Where driveways get washed out
In Placitas and along the Turquoise Trail, most driveway and road damage happens at the same few spots: where an arroyo crosses, where a slope dumps water onto the drive, and where water leaves the drive and starts eroding the hillside. A few hours of a hard monsoon storm can undo years of grading.
What we build
Culverts
Pipe crossings sized for the drainage above them, with compacted cover and rock at both ends so the inlet and outlet don't scour.
Low-water crossings
Reinforced dips that let big flows pass over the road instead of through a pipe that could clog. See our comparison guide.
Ditches & check dams
Uphill ditches that collect runoff before it crosses the drive, with rock checks on steep grades.
Rundowns & outlets
Lined channels that carry water down the slope, ending in rock aprons so they don't start a new gully.
Sizing matters
An undersized culvert is worse than none: it clogs with sand and brush, water goes over the top, and the whole crossing washes out. We size crossings based on what drains to them and add room for debris.
Who to check with
Work in a natural arroyo, near a county road, or in a mapped flood area may need county review or a permit. We'll flag it and help you get what's needed.
Questions & answers
My culvert keeps clogging. Why?
Usually it's undersized, set at the wrong slope, or missing a protected inlet. Sand and brush build up and block it.
Culvert or low-water crossing?
Culverts suit smaller, steady flows; low-water crossings handle big, flashy flows better and can't clog. It depends on the arroyo.
Do I need a permit?
Sometimes — especially in a mapped floodplain or near a public road. We'll check before work starts.