AS YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED, THERE'S VERY LOW FLOW IN THE RIO GRANDE RIGHT NOW. AND TOM THORPE WITH THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE CONSERVANCY DISTRICT SAYS THAT MEANS THE IRRIGATION OUTLOOK FOR FARMERS ALONG THE RIVER IS PRETTY BLEAK. HE SAYS THE SNOWPACK IS LESS THAN 50 PERCENT OF NORMAL ... DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE. IN SOME AREAS IT'S ONLY 20 TO 30 PERCENT OF NORMAL.

THORPE SAYS THE SITUATION ALONG THE RIO GRANDE IS PROBABLY AS BAD AS IT'S BEEN SINCE THE 1950S, DUE TO THE ONGOING DROUGHT. AND THERE'S AN ADDED COMPLICATION. THORPE SAYS THE DRY CONDITIONS MAY MEAN ANOTHER BAD FIRE SEASON THIS SPRING AND SUMMER.