05/25/2026
Monday’s Rain Events Temporarily Delay Prior & Paramount-only Operations
Rain inflows to the river system on May 25, 2026, have temporarily increased middle valley water supplies, allowing MRGCD to continue limited deliveries to non-Pueblo irrigators upstream of Isleta Pueblo while supplies remain elevated. Without additional rain inflows, MRGCD expects to return to P&P-only operations soon. Please stay in contact with your ISO to remain informed about water availability in your area.
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05/24/2026
BIA Begins Releasing Water for Prior and Paramount Lands
As of yesterday, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) began releasing stored water to meet Prior and Paramount irrigation demands for the six Middle Rio Grande Pueblos after determining that current river flows are insufficient to fully meet those needs.
The release of Prior and Paramount storage water will soon trigger the suspension of irrigation deliveries to non-Pueblo areas above Isleta. MRGCD water managers are coordinating with BIA officials as operations prepare to transition to Prior and Paramount delivery obligations in the coming days.
The suspension could be lifted if rainfall increases available water supplies, allowing irrigation deliveries to impacted non-Pueblo lands to resume. MRGCD farmers should remain prepared to take deliveries on short notice if conditions improve.
Certain Pueblo lands have been designated by the U.S. Congress as having “Prior and Paramount” (P&P) water rights. During times of shortage, these lands are entitled to receive water ahead of all MRGCD lands. Accordingly, MRGCD coordinates with the Bureau of Indian Affairs Designated Engineer to ensure P&P water deliveries are made in compliance with these federal obligations.
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05/19/2026
Irrigation Deliveries Update
As of May 19, 2026, MRGCD has not yet entered Prior and Paramount (P&P) only operations and is continuing limited irrigation deliveries to non-Pueblo lands upstream of Isleta Pueblo.
Water supply conditions remain extremely limited, and operations may change with little notice depending on river flows and available supply. Farmers are encouraged to remain alert and prepared to take water immediately if contacted for delivery.
Some water users and residents may notice increased flow in the Albuquerque reach of the Rio Grande over the next couple of days; however, this water is not part of the water supply currently available to MRGCD for irrigation deliveries. These flows are associated with the operations and river work of other agencies and do not reflect an increase in available irrigation supply for MRGCD operations.
At this time, there is no estimate for how long limited deliveries may continue or when P&P only operations could begin.
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05/19/2026
Suspended Canal Operations – Algodones
MRGCD has temporarily suspended canal operations in the Algodones area out of an abundance of caution due to roadway settling observed where the Algodones Acequia crosses beneath NM 314. The affected area is being evaluated following reports of possible sinkhole activity.
This temporary suspension will interrupt irrigation deliveries to affected water users until further assessment can be completed. MRGCD is coordinating with the appropriate agencies regarding the situation.
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05/17/2026
Prior & Paramount Only Operations May Begin Soon
MRGCD anticipates that Prior and Paramount only operations could begin as early as Monday, May 18, 2026. Prior and Paramount only operations is when native inflow to the Middle Rio Grande is insufficient to meet the needs of the Six Middle Rio Grande Pueblos’ Prior and Paramount (P&P) lands. As a result, all irrigation deliveries to non-Pueblo lands upstream of Isleta Pueblo will be suspended.
The areas impacted by the suspended deliveries include Peña Blanca, Sile, Algodones, Bernalillo, and the Greater Albuquerque area. In 2025, this threshold was not crossed until July, highlighting how challenging water supply conditions are this year.
This curtailment is temporary and may be lifted if rainfall increases available water supply, allowing irrigation deliveries to impacted non-Pueblo lands to resume. MRGCD farmers are encouraged to be prepared to take deliveries on short notice if additional supply becomes available.
*Certain Pueblo lands have been designated by the U.S. Congress as having “Prior and Paramount” (P&P) water rights. During times of shortage, these lands are entitled to receive water ahead of all MRGCD lands. Accordingly, MRGCD coordinates with the Bureau of Indian Affairs Designated Engineer to ensure P&P water deliveries are made in compliance with these federal obligations.
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