AMAFCA

What AMAFCA does

AMAFCA (Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority) is a public government authority established by the New Mexico State Legislature in 1963, charged with protecting life and property from flooding in the greater Albuquerque metropolitan area. It is governed by a five-member Board of Directors and operates as a statutorily defined flood control district rather than a commercial enterprise.

The authority designs, builds, and maintains regional flood-control infrastructure — 35 dams, 77+ miles of channels (improved and natural), 14 miles of underground facilities, 7 miles of dikes and diversion structures, and 4,000+ acres of controlled land, much of which is shared for recreation and open space. Its technical stack includes a real-time telemetry system monitoring rainfall and water depth at eight locations, live arroyo cameras, an interactive GIS facilities map, downloadable LiDAR and shapefile data, and hydrologic modeling tools such as HEC-HMS (which has replaced the legacy AHYMO model). The agency enforces a Technical Standards Manual and Standard Details & Drawings that govern drainage design across the jurisdiction.

AMAFCA's revenue is almost entirely non-commercial: the sole recurring source is the ad valorem property tax, supplemented by voter-approved General Obligation Bonds (AMAFCA holds a 'natural triple-AAA' rating), intergovernmental cooperative agreements, permit and film license fees, and minor data and land sales. The debt service mill levy is 0.675 — the lowest in Bernalillo County and unchanged since 1999. Customers are not commercial accounts; the agency serves 654,815 residents of the Albuquerque metro area (2020 census) plus developers requiring drainage approvals and partner agencies (City of Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, NMDOT, UNM) under the joint MS4 stormwater permit.

Name

AMAFCA

Legal name

Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority

Website

https://amafca.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Short description

AMAFCA is a public flood control authority, established by the New Mexico State Legislature in 1963, that designs and maintains dams, channels, and drainage infrastructure serving 654,815 residents across the Albuquerque metropolitan area, funded by ad valorem property tax and voter-approved general obligation bonds.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Flood Control Infrastructure Management

NAICS

Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Control & Compliance (Storage, Separation, Treatment) (EUANAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG), Water & Wastewater Compliance (NPDES/Stormwater, Pretreatment, Drinking Water/SDWA) (EUAHABAB)

Keywords

• Flood control infrastructure
• Stormwater management services
• Drainage engineering services
• Water quality protection
• Floodplain management

Headquarters

HQ city

Albuquerque

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Ad Valorem Property Tax: AMAFCA's sole source of revenue is the ad valorem (property) tax. The capital improvement program is funded by General Obligation Bonds. Additional funding originates from intergovernmental cooperative agreements, excess land sales, data sales, permit charges and interest.
2. General Obligation Bonds: General Obligation bonds require voter approval and are repaid from property tax revenue. AMAFCA holds a 'natural triple-AAA' rating, the highest possible. The current tax (mil levy) for AMAFCA general bond obligation is 67.5 cents per thousand on debt service.
3. Permit and Service Fees: Fees for license agreements, development review, easements, film licenses, and other services. Fees include $50 per recorded document, $150 per easement document, $500-1000 per day for film licenses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

AMAFCA is the statutory flood control authority for the Albuquerque metropolitan area, responsible for the design, construction, and maintenance of regional flood protection infrastructure including 77+ miles of channels, 35 flood control dams, 14 miles of underground facilities, and 4,000+ acres of controlled land. The Authority also provides drainage and water quality compliance services, development review for new construction, real-time telemetry and GIS data, and public safety education to protect life and property from arroyo and stormwater flooding.

Product overview

AMAFCA (Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority) is a government flood control agency that provides a portfolio of infrastructure management and compliance services. The organization operates as a single unified service focused on flood damage reduction, stormwater management, and water quality protection in the Albuquerque metropolitan area. Key services include the Telemetry System for real-time rainfall and water depth monitoring at 8 locations, an Interactive Facilities Map for GIS-based facility management, Arroyo-Cam live surveillance cameras, Development Review Program for subdivision drainage approval, GIS Maps and Data distribution, Stormwater Protection BMP programs, MS4 Compliance Services for NPDES permit requirements, and management of flood control infrastructure projects including dams, channels, and detention ponds. The General Obligation Bond Program provides capital financing for infrastructure improvements. These services collectively support the agency's mission of protecting life and property from flooding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Development Review Program Review and approval service for site development plans, grading and drainage plans, and preliminary and final plats through City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County development processes. Electronic review and approval process available for developers and property owners.
• Flood Control Infrastructure Projects Design, construction, and maintenance of flood control facilities including dams, channels, detention ponds, and grade control structures across the Albuquerque metropolitan area. Includes projects such as Zuni-Pennsylvania Detention Pond, Calabacillas Grade Control, and Swinburne Grade Control Structures.
• Stormwater Protection Program Best Management Practices (BMPs) education and enforcement program for stormwater quality protection, including pollutant prevention guides and reporting mechanisms. Coordinated through the Mid Rio Grande Stormwater Quality Team (MRGSQT).
• MS4 Compliance Services Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System compliance services including stormwater monitoring, runoff reporting, and water quality assessments as part of EPA NPDES permit requirements. AMAFCA serves as a co-permittee with the City of Albuquerque, NM Department of Transportation, and University of New Mexico.
• Easement and License Services Grant of easements, encroachment and maintenance agreements, turnkey agreements, and development licenses for improvements within AMAFCA property or easements. Includes $50 fee per recorded document and $150 per easement document.
• General Obligation Bond Program Capital improvement financing program for flood control infrastructure using voter-approved general obligation bonds with AAA credit rating. Provides funding for flood control and water quality facility construction.
• AMAFCA Technical Standards Manual Published technical reference document providing policies, standard practices, criteria, guidance, and references for drainage designs, studies, and analysis used by developers and engineers submitting plans to AMAFCA.
• AMAFCA Standard Details and Drawings Standard details and drawings for drainage infrastructure categories including General & Channels, Access Control, Water Quality, Miscellaneous, and Utilities. Reference document used by developers, contractors, and engineers for AMAFCA-compliant infrastructure design.

