Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District

The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District was established in 1925 as a political subdivision of the state under the Conservancy Act of 1923. Its purpose is to provide and maintain river control and flood protection, improve drainage of seeped areas, furnish water storage, apply supplemental water for irrigation needs, and construct and maintain distribution facilities for irrigation waters.

The geographic area served is from Cochiti in the north to San Marcial in the south and includes portions of Sandoval, Bernalillo, Valencia, and Socorro counties. The Indian pueblos of Cochiti, Santa Domingo, San Felipe, Santa Ana, Sandia, and Isleta are within the district. When the district was formed, there were 128, 787 acres of irrigable land; by 1980, this figure was about 123, 000 acres. The district originally was governed by a three member board of directors; the board since has been increased to five members.