Pamela Fanelli

The report discusses the hot and dry conditions in the basin, which have limited water supplies. Native Rio Grande inflow from Colorado is low, and the Rio Chama Association has started releasing San Juan-Chama water from storage. The river is drying in several reaches, including a significant stretch in the Santa Aasha range and in the Albuquerque area. MRGCD is out of its San Juan-Chama storage water and cannot store native Rio Grande water due to compact restrictions, limiting its ability to manage river channel drying and water availability for irrigators. The report also touches upon the need for coordination with water management agencies, public education, and difficult conversations regarding water usage and management.