ABQ is also a former flood plain of the Rio Grande, the biggest river in the SW outside of the Colorado (though that's not saying much). The "bosque" (forest)

ABQ is also a former flood plain of the Rio Grande, the biggest river in the SW outside of the Colorado (though that's not saying much). The "bosque" (forest) along the river is a riparian oasis compared to parts of the city 5-8 miles away, and historically was a major agricultural area. This changed somewhat when in the 1940s the bureau of reclamation began damming the river and providing water to other areas. So while I certainly appreciate your concern, it is easy to overstate the issue (and also easy to ignore it, as has been done in the past).