Rio Grande Return taught NM Department of Transportation how to build Zuni Bowls and One Rock Dams using to-scale desk top models.
The Zuni Bowl and One Rock Check Dam Research Project, commissioned by the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT), examined the effectiveness of Zuni Bowl and One Rock Dam structures as erosion control solutions for drainage issues impacting roadway infrastructure. The study assessed the feasibility, performance, and long-term viability of these structures in mitigating erosion and sedimentation.
Runoff from roadways and culvert crossings contributes to erosion and sedimentation, posing significant challenges for infrastructure maintenance and ecological stability. Developed by Bill Zeedyk and inspired by traditional techniques of the Zuni Pueblo, the Zuni Bowl and One Rock Dam are forms of Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration (LTPBR) designed to manage headcuts and channel erosion in a cost-effective, low-impact manner.
The project involved a comprehensive survey and assessment of 97 existing structures across New Mexico, a hands-on workshop training NMDOT staff in construction techniques, a field trip to observe these structures in action, and the development of a final project report.
Project Report [44 MB PDF]
Video highlighting the Zuni Bowl/One Rock Dam Research Project.