Middle RIO grande conservancy district (district) in albuquerque, new mexico, will construct a pump station at the feeder no.3 canal to promote irrigation efficiency in the west-side belen division

The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (DISTRICT) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, was awarded a $7,844,510.25 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation under the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief program (CFDA 15.514). The grant will fund the construction of a pump station at the Feeder No.3 Canal to enhance irrigation efficiency and water supply reliability in the West-Side Belen Division. The project aims to leverage drain return flows and river accretion to increase water volume in irrigation ditches that currently struggle to maintain constant head during low water conditions. This will result in more efficient water scheduling and generate an estimated annual system conservation benefit of 6,500 acre-feet. The pump station will also support river habitat by increasing discharge to the river via the Feeder No.3 wasteway, benefiting listed species like the Rio Grande Silvery Minnow and Southwest Willow Flycatcher. The award has an anticipated completion date of March 31, 2027.

Water is currently diverted at isleta DAM and routed 25 miles to reach feeder no.3., and upstream operating constraints and drought are impacting the districts ability to convey water to the bottom portions of the belen division. The feeder no.3 pump station will also take advantage of drain return flows and river accretion in the upper sabinal riverside drain to augment irrigation supplies. This will allow farmers to irrigate more reliably by increasing water volume in irrigation ditches that currently struggle to maintain constant head in low water conditions. These improvements will result in more efficient water scheduling and generate a system conservation benefit of approximately 6,500 acre-feet annually. The pump station will also support river habitat by increasing the discharge of water to the river via the feeder no.3 wasteway. This wasteway will serve as a strategic outfall in the area, supporting multiple listed species, including the RIO grande silvery minnow and the southwest willow flycatcher.