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MRGCD says phase‑one work on Atrisco Acequia Madre is done; county partners plan phase‑two design
Summary
The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District gave the commission a quarterly update on the Atrisco Acequia Madre project, showing culvert and turnout construction completed for phase one and outlining phase‑two design, partnerships with the City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County, and a tentative total‑cost range.
Representatives of the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District told the Bernalillo County Commission on June 23 that phase‑one work on the Atrisco Acequia Madre project is complete and that partners are moving into design and community engagement for later phases.
Jason Kasuga, speaking for the MRGCD, said the agency executed an intergovernmental agreement with Bernalillo County and used capital outlay money to construct a culvert extension and turnout at Central and Sunset to create a safe entry to the project. He showed before‑and‑after photos and said the construction cleared a critical access constraint, enabling phase‑one completion and future public‑facing improvements such as interpretive signage, trails and gathering spaces.
Kasuga described the acequia as an important cultural and agricultural gateway for the Middle Valley and said the community has a strong emotional connection to the site. "Roots matter," he told the commission, citing the 100‑year history of MRGCD and the project’s role preserving agricultural memory in an urbanizing valley.
Commissioners pressed on logistics: Kasuga said MRGCD is finalizing an operating agreement and related access documents with the City of Albuquerque (MRA properties are involved), and he estimated that the full build‑out could be on the order of a few million dollars — his off‑the‑cuff high‑end estimate was about $3 million — though final costs depend on access and design scope. He said phase‑one itself is estimated around $870,000 and that the conservancy will prioritize phase‑one completion before seeking further funding for phase two design and amenities.
Commissioners thanked the conservancy and county staff for the partnership. Chair Barboa and multiple commissioners emphasized the cultural significance of acequia culture and said the project helps preserve community stewardship of water and land as redevelopment continues. Kasuga said MRGCD will continue coordination with county staff, ABCWUA and neighborhood groups on both design and funding.
The commission did not take a vote on project funding at the June 23 meeting; Kasuga said quarterly updates and coordination with the county would continue and that design milestones will be brought back to the board when appropriate.
