Latest news with #JasonCasuga
Yahoo
05-08-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
What Happens When The Rio Grande Runs Dry?
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The Rio Grande is dry in the metro again, for only the second time in 40 years. With New Mexico already in a 'water debt' to Texas under the Rio Grande Compact, what does this mean for farmers, crops, and the local drinking water supply? This week on the New Mexico News Insiders Podcast, Chris and Gabby wade through the complexities with Jason Casuga, Chief Engineer and CEO of the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District. He breaks down restrictions surrounding local storage of water supply, the terms of the Rio Grande Compact, and what a dry river means for future infrastructure and livelihoods. When it comes to the Compact, 'It should not be viewed as Texas taking New Mexico's water, I think it needs to be understood that New Mexico willingly entered into this agreement,' Casuga explains. 'And if we as New Mexico don't faithfully honor that, then it begs the question, should Colorado honor their portion of the compact?' Casuga also clears up some misconceptions about the current water shortage in New Mexico. 'I've had people tell me, 'Jason, I have this water right, you have to find me the water.' And my answer back to them is, 'Well, a water right is a legal right to use water when it's available, but if the water available is zero, the amount of water you get from that right is zero.'' Listen to the full conversation above to learn more about New Mexico's water management system, and the tough conversations taking place behind the scenes. Stay informed with the latest news by subscribing to the New Mexico News Insiders podcast wherever you listen. Download new episodes of the New Mexico News Insiders every Tuesday, starting around 5:30 a.m., Mountain time. Episodes are available on most podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Podbean, among others. You can also watch our podcasts in video form, both on-air and online. Tune in to an abbreviated version of the New Mexico News Insiders podcast on broadcast television every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. on Fox New Mexico. Full video episodes are posted on KRQE's YouTube page at Having trouble finding the show? Try searching your favorite podcast player with the term 'KRQE' or 'New Mexico News Insiders' (without the quotes). You can also use the links above to find the podcast on each service or listen to the audio player at the top of this post. If you have a question, comment, or suggestion for who should be interviewed on the podcast, let us know! Email your hosts at or Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
High winds impact irrigation ditch clean up along the Rio Grande
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – A dry winter is creating a low spring run-off this year making it tough for farmers. The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District is saying the wind this week is causing more weather woes and irrigation delays. Story continues below Traffic and Roads: Three killed in 11-car pileup west of Lordsburg Don't Miss: Navajo storyteller brings representation in front and behind the camera Crime: Six suspects arrested in connection to home invasion in Taos County 'We manage a system of irrigation canals that stretch about 147 miles of the river,' said MRGCD CEO and Chief Engineer, Jason Casuga. The MRGCD kicked off irrigation season at the end of February, flushing and clearing debris to prep for water distribution. 'We divert water in the north, and then that water travels by gravity by our canals south and then we begin to deliver that to irrigators in different counties,' said Casuga. Casuga said one week later, all that work went out the window.'I think what's really important for the public to understand is how far those weeds actually traveled to get to our canal and high winds like that, it's not like they are coming from next door,' said Casuga. Many canals across the city that MRGCD is responsible for are now filled with tumbleweeds and other debris. 'It's really hard to move water, it's almost impossible. It creates a lot of problems, it makes it unsafe at times for MRGCD to be running significant amounts of water and delivering water to farmers,' said Casuga. As strong winds persist with Thursday potentially mimicking what we saw Monday, farmers should expect delays.'Those smaller canals that run next to homes and barns and those kinds of things that we're making sure that we are turned down, so that we can hopefully avoid having any weed plugs or debris falling from branches that may plug the canal and cause it overflow,' said Casuga. Casuga said there is some good news with wind like this. 'As winds continue on for longer periods of time, the weeds actually reduce because they've all moved to specific spots by that time, it's really these first large windstorms that bring in all the weeds,' said Casuga. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
High winds impact irrigation ditch clean up along the Rio Grande
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – A dry winter is creating a low spring run-off this year making it tough for farmers. The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District is saying the wind this week is causing more weather woes and irrigation delays. Story continues below Traffic and Roads: Three killed in 11-car pileup west of Lordsburg Don't Miss: Navajo storyteller brings representation in front and behind the camera Crime: Six suspects arrested in connection to home invasion in Taos County 'We manage a system of irrigation canals that stretch about 147 miles of the river,' said MRGCD CEO and Chief Engineer, Jason Casuga. The MRGCD kicked off irrigation season at the end of February, flushing and clearing debris to prep for water distribution. 'We divert water in the north, and then that water travels by gravity by our canals south and then we begin to deliver that to irrigators in different counties,' said Casuga. Casuga said one week later, all that work went out the window.'I think what's really important for the public to understand is how far those weeds actually traveled to get to our canal and high winds like that, it's not like they are coming from next door,' said Casuga. Many canals across the city that MRGCD is responsible for are now filled with tumbleweeds and other debris. 'It's really hard to move water, it's almost impossible. It creates a lot of problems, it makes it unsafe at times for MRGCD to be running significant amounts of water and delivering water to farmers,' said Casuga. As strong winds persist with Thursday potentially mimicking what we saw Monday, farmers should expect delays.'Those smaller canals that run next to homes and barns and those kinds of things that we're making sure that we are turned down, so that we can hopefully avoid having any weed plugs or debris falling from branches that may plug the canal and cause it overflow,' said Casuga. Casuga said there is some good news with wind like this. 'As winds continue on for longer periods of time, the weeds actually reduce because they've all moved to specific spots by that time, it's really these first large windstorms that bring in all the weeds,' said Casuga. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
