While most volunteers are expected to turn out from nearby neighborhoods, anyone is welcome to participate in the effort directed by the Corrales Volunteer Fire Department.

Supplies and equipment, including trucks to haul refuse to the landfill, will be provided by the Village of Corrales. 

The initial clean-up event is expected to take about two hours. The effort follows action by the Village Council to ban all-terrain vehicles and other vehicular traffic in the Montoyas Arroyo. Nearby homeowners hope the area will remain free of litter and other disturbances now that regulations have been imposed.

Residents complained at the October 12, 2010 Village Council meeting about increasing disturbances to homeowners and wildlife from ATVs, especially those driving on the sides of the arroyo.

A joint powers agreement was worked out between the Village and the Southern Sandoval County Arroyo Flood Control Authority to give Corrales police authority to enforce laws prohibiting such activity on SSCAFCA property.

One of the complaining residents said the situation has gotten so out of control that a homeowner was sufficiently disturbed he fetched a gun to confront the ATV driver who refused to leave.

Village Administrator John Avila suggested that homeowners near the Montoyas Arroyo form a neighborhood watch to report such activity.

The new ordinance regulating the Montoyas and other arroyos in Corrales states: 

“a. General limitation on operation of motor vehicles on unimproved land. No personal shall operated any motor vehicle on any unimproved land within the Village, whether public or private, without the express written approval of the owner of such unimproved land, except within areas clearly designated and set aside for motor vehicle use such as paved, graveled or graded roadways, driveways, alleys and designated parking areas. Any person operating a motor vehicle on unimproved land with the written approval of the owner thereof shall have such written approval in his or her possession and available for inspection at all times while operating the motor vehicle on such lands.

“b. Prohibition against operation of motor vehicles in arroyos and watercourses. No person shall operate any motor vehicle within any arroyo, canal, ditch or other watercourse of waterway, perennial or intermittent, within the Village, regardless whether any water is flowing in such watercourse or waterway at the time.”