New Mexico’s Rio Grande Compact debt now stands at -132,000 acre-feet, growing by roughly -20,000 acre-feet each year. The compact debt limit is -200,000 acre-feet — three years away at the current trajectory, or one bad water year away. If New Mexico violates the Compact, Texas returns to the United States Supreme Court, and New Mexico loses control of its Middle Rio Grande water future, forever. Compliance requires delivering the water the Compact reserves for users downstream of Elephant Butte Dam — which means significantly reducing Middle Rio Grande depletions. It’s High Time to Act!
This June workshop is the first in Water Advocates’ 2026 monthly series to pivot toward solutions. Diane Agnew, Water Rights Manager for the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, and Casey Ish, Water Resource Specialist with the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District will share their ideas and recommendations for what Middle Rio Grande water users and our water agencies — all of us — must do to deliver New Mexico’s legally obligated share to Elephant Butte Reservoir.
They speak from professional knowledge of the river, its users, and the tools available.
