Board of Directors
Position No. 1 At Large | Chair Stephanie Russo Baca | Term 2023-2027
1055 Miller Rd, Los Lunas, NM | Ph. (505) 916-8681 | russobaca@mrgcd.us
Madam Chair Russo Baca comes from a family with a long and proud tradition of living close to the land. She and her husband own a small plot of land in Los Chavez, raise livestock, and their kids are in 4-H. During the growing season they help family farm hay. Stephanie and her husband also own Caballero Crafters, a small custom leather and beadwork business. In their spare time you might also find them riding their mules and donkeys along the ditches. Stephanie has a degree in Ag and is the Staff Attorney and Program Director of the Joe M Stell Ombudsman Program housed at the UNM School of Law.
Position No. 3 – Bernalillo County | Vice Chair Karen Dunning | Term 2021-2025
1004 Ortega NW, Albuquerque, NM | Ph. (505) 264-2855 | kdunning@mrgcd.us
Vice Chair Dunning is a Los Ranchos resident and former community planner for the City of Albuquerque
Position No. 5 – Valencia County | Director Brian Jiron | Term 2023 – 2027
11 Tribal Rd 5, Bosque Farms, NM | Ph. (505) 553-2387 | bjiron@mrgcd.us
Director Jiron comes from a long line of farmers. He is a Pueblo of Isleta Tribal member and full-time farmer. He worked for the Pueblo of Isleta Natural Resource Department for 10 years, in the Range and Irrigation Department. He has farmed alfalfa, oats, sudan and winter wheat and raised cattle all his life.
Position No. 2 – Bernalillo County | Director John P. Kelly | Term 2023-2027
713 Camino Espanol NW, Albuquerque, NM | Ph. (505) 362-1270 | jpkelly@mrgcd.us
During his 8 year tenure at the MRGCD, Director Kelly has brought a better balance between the urban and rural interests, the agriculture community and environmental interests; as well as focusing on long term facility rehab and drought resiliency.
Prior to retiring in 2010, Mr. Kelly was Executive Engineer for the Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority (“AMAFCA”). Prior to AMAFCA, Mr. Kelly managed the City’s Storm Drainage Maintenance program. Mr. Kelly is well known for incorporating aesthetics, multiple-use, and storm water quality features into the flood control projects he worked on. He was recognized as Engineer of the Year by the NM Society of Professional Engineers in 2014.
Mr. Kelly is married to Susan Kelly, a respected water attorney and planner in Albuquerque. They have two children; Molly and Emma, both heading toward careers in the law and water science fields.
Position No. 4 – Bernalillo County | director Joaquin Baca | Term 2021-2025
100 Gold Ave #408, Albuquerque, NM | Ph. (505) 417-6689 | j.baca@mrgcd.us
Vice Chair Baca is a professional hydrologist, with education in technical hydrology and law. He’s a father, an outdoors enthusiast, a former high school science teacher and US Army veteran. A graduate from Belen High School, he spent time with his family enjoying the acequias and Rio Grande near his home where learned to appreciate the value of water, especially in our desert environment. While in the military, his experience in environmental disaster zones led him to a career in conservation. Today, he’s a water professional. He’s served on County, City and non-profit Boards promoting education and environmental stewardship. His priorities are his family and passing along his love of science, our culture, environment and education to his young sons.
Position No. 6 – Socorro County | Director Glen Duggins | Term 2021-2025
590 NM Hwy 408, Lemitar, NM | Ph. (505) 385-4029 | glenduggins@gmail.com
Director Duggins is a life-long resident of Socorro County and a farmer for over 30 years. He raises alfalfa, corn, wheat and chile on a 600-acre farm in Lemitar. He has an associate degree in agriculture from New Mexico State University and serves on the Board of Socorro County Commissioners.
Position No. 7 – Sandoval County | Director Michael T. Sandoval | Term 2021-2025
PO Box 612, Algodones, NM | Ph. (505) 331-2067 | msandoval@mrgcd.us
Director Sandoval is a former governor and Lt Governor of San Felipe Pueblo (2003, 2007, and 2016). He’s a lifetime Tribal Council Member for the Pueblo of San Felipe and the pueblo’s water resources specialist since 2006. He’s worked as a Civil Engineering Technician on water rights and irrigation infrastructure with the Bureau of Indian Affairs from 1978 – 2006. He comes from a family of farmers and has experience as a traditional farmer himself.
Latest News
Notice to Residents of Belen, Adelino
Center of Southwest Culture Seeks Irrigable Farmland
Valencia County Farmers & Irrigators Meeting
Notice to Village of Corrales Residents
MRGCD Announces New Service Request Process
MRGCD’s Irrigation Systems Operators (ISO) are most in tune with middle Rio Grande valley water users and their needs and expectations. Their focus is working with water users to ensure water is delivered in a timely and equitable fashion. In order to keep ISO’s...
Notice: Socorro Main Canal North Project to Begin Construction
SOCORRO MAIN CANAL NORTH CHANNEL LINING PHASE I The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD) plans to conduct channel lining within the Socorro Main Canal North (Canal), starting from the San Acacia Diversion Dam to Station 60+00± of the Canal. This project...
MRGCD signs design agreement for Middle Rio Grande Flood Protection Project
ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico– The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Albuquerque District signed a design agreement for a flood control project with the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD), here, June 13. The agreement allows USACE to begin Pre-construction...
2023 Proposed Mill Levy Increase
MRGCD BOARD APPROVES 2023 MILL LEVY INCREASE TO HELP PAY FOR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE Failing infrastructure has become the most significant challenge for the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD) in these water short times. The MRGCD does not have enough...