Quantifiable outcome

• Annual average contribution of $19 million to local economy over 6 years, supporting 800+ local jobs
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFEMA provides funding through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) administered by the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. AMAFCA applies for federal funding for flood control projects including the Calabacillas Grade Control and Bank Protection Project (HMGP-4652-0012-NM). FEMA also approves floodplain remapping for the southwest mesa area.
• City of Albuquerque (COA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMAFCA partners with City of Albuquerque for projects such as the Hubbell Dam Expansion, which will expand into the Hubbell Oxbow Open Space managed by the City's Open Space Division. Both are co-permittees in the Albuquerque MS4 Permit for stormwater compliance.
• Bernalillo CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBernalillo County is a co-permittee in the Albuquerque MS4 Permit and partnered on floodplain remapping projects. County shares costs on projects in North Albuquerque Acres and other areas. Joint funding agreements for projects like La Cueva Facility Plan.
• New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (NMDHSEM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdministers FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for AMAFCA projects. Coordinates on emergency management and disaster response for flood events in the Albuquerque metropolitan area.
• Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMRGCD maintains irrigation infrastructure and works with AMAFCA on projects affecting drainage and water management. Referenced in floodplain mapping and stormwater quality initiatives.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Harris County Flood Control District: Texas's largest flood control authority managing over 2,500 miles of channels and 150+ bays/basins for the Houston metro. Direct functional analogue to AMAFCA: state-legislatively-created special district operating dams, channels, and detention basins funded primarily by property taxes.
• Urban Drainage and Flood Control District (Denver): Special district serving the Denver metropolitan area with floodplain management, stormwater quality, and infrastructure design, funded via a small ad valorem property tax mill levy. Nearly identical mandate, governance model, and revenue mix to AMAFCA.
• Clark County Regional Flood Control District: Las Vegas, NV regional flood control district managing arroyo and channel infrastructure in an arid Southwest environment — highly analogous to AMAFCA's Albuquerque setting. Funding via sales-tax-and-property-tax mix with federal partnership for major works.
• Los Angeles County Flood Control District: Operated within LA County Public Works, manages dams, spreading grounds, and 500+ miles of channels for the LA basin. Direct functional peer with comparable jurisdiction-scale flood control infrastructure responsibilities.
• Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA): Joint powers authority managing flood control along Sacramento-area rivers and creeks. Special-purpose governmental agency model matches AMAFCA's statutory district governance and reliance on voter-approved bonds for capital works.
• Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District: California special district managing stormwater drainage, flood control channels, and retention basins across western Riverside County. Comparable scale of dam/channel infrastructure funded via property assessments.
• San Antonio River Authority: Texas river authority managing flood control, water quality, and environmental programs along the San Antonio River and tributaries. Comparable federal-NPDES MS4 co-permittee and FEMA partnership posture as AMAFCA.

Regional players

• Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD): Albuquerque-area water management entity already a documented partner of AMAFCA. Operates irrigation and drainage infrastructure that intersects with AMAFCA's stormwater responsibilities — useful adjacent comparator, not a direct competitor.
• Tarrant Regional Water District: Texas regional water authority providing flood control, raw water supply, and recreation across the Fort Worth region. Comparable multi-purpose water infrastructure portfolio and property-tax-funded governance.

Others

• Hawaii State Department of Land and Natural Resources, Engineering Division: Public-agency engineering arm managing flood control, dam safety, and water resource infrastructure at a state level. Broad incumbent comparator showing the alternative state-level governance model for similar mandates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/amafca-tumbleweed-snowman

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AMAFCA