepublicartprojects,manyofthemquitedelightful.Youcanseephotosofsomeofhis
ErnaFergusson
AlphabetSoupsculpture,SanMateomedian
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otherworkhere:http://www.petebeeman.com/Projects/ProjectPublic.html.
JusteastofMonroeStreet.T
TheUSGSflowgaugementionedearlierisonthearroyo’snorthwall.Notethetransmittingequipment.
WashingtonStreet.
Travelingfromwesttoeast,WashingtonStreetisthefirstofthe“presidentstreets,”aserieswhichendsatTrumanSt.,justwestofSanMateoBoulevard.However,beforeJuly1,1952,streetsnamedafterpresidentswerescatteredallaroundthecity.AlbuquerquecitygovernmentchosetheJulydatetorenameapproximately650streetsandalsotoinstituteourfour-quadrantgridsystem,(NE,NW,SE,andSW).Thismassiveundertakingwasdeemednecessarybecauseearlierstreetnaminghadbeenuncoordinated,asmanybuilderscreatedwidelyscatteredhousingdevelopmentsintheNortheastHeights.Inherbook,AtriscoToZenaLona–ASnappySurveyOfSelectedAlbuquerqueStreetNames,JudyNickellprovidedmanydetailsofthisre-namingandnotedthatthiswasthebiggeststreetnamechangeinU.S.history.CarlisleBoulevard.NotetherampinthearroyojusteastofCarlisleBoulevard.Theincreasedgradeacceleratestheflowof
water,ensuringitwillpassquicklyunderthebridge.WestofCarlisleBoulevard,thechanneldeepens,reflectingthenaturaldown-cuttingofthearroyo.Floodwatersaremovingrapidlyhereandthearroyo’shighwallspreventsplashing.
AMAFCAhasinstalledlargefinsalongthewallsofthearroyojustbeforeitjoinstheNorthDiversionChannel.Thesefinsslowthewaterandpreventitfromflowingoutofthearroyoasthechannelcurvesnorthward.
JunctionwiththeNorthDiversionChannel.
Notethefinsattachedtothearroyowall
2.2/0.9Miles
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LueckingParkistothesouthandbelowthetrail.Therearepicnictables,swings,andshade.Streetsideparkingisavailable.
TheHahnArroyoisoneofmanydrainagesflowingwestwardoutoftheSandiaMountainsanddownintotheRioGrandeValley.Alongwithmostoftheotherarroyosdrainingthemountains’westescarpment,theHahnisnowinterceptedbytheNorthDiversionChanneleastofthevalleyfloor.Historically,floodingfromthesewest-flowingchannelswreakedhavocinthelowlandsofthevalley,includingdowntown.Floodingwaseventuallycontrolledintwoways.First,controlstructuressuchasdamsandimpoundmentswerebuiltintotheindividualarroyos.Secondandveryimportantly,theNorthDiversionChannelwasconstructedtointerceptthewest-flowingchannelsanddiverttheirwatersintotheriveratapointwelltothenorthofAlbuquerque.ForadetailedlookatthecontroversysurroundingtheconstructionoftheNDCandtheconflict’sfascinatingresolution,seethebiketourfortheNorthDiversionChannelTrail.
Thisistheendofthetour.,thoughifyoucouldseeitpastthebermalongtheNorthDiversionChanneland
Interstate-25,youmightseethedepressionoftheHahnArroyoleadingdownthehilltoHahn,nearthetracks.
Ifyouhavetime,considerexploringsomeofthetrailalongtheNorthDiversionChannelsinceyouarerightthere.
PhotoCredits:Page3,HahnCoalCompany:CourtesyofMaryHuberandHistoricAlbuquerque;Page6,2013Flooding:CityofAlbuquerque,DepartmentofMunicipalDevelopment;Page7,SteelFilteringStructure:CityofAlbuquerque,DepartmentofMunicipalDevelopment;Page8,ErnaFergusson:ErnaFergussonPhotographCollection,CenterforSouthwestResearch,UniversityLibraries,UniversityofNewMexico.PCT000-045-0005;Page10,ServiceVehicleinNDC:CityofAlbuquerque,DepartmentofMunicipalDevelopment.Allotherphotosarebytheauthors.
Thankstothosewhohelped:KevinDaggett;VernGlover;MaryHuber;ToddKelley;EileenOConnellandstaffoftheSpecialCollectionsBranch,Albuquerque/BernalilloCountyLibrary;MoPalmer;JoeSabatini;JanetSaiers:DianeShallerandHistoricAlbuquerque;GeorgeSieber;TheStaffoftheUNMCenterforSouthwestResearch;MarkStone;KurtWagner;MaryWyantandstaffoftheUNMCentennialLibraryMapRoom.WrittenbyMarshallKovitz,andupdatedApril26,2020.
AservicevehiclewascaughtintheNorthDiversionChannelduringthefloodof2013
