A Message from John Balliew, P.E.

, President/CEO

August 2015

Beautifying El Paso
El Paso Water Utilities is committed to improving the
quality of life in El Paso. This month, we cut the ribbon on our ninth park pond, which was completed in
partnership with the City of El Paso.
The ponding area adjacent to Skyline Park was a
vacant patch of desert. The $1.07 million City/EPWU
beautification project includes grass-covered athletic fields, a landscaped perimeter, picnic tables, park
benches and a tree-lined walking path.
Stormwater fees funded the trees and shrubs used for

By ordinance, 10 percent of stormwater fee revenues landscaping and sod for the Skyline Park athletic fields.
are used for dual purpose projects that manage stormwater while preserving open spaces, greenways, arroyos and wilderness areas. Our Stormwater fees and
improvement funds paid for excavation and grading, flood warning signs, drainage and some of the landscaping. City Certificates of Obligations funded the remaining costs.
Safety First
Posted signs remind visitors that the Skyline Park Pond is prone to flooding. Its a facility
that captures stormwater that could otherwise flood streets and homes. Children should
never be allowed to walk or play in standing water. Just a few inches of water can knock
them off their feet or sweep them away.
Saipan-Ledo
In 2011, we celebrated the completion of our first park pond, Saipan-Ledo. The Saipan-Ledo Park Pond is south of the I-10/US 54 interchange. This site contains picnic areas,
fitness stations, exercise trails and soccer fields. Homes that were in the area were destroyed in 2006 by flooding. Now the site collects stormwater flows from upstream areas
in heavy rain events.
Weve coordinated with the City to create similar stormwater facilities at the following
parks: Capistrano, Edgemere, Galatzan, Jamestown, Shawver and Tiger Eye (Montalvo).

On the Water Front is a publication of El Paso Water Utilities. If you have any comments or
questions contact Christina Montoya at 915.594.5596 or by email at cmontoya@epwu.org