Low water levels expected across New Mexico ahead of Memorial Day weekend

Added: 2026-05-23

[00:00:00]EASTBOUND 40 ALL LOOKING FABULOUS THIS MORNING.

[00:00:04]A LOOK AT HOW BAD NEW MEXICO’S DROUGHT IS RIGHT NOW.

[00:00:09]WATER LEVELS ARE ALREADY LOW.

[00:00:11]AND ONE OF THE STRUGGLING SPOTS.

[00:00:13]OF COURSE THE RIO GRANDE.

[00:00:14]THAT’S WHERE ALYSSA MUNOZ IS LIVE FOR US THIS MORNING.

[00:00:17]ALYSSA, WE NEED RAIN SO BAD.

[00:00:19]WE DO.

[00:00:20]ROYALE AND MIGUEL.

[00:00:20]AND I’M JUST GOING TO SHOW YOU.

[00:00:22]WE’RE JUST HERE OFF ALAMEDA.

[00:00:23]TAKE A LOOK.

[00:00:23]THIS IS WHAT OFFICIALS ARE TALKING ABOUT.

[00:00:25]THIS IS THE RIO GRANDE AS YOU SAID RIGHT HERE.

[00:00:28]YOU CAN SEE THERE’S MULTIPLE DRY SPOTS RIGHT THERE.

[00:00:30]THAT’S WHERE THEY’RE SEEING THAT SIGNIFICANT DRYING.

[00:00:32]OF COURSE, THIS IS FROM THOSE UNUSUALLY WARM TEMPS WE’VE BEEN SEEING AND ALSO THE LOW SNOWPACK THAT’S REALLY DRIVING THIS DROUGHT.

[00:00:39]AND A HOT, DRY SUMMER IS AHEAD.

[00:00:41]THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN WORKING ON A 50 YEAR WATER ACTION PLAN TO SUPPORT THE STATE’S WATER RESOURCES.

[00:00:46]THE OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEER, WHO MANAGES THE WATER SAYS THEY’VE CREATED SHARING AGREEMENTS IN ADVANCE AND WORKED ON RIVER CHANNEL MAINTENANCE TO HELP IMPROVE WATER MOVEMENT.

[00:00:56]BUT THOSE AGREEMENTS ARE ALREADY BEING PUT TO USE SOONER THAN EXPECTED.

[00:01:00]RIVER RUNOFF IS STILL LIMITED, WHICH IS SUSPENDING IRRIGATION DELIVERIES TO SOME COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING THE VILLAGE OF CORRALES.

[00:01:05]WE TOLD YOU ABOUT JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, THE STATE ENGINEER SAYS THEY’RE LOOKING FOR NEW WATER SUPPLY TO TRY AND HELP IN TERMS OF NEW WATER SUPPLIES.

[00:01:14]I THINK OUR PRIMARY FOCUS IS ON BRACKISH WATER RESOURCES, BUT THERE’S ALWAYS PEOPLE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPORT WATER OR DEVELOP OTHER TYPES OF WATER.

[00:01:23]SO I THINK THAT WE WE’RE TRYING TO REALLY LOOK CREATIVELY AROUND THE STATE, THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.

[00:01:29]AND AGAIN, JUST TAKING A LOOK RIGHT HERE AT THE RIO GRANDE AS THE SUNRISE HERE IS COMING UP.

[00:01:35]YOU JUST SERIOUSLY CAN SEE ALL THOSE SIGNIFICANT DRYING SPOTS RIGHT HERE IN BETWEEN JUST PUDDLES OF THAT WATER.

[00:01:41]NOW THE BRACKISH WATER THAT ANDERSON MENTIONED IS NATURALLY OCCURRING SALT WATER THAT’S FOUND UNDERGROUND RESERVOIRS.

[00:01:45]ACTUALLY, JUST YESTERDAY WE DID GET THE STATE DID GET OVER $13 MILLION TO HELP FUND PRO