Excavation on Corrales acreage
In Corrales the dig is usually for a barn, an addition, a pond or a wall at the edge of an arena. We work around the cottonwoods and irrigation ditches you want left alone, and we wait for ground that can carry a machine.
Digging between the ditch and the cottonwoods
Properties near the river sit on soil that has been irrigated for generations. It digs easily but stays soft, especially right after water has run through the fields. Climbing west toward Rio Rancho, the ground turns sandier and drier, with its own habit of caving.
The big cottonwoods are the other constraint. Their roots spread well past the canopy, so we keep tracks and spoil piles out of the zones you want protected and agree on those lines during the walk-through.
Most properties here are big enough to keep spoil on site. Many owners use it to fill a low corner of a pasture or build up a building site instead of paying to haul it away.
The ditch easement is not a staging area
Acequias and laterals here are managed by the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District. Digging in or next to a ditch or its easement typically needs their permission, and we won't park equipment, pile dirt or cut near one without it. The Village of Corrales has its own permits as well, so check with the village on structures and larger projects.
Corrales projects we dig for
- Footings for barns, shops and hay shelters
- Footings and crawlspaces for additions and casitas
- Ponds and water features on larger lots
- Retaining-wall cuts where an arena or yard steps down
- Importing fill to raise a low building site
- Backfill and compaction around new foundations
How we schedule a dig on village acreage
- 1
Walk the property together
We mark the trees that stay, the ditches, the trailer route in, and any wells or septic systems you know about.
- 2
Sort out approvals
You confirm what the village needs and whether MRGCD is involved. We can provide a written scope for those conversations.
- 3
Locate utilities
We put in a New Mexico 811 request and wait for the marks before any digging.
- 4
Pick a firm-ground day
If the fields were just irrigated or it rained, we push the start rather than rut your pasture.
- 5
Dig, place spoil, backfill
We excavate to the plan, set spoil where you want it, and come back to backfill once the foundation work is done.
Questions from Corrales property owners
Can you dig a pond on a property near the bosque?
Often, yes, but the ground near the river can be soft and wet, and a pond near a ditch or easement may need MRGCD's permission. We look at the site and help you work out who to ask before we quote.
Will an excavator wreck my pasture or long driveway?
We pick the route in with you, wait for firm ground and keep heavy traffic to one path. If a section gets disturbed, we can grade it back before we leave.
Do I need village approval to excavate in Corrales?
It depends on the project. New structures and larger earthwork typically involve the Village of Corrales. Ask the village first; we can give you a written description of the work.
Request a free excavation estimate in Corrales
Tell us what you're building and roughly where on the property. We'll walk it with you and send a written quote.
Prefer to talk it through? Call (505) 578-0369.
More services in Corrales
Excavation nearby
Let's walk your property. The estimate is free.
We come out, look at the lot with you, and hand you a written quote. No pressure, no obligation.