US Army Corps of Engineers
USACE Caribbean District (SAA) Website

RPN Hero
USACE CARIBBEAN DISTRICT (SAA)
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO

Río Puerto Nuevo

Flood Risk Management Project

 

Quebrada Margarita

 

Lower Río Piedras

 

Central Río Piedras

 

Upper Río Piedras

 

Quebradas Doña Ana & Josefina

LEARN MORE BELOW

Project Overview Video: Río Puerto Nuevo Flood Risk Management Project
Transcripts:

Authorized in 1986 by the U.S. Congress, the Río Puerto Nuevo Flood Risk Management Project is a $1.6 billion investment by USACE into Puerto Rico’s environment and infrastructure to reduce the costly and hazardous flooding facing the communities within San Juan and Guaynabo.

This project includes the following:

  • The Río Piedras and its tributaries will be deepened and widened to allow for water and debris to flow more efficiently downstream to the San Juan Bay.
  • Bridges will be rebuilt to remove obstructions, reduce the risk of flooding, and meet the latest seismic requirements necessary to withstand earthquakes.
  • Water, sewer, and electrical utilities impacted by the project will be upgraded to the latest engineering standards to withstand impacts from storms.
  • After construction is completed, the landscape will be replanted and community spaces like walking or biking paths will be created.
 

Fully funded by the federal government and locally sponsored by the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER), the project will occur over several phases, also called contracts. Many opportunities for community feedback are being provided during the design and construction of each phase. Once completed, the project will provide over $125 million in annual economic benefits and will provide flood risk reduction benefits to more than 250,000 area residents.

Although each project phase is unique, the goal is the same: reduce the costly risk of flooding to people and property throughout the San Juan area.

Project Information

Last Updated: July 2025