Hydrology Section

The Hydrology section is responsible for determining the public storm drainage improvement requirements for development projects in the City of Albuquerque. Storm water facilities are reviewed and approved by this section through Design Review/Construction to ensure that the appropriate guidelines are adhered to for public safety. Private paving permits are approved by the Hydrology section. This section reviews and comments on site plans, annexations and sector plans that are requesting Environmental Planning Commission (EPC) approvals. The Hydrology section reviews, comments and approves all grading plans for both residential and commercial sites. This section represents the City Engineer on the Development Review Board. Other public services include the following:

• Review building permits for both commercial and residential sites.
• Receive and address public drainage concerns.
• Receive requests for floodplain information from the public, realtors, developers and engineers and determines if a site is in a flood plain.
• Review master drainage plans, special assessment districts, FEMA (flood plain revisions).
• Coordinate drainage reports with AMAFCA, Bernalillo County, MRGCD, NMDOT, and SSCAFCA
  

Section Manager, DRB Member, Flood Plain Administrator
Brad Bingham, P.E., CFM, Principal Engineer 505-924-3986

Drainage Reports, DRC Representative
Curtis Cherne, P.E., CFM, Senior Engineer 505-924-3956

Certificates of Occupancy, Project Tracking, Building Permits
Tim Sims, Plan Checker 505-924-3982

In addition, the Hydrology Section is the City’s connection to FEMA for floodplain management and the National Flood Insurance Program.

The Hydrology section encourages research of existing drainage files as it applies to new development. Files are available to research in-house as well as some files have been scanned to an electronic format and are available online.

More information concerning flood hazard and drainage control can be found in City Ordinances

14-5-1 and 14-5-2. The Development Process Manual (DPM) also has pertinent information.