Latest news with #MiddleRioGrandeConservancyDistrict
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
12-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Water managers brace for dry conditions in the Rio Grande
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Water managers in the Middle Rio Grande Valley are bracing for a dry season and are warning farmers that some parts of the river may run dry. That could mean little to no water for irrigation during the summer and fall. 'Everything is green now, we watered about three weeks ago, and so that's why it looks green, but here soon it's going to dry out,' said Seth Wagner, a farmer in Corrales. Story continues below Trending: VIDEO: ICE agents use taser to detain man at Albuquerque Walmart Strange: New Mexico paranormal enthusiast shares experiences with otherworldly entities Events: What's happening in New Mexico July 11-17? NM Tattoo Fiesta and more News: New Mexico resident speaks out after his father was killed in Ruidoso flood Wagner is a fourth-generation farmer who grows hay, chile, melons, and more. He's worried about his crops in Corrales, though, and doesn't expect to be able to irrigate anytime soon. 'The majority of our crops, we'll have to hope for rain. I think all farmers should start looking into other options. I think there's other systems like drip that can be implemented,' added Wagner. The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD) said it shut off pumps to the Corrales irrigators a couple of weeks ago when the water flow became too low for the pumps to function. 'We'll turn the pumps back on if we see the river inflows rise high enough to be able to use the pumps,' said River Operations Manager for the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District Anne Marken. 'We were able to run the pumps longer than we anticipated because of these rain inflows.' Wagner isn't the only farmer bracing for a tough irrigation season, which typically runs through October. MRGCD said it's due to a combination of factors, including this year's below-average snowpack and New Mexico's compact promising water to Texas, preventing the state from storing Rio Grande water. 'Typically, this time of year, we would see the inflows into the middle valley not be enough to meet the needs of middle valley farmers and their crops, and then we would release water from storage to kind of fill that gap. We don't have the ability to do that right now,' said Marken. The district said irrigation deliveries will depend on supply. The district said the water in the river is lower than we've historically seen this time of year. 'That 50 CFS (Cubic Feet per Second) at the Albuquerque gauge is about the threshold at which we start to see river channel drying downstream of there,' added Marken. The district and farmers are still hoping for relief this monsoon season. 'Farmers need to be prepared to take water on short notice because these rain inflows can come really quickly,' said Marken. The conservancy district has three more meetings this summer to update farmers and irrigators. More information on those meetings can be found at this link. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
