Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD) water managers expect to run out of available storage water sometime during the first week of September, according to an update posted by the District last week.
At the end of July, MRGCD began releasing water from San Juan- Chama Project (SJCP) storage to supplement low natural river flow in order to sustain irrigation deliveries through the middle Rio Grande valley. Once the MRGCD depletes the available storage water, water users will again rely on natural river flow (native water) for an irrigation water supply. Water users should expect limited irrigation deliveries and the possibility of extended periods with no water for the remainder of the irrigation season.
Without rain inflows, it is possible that there is only enough native water to meet the demands of the Pueblo’s Prior and Paramount lands. This means that irrigation deliveries to non-pueblo irrigators north of Isleta Pueblo may be suspended. Impacted areas include: Sile, Pena Blanca, Algodones, Bernalillo, and the greater Albuquerque area. If there is any available water supply over the P&P demand, it will be distributed to non-pueblo irrigators as equitably as possible.
Please contact your Irrigation Systems Operator (ISO) regarding irrigation water availability and visit www.mrgcd.com and MRGCD’s Facebook page for updates.