Breached Arroyo Floods NM Farmland

DONA ANA COUNTY, NM — Farmers in parts of Southern New Mexico are dealing with severe flooding issues, after an arroyo near Radium Springs breached on Friday.

Dan Lucero, the owner of Lucero Farms, told ABC 7 that much of his property is under water.

The levee surrounding Lucero’s farm to broke in three different spots, Lucero said, and some 30 acres of his property is completely flooded. Lucero said the water is 10 feet deep in most places.

For the past two days, the Elephant Butte Irrigation District has been draining the water from the property and into the canal next to it, Lucero said. However, that’s been of limited help. Debris plugged one of the drains, so an irrigation crew had to fashion and drainage hole from the property into the canal.

Recent rains have caused other damage on the property, Lucero said, but through it all, he tries to remain optimistic. “It’s very disappointing, but that’s what happens with farmers,” he said.

Lucero said he is waiting for the rest of the water to drain before he can check to see how much of an alfalfa crop he can save.