Understanding the Middle Valley Apportionment Under the Rio Grande - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Understanding the Middle Valley Apportionment Under the Rio Grande Compact and Associated Challenges

Kevin Flanigan New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission April 26, 2006

INTERSTATE INTERSTATE STREAM STREAM COMMISSION COMMISSION

The Middle Rio Grande Basin in New Mexico

Water Supplies Available to Middle Valley

• Native Rio Grande Inflow at Otowi
• Tributary Inflow
• Groundwater Storage
• San Juan-Chama Project Water

Otowi Gage

INTERSTATE INTERSTATE STREAM STREAM COMMISSION COMMISSION

Otowi Index Supply

250 500 750 1,000 1,250 1,500 1,750 2,000 2,250 2,500 2,750 3,000 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 Year Flow (af x 1000)

ANNUAL COMPACT ALLOCATION CHART

200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 2200 2400 2600 2800 3000 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 2200 2400 2600 2800 3000 OTOWI INDEX FLOW (AF X 1,000) ANNUAL COMPACT ALLOCATION (AF X 1,000

New Mexico Delivery Obligation to Elephant Butte Reservoir Available for Depletion in the Middle Valley

In above average year flow in excess of 405,000 acre-feet must be passed below Elephant Butte Reservoir

INTERSTATE INTERSTATE STREAM STREAM COMMISSION COMMISSION

Rio Grande Compact

OTOWI INFLOW AVAILABLE FOR DEPLETION IN MIDDLE VALEY

50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 1 9 4 9 1 9 5 1 1 9 5 3 1 9 5 5 1 9 5 7 1 9 5 9 1 9 6 1 1 9 6 3 1 9 6 5 1 9 6 7 1 9 6 9 1 9 7 1 1 9 7 3 1 9 7 5 1 9 7 7 1 9 7 9 1 9 8 1 1 9 8 3 1 9 8 5 1 9 8 7 1 9 8 9 1 9 9 1 1 9 9 3 1 9 9 5 1 9 9 7 1 9 9 9 2 1 2 3 2 5 YEAR ACRE-FEET X 1,000

INTERSTATE INTERSTATE STREAM STREAM COMMISSION COMMISSION

SAN JUAN-CHAMA WATER AT OTOWI

50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000 250,000 300,000 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

YEAR ACRE-FEET

HISTORIC FATE OF SAN JUAN-CHAMA WATER IN THE MIDDLE VALLEY

MRGCD Offset Municipal Pumping Effects on River Leased by United States to Provide Supplemental Flows for Endangered Silvery Minnow Routed to Storage in Elephant Butte Reservoir Leased by Interstate Stream Commission for Jemez Canyon Reservoir Sediment Pool

INTERSTATE INTERSTATE STREAM STREAM COMMISSION COMMISSION

Elephant Butte Dam and Reservoir

INTERSTATE INTERSTATE STREAM STREAM COMMISSION COMMISSION

5% 21% 37% 37% Reservoir Evaporation Crops Riparian Urban (groundwater depletion with wastewater offset) Total Mean River Depletions: approximately 613,000 acre-feet per year

MRG River System Depletions

Source: SSPA, July 2000 Water Supply Study of the Middle Rio Grande

INTERSTATE INTERSTATE STREAM STREAM COMMISSION COMMISSION

Future Depletions with Compact Impacts Supplemental Flow Requirements for Endangered Species Habitat Restoration Activities Delayed River Depletions from Historic and Current Groundwater Pumping Increased Depletions Resulting from Growing Demand for Urban Growth and Economic Development Increased Use of San Juan-Chama Project Water

INTERSTATE INTERSTATE STREAM STREAM COMMISSION COMMISSION

State Efforts to Increase Available Supply

POSSIBLE KEYS TO THE PUZZLE

• Priority Administration ?
• Active Water Resource Management ?
• Shortage Sharing and Consensus Plans ?
• Innovative State-Federal Agreements

– Conservation Water Agreement (2001) – Emergency Drought Water Agreement (2003)

INTERSTATE INTERSTATE STREAM STREAM COMMISSION COMMISSION

POSSIBLE KEYS TO THE PUZZLE (CONTINUED)

• Water Markets ?
• Water Conservation ?

INTERSTATE INTERSTATE STREAM STREAM COMMISSION COMMISSION

ACTUAL VS. REQUIRED DELIVERIES

50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 REQUIRED DELIVERY (AF X 1,000) ACTUAL DELIVERY (AF x 1,000)