Rio Hondo

TAOS, NEW MEXICO

Over ¾ mile of the Rio Hondo River flows through this private ranch in northern New Mexico. In the past, the river has provided excellent fishing opportunities and the New Mexico Game and Fish stocked trout both upstream and downstream for several years.

During spring runoff, the river overflows its banks and overgrown vegetation on the shorelines made access near impossible. The ranch owner asked ACI to design and construct a river restoration that would return the Rio Hondo to its intended channel, provide fishing habitat, and allow for easy accessibility. Installation of rock weirs, habitat boulders, and stabilization of the banks restored the natural channel and provided fish habitat, while clearing overgrown vegetation in select areas provided access to the best fishing areas. The river was stocked with rainbow trout at the conclusion of the restoration and now provides better fishing than ever for the ranch owner and his family.