Welcome to the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District
"Keeping the Valley Green"
Newly Elected MRGCD Board of Directors Sworn In
The four newly elected members to the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy Board were sworn in Monday, June 10th by the honorable Michael D. Bustamante.
All four Directors were re-elected to their posts for a four year term each.
At the regularly scheduled Board meeting, Derrick Lente was re-elected as Chairman and Adrian Oglesby was elected Vice-Chair.
Sworn in were Karen Dunning, Bernalillo County, Position #3; Adrian Oglesby, Bernalillo County, Position #4, Chris Sichler, Socorro County, Position #6; Derrick Lente, Sandoval County, Position #7.
Official Election Results
Bernalillo County -Position #3 |
Votes |
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Sandoval County - Position #7 |
Votes |
Jim Roberts |
1290 |
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Derrick Lente |
451 |
Karen Dunning |
1376 |
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David Lorenzo C'deBaca |
183 |
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Bernalillo County - Position #4 |
Votes |
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Socorro County - Position #6 |
Votes |
Andrew Leo Lopez |
87 |
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Jericho Sanchez |
166 |
Adrian Oglesby |
1397 |
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Chris Sichler |
346 |
Louis C. Trujillo |
1179 |
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33 of 33 Polling Locations Reporting |
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MRGCD Bosque Closed to Visitors
After consultation with Law and Fire Enforcement officials, and due to severe drought conditions, the Bosque is closed to all visitors in Sandoval, Socorro, Valencia and Bernalillo Counties.
A full closure means that all MRGCD owned and operated lands may not be used by any visitors for any reason except by special permit.
The full closure does not include the Bosque areas in the Sevilleta Refuge, La Joya Game Refuge, or Bosque del Apache Refuge. Pueblo lands within the District establish their own closure policies.
Bernalillo County and the City of Albuquerque closed the forested areas of the Bosque as of 8:00 a.m. Monday, June 10. However, established trails in open space areas and levee roads and paved bike paths remain accessible to visitors.
The bosque in Corrales is closed, visitors must stay west of the clear ditch.
The full closure will be reviewed as appropriate.
Farmers' Forecast
5/30/13
Runoff is now completely gone. We are experiencing exceptionally low flows for this time of year at both Embudo and La Puente. MRGCD began releasing water from storage on May 21. We only have a small amount of stored water, which at present rate of use, we expect to last 4 to 6 weeks. Once our storage is used up we will have only the natural flow of the river. Hopefully this will get us through June, and the summer "monsoons" will be good to us. Because of the low flows, Water Bank deliveries remain curtailed until further notice. Total flow entering the middle valley is now about 1050 cfs, only about 350 to 400 cfs of that is natural flow. The remainder is release from storage including some for MRGCD, ABCWUA, and the Silvery Minnow.
The Cochiti Main Canal was out of service for 7 days due to a pipe failure. Fortunately the canal was shut down before a breach could occur. Emergency repairs were completed over the Memorial Day weekend and service was restored yesterday (5/29). The Cochiti Main Canal may receive extra water for the next few days to allow irrigation schedules to be caught up.
Bureau of Reclamation is continuing to release "minnow water", and this is what we are bypassing at Isleta and San Acacia dams. To save some of this water, there is currently a proposal to US Fish and Wildlife to begin drying parts of the river earlier than usual. In spite of all the efforts on behalf of the Silvery Minnow, a notorious environmental group has filed a notice of intent to sue, potentially affecting irrigators later this summer.
Total natural flow produced above Cochiti is about 600 cubic feet per second (cfs). Some of this water gets consumed above the MRGCD by the Rio Chama Acequias, Velarde, Pueblos around Espanola, and others including the Bosque along that portion of the river.
Bureau of Reclamation is releasing 250 cfs of for the Rio Grande Silvery minnow.
ABCWUA/Sante Fe are releasing about 80 cfs from Abiquiu reservoir
Total release from Cochiti Reservoir is now about 1050 cfs. This is being distributed between MRGCD divisions, based on acreage served, as follows:
| Division |
CFS |
Notes |
| Cochiti |
140 |
50 cfs to west side, 90 cfs to east side, all excess flow returned above Angostura |
| Albuquerque |
125 |
150 cfs with Cochiti return flow, 120 cfs to Albuquerque Main Canal, 15 cfs to Corrales 60 cfs to N Valley, 75 cfs to S. Valley,
40 cfs to Barr Main (S. Valley/Barr include N Valley returns) |
| Belen |
350 |
Primary delivery to west side (Belen High Line). Some east side deliveries possible, Diversion to Belen High Line will end Wednesday (6/5), primary flow shifted to Peralta Main Thursday (6/6) |
| Socorro |
115 |
Dependent on Belen outflow, San Acacia diversion now being made as flow allows |
Bureau of Reclamation water (250 cfs) is being bypassed at Isleta and San Acacia dams to maintain flows for Rio Grande Silvery Minnow.
Natural flow is below the flow requirements for Water Bank deliveries. Water Bank users are curtailed.
Water Bank Curtailed Until Further Notice
To: MRGCD WATER BANK USERS, MRGCD BOARD MEMBERS, DIVISION MANAGERS, DITCH RIDER SUPERVISORS & DITCH RIDERS
Date: May 13, 2013
Re: CURTAILMENT OF MRGCD WATER BANK DELIVERIES
As you know, due to drought conditions and inadequate storage in our reservoirs, a very limited amount of water has been available this year for our irrigators. Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD) Water Bank users were advised that the curtailment of Water Bank deliveries this year was almost certain; given the limited supplies of water. MRGCD Water Bank Rule 23 contains two water cessation supply triggers (storage at El Vado Dam below 91,000 AF and natural flow in the river below 900 cfs) that, when met, require curtailment of Water Bank leases. As of May 13, 2013, both triggers requiring cessation of Water Bank deliveries contained in MRGCD Water Bank Rule 23 have occurred.
Water deliveries to persons receiving water under a Water Bank lease will no longer be scheduled effective at noon on May 13, 2013. Deliveries that are currently scheduled through noon on May 18th may be completed. After that time, no deliveries under Water Bank leases will be permitted after noon on May 18th until further notice.
Failure to follow MRGCD Water Bank Rule 23 Section 23-4.00(G) and the Water Bank lease agreement will result in violation of policy. Appropriate actions will be taken.
When conditions change and additional water is available for Water Bank leases, your Ditch Rider will advise you or it will be posted on www.mrgcd.com.
Your cooperation is appreciated.
Thank you.
Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District
MRGCD Board of Directors Approve Changes to Water Bank Policy
The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District Board of Directors, by unanimous vote and resolution, has approved changes to the Water Bank Rule 23.
The proposed changes will impact current and future irrigators leasing water from the District thru the Water Bank program.
Click below for the new rules.
Water Bank Rule 23
MRGCD Board of Directors Approves Updated Water Distribution Policy
By a unanimous vote the MRGCD Board of Directors approved an updated Water Distribution Policy that takes effect immediately.
The revised regulations outline the rules for irrigators and water user within the district. These updated rules include provisions for dealing with district residents who are irrigating illegally. This includes those who do not have water rights and are not utilizing the MRGCD Water Bank, but continue to irrigate property.
At its June 25, 2012 meeting the board directed MRGCD staff to take measures to identify those who are irrigating without right and initiate appropriate action to stop the illegal irrigation. Those actions could entail a written notification to cease irrigation, locking turnouts, and/or legal action.
Click on the link below for a copy of the revised Water Distribution Policy.
2012 Water Distribution Policy