Summary of Summary of Regional Water Plan Regional Water Plan & Link to & Link to Adjudication Adjudication Elaine Hebard Hebard Elaine Water Assembly Volunteer Water Assembly Volunteer
Middle Rio Grande Regional Water Plan 2000-2050 Volume 1 – August 2004
Shortfall Shortfall In 1999, the Assembly published the In 1999, the Assembly published the Regional Water Budget. It helped us realize Regional Water Budget. It helped us realize that we were using substantially more than that we were using substantially more than is being renewed. is being renewed. That conclusion was reiterated in the Middle That conclusion was reiterated in the Middle Rio Grande Water Supply Study, Phase 3, Rio Grande Water Supply Study, Phase 3, prepared for the New Mexico Interstate prepared for the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission and issued in Stream Commission and issued in November of 2004. November of 2004.
The Regional Problem The Regional Problem Ongoing Deficit Spending of Water - - Past Past Ongoing Deficit Spending of Water Quarter Century Quarter Century Consumption Consumption Inflows Inflows Deficit Deficit 316,000 316,000 261,000 afpy 261,000 afpy afpy afpy 55,000 afpy 55,000 afpy 1972- -1997 average data; 1997 average data; 1972 Numbers are in a acre cre f feet eet p per er Numbers are in year; y ear; One acre- -foot is about foot is about One acre 326,000 gallons 326,000 gallons Planning Mission: Planning Mission: Fifty Year Fifty Year Eliminate Deficit Eliminate Deficit Population Prediction Population Prediction 55,000 afpy 0 afpy 55,000 afpy 0 afpy 700,000 700,000 1,400,000 1,400,000
Diverse Diverse Uses Uses
MRG Withdrawal & Depletion, MRG Withdrawal & Depletion, 1990, 1995 & 2000, in acre feet 1990, 1995 & 2000, in acre feet 350,000 Depletion 300,000 Withdrawal 250,000 200,000 150,000 100,000 50,000 0 0 5 0 0 5 0 0 5 0 9 9 0 9 9 0 9 9 0 9 9 0 9 9 0 9 9 0 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 2 l l l o o o a a a a a a l l l i i i l l l c c c v v v i i i l l l o o o n n n a a a e e e d d d n n n n n n l l l r r r a a a e e e a a a V V V B B B S S S Source: Brian, C., Wilson, P.E., " Water Use by Categories in New Mexico Counties and River Basins, and Irrigated Acreage ", Technical Reports, 1992, 1997 and 2003, New Mexico State Engineer Office, Santa Fe, NM.
Regional Water Depletion - - 2000 2000 Regional Water Depletion in acre feet in acre feet 90000 80000 70000 60000 50000 40000 30000 20000 10000 0 Commercia Domestic Industrial Irrigated Livestock Mining Public Reservoir Power (self- l (self- (self- (self- Agricultur (self- (self- Water Evaporatio supplied) supplied) supplied) supplied) e Supply n supplied) supplied) 10 0 0 78,346.00 193 0 0 92.8 10,370.00 Depletion Surface Water 7,308.29 12,119.10 874.39 6,172.00 1,806.44 719.17 541.91 65,234.25 0 Depletion Ground Water Source: Brian, C., Wilson, P.E., " Water Use by Categories in New Mexico Counties and River Basins, and Irrigated Acreage ", Technical Reports, 1992, 1997 and 2003, New Mexico State Engineer Office, Santa Fe, NM.
2000 Water Use (acre feet) Agriculture Urban 90,000 80,000 70,000 60,000 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 Sandoval Valencia Bernalillo
Water supply is variable Annual Variability: Otowi Index Supply, 1950- 2002 2,500,000 2,000,000 Flow (acre-ft/year) 1,500,000 1,000,000 500,000 0 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 Year
Water Supply Conditions & Water Supply Conditions & Forecasts Forecasts • Water in Storage Water in Storage is 376,481 acre feet or is 376,481 acre feet or 17.1% 17.1% of the of the • combined reservoir capacity of 2.2 million acre feet. Based combined reservoir capacