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Editor’s note: As this story was being reported, the Donald Trump administration first froze federal grant money, then a federal judge blocked the freeze, then the Trump administration rescinded the freeze — all within a matter of hours. As news outlets and many readers know from Trump’s previous time in office, things could have changed since press time.
Corrales farmers have big plans for a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The grant money is part of the federal Inflation Reduction Act and was set aside for drought relief in the upper Rio Grande.
The newly formed Corrales Farmers’ Cooperative, which was established late last year, plans to use the money to address drought relief in the upper Rio Grande region. Board member Mike Hamman, a Corrales farmer and former head of the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District and former state engineer, played a key role in obtaining the loan. He outlined in an email to the cooperative how the money will help Corrales.
“This grant will provide for an extensive assessment of the non-MRGCD ditch systems in order to design upgrades to improve ditch efficiencies and perform construction for an identified area under phase 1,†Hamman wrote. “This assessment will be used to inform additional grant and capital outlay requests in the coming years.â€
The $500,000 grant comes from a $24.9 million investment from the Department of the Interior and Bureau of Reclamation to help conserve water and restore habitats in the Rio Grande headwaters, according to the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. The funding is designed to boost drought resilience and water security for Colorado and New Mexico communities while improving fish and wildlife habitats for future hunters and anglers.
“The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District is excited to partner with the Corrales farming community to invest in durable solutions to address infrastructure constraints and water supply shortages in their service area,†said Jason Casuga, CEO and Chief Engineer of the Conservancy District. “This innovative partnership is vital for the sustainability of the Corrales farm economy and area food security.â€
Hamman said the funding will be used to evaluate the availability of pre-1907 water rights for potential conversion to groundwater use, ensuring more reliable irrigation supplies during critical times later in the season.
“These steps are required for us to do the proper planning, leveraging state and federal funding and protecting Corrales’ agricultural heritage,†Hamman said.
Sam Thompson, president of the cooperative, said the co-op formed after Anthony Wagner, owner of Wagner Farms, called a meeting of supporters to discuss community action in response to the siphon breakage.
“That led to a letter writing campaign where we all just started sending letters to our elected representatives, and we really got their attention,†Thompson said. “The next meeting we had probably 90 people at the library and all of the delegations, federal and state people were there.â€
Mayor James Fahey said in his Mayor’s Message that the Corrales Farmers’ Cooperative was created to ensure the viability and sustainability of farming in Corrales and to help irrigators with best practices for water management.
The board includes Hamman, Thompson, Wagner, water attorney Tessa Davidson, former state Rep. Daymon Ely, Chef Jon Young and Jim Kruger, vice president of Corrales MainStreet.
To Get Involved
The Corrales Farmers’ Cooperative will hold its next meeting at 4 p.m., March 2 at the Corrales Community Center, 500 Jones Road.
The meeting seeks to recruit members, including farmers, irrigators and supporters of local agriculture. It will also serve as the first membership meeting since the board’s formation. Hamman may share additional details about the funding during the meeting.