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Corrales council backs grant package to support farmers cooperative and water planning
Summary
The Corrales Village council approved a resolution supporting a grant application package—combining a Bureau of Reclamation proposal and a complementary Thornburg Foundation award—to fund a farmers cooperative’s administrative capacity building and a local water-resilience study.
The Corrales Village council voted to support a grant package aimed at expanding capacity for the Parales (Corrales) Farmers Cooperative and funding a local water-resource study.
Mike Hammond described the funding structure: a proposed Bureau of Reclamation grant (approximately $500,000, with NYCD as fiscal agent for that application) would finance a comprehensive water-study for the village area, inventorying water-use, wells and the relationship between surface and groundwater. In addition, Hammond said the foundation partner would provide a complementary $100,000 in administrative and outreach support over two years to help the farmers cooperative develop governance and outreach.
Hammond said the combined approach is intended to generate the data needed for a 40-year water plan required by the Office of the State Engineer and to help local farmers plan future water use. He said state partners including the Office of the State Engineer and the Interstate Stream Commission were engaged as collaborators, and that the village’s participation as fiscal agent for some pieces would help the application.
Councilor Murray asked about the likelihood of federal funds given shifting priorities; Hammond said the Bureau of Reclamation and Interior have supported drought- and resilience-related funding and that the project can leverage IRA/drought funds allocated to western watershed work. After discussion, the council approved Resolution 25‑40 supporting the grant application package by roll-call/voice vote.
Why it matters: The funding package would supply both the scientific data and local organizing capacity the village and cooperative need to plan water use and support agriculture under continued drought. The data could feed regional planning and inform the village’s 40-year water plan.
What’s next: The grant application deadline was stated as Nov. 4; the village and cooperative will continue coordinating with state and federal partners and finalize application materials.
