Bernalillo County farmers and irrigators who help fund most of the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District’s operations will have a chance to hear updates on water management during a public meeting on July 31.
The meeting, set for 9 a.m. at the South Valley Multipurpose Senior Center, comes as MRGCD celebrates its 100th anniversary while managing one of the most challenging irrigation seasons in recent memory. Bernalillo County taxpayers fund 67% of the district’s operations and receive irrigation services through 351 miles of county canals serving over 10,000 irrigated acres, according to Mid-Region Council of Governments data.
The Corrales Comment reported that “throughout 2025, the MRGCD will host public engagement opportunities, educational programming and events to celebrate its centennial.”
Founded in 1925, MRGCD manages irrigation, drainage and flood control for approximately 11,000 irrigators, six pueblos and over 100,000 parcels of land between Cochiti Dam and Socorro, according to district information.
“This year marks a major point in our history,” MRGCD Board Chair John Kelly said in a statement. “As we begin the 2025 irrigation season, we’re reflecting on 100 years of service to the valley and recommitting ourselves to the ongoing responsibility of water stewardship in central New Mexico.”
The meetings occur during a severe water shortage. MRGCD reported that as of July 10, “all available MRGCD storage water is depleted and current native flow is insufficient to meet Prior and Paramount Pueblo lands,” meaning irrigation deliveries to non-Pueblo lands have been curtailed.
“Our focus remains on maintaining equitable irrigation deliveries throughout the District, which becomes increasingly difficult as water supplies decline,” MRGCD Chief Engineer and CEO Jason Casuga said in a recent statement. “Farmers should prepare for little to no water availability during summer and fall if seasonal rainfall does not return.”
Recent MRGCD farmer meetings have addressed water availability, Rio Grande Compact obligations, irrigation scheduling and operational concerns.
New Mexico is currently in debt to Texas for 123,000 acre feet of water under the Rio Grande Compact, a water-sharing agreement that affects MRGCD’s ability to store water for irrigation, according to district officials.
Despite the challenges, Casuga emphasized the ongoing importance of agriculture to the region. “Agricultural activity in the valley continues to generate tens of millions of dollars each year,” he said in a statement. “But the benefits of the system go beyond farming. This greenbelt supports biodiversity, provides public recreation, and helps maintain the unique rural-urban balance that defines life in central New Mexico.”
The meeting is open to the public and refreshments will be served. For more information, follow MRGCD’s Facebook page or visit www.mrgcd.com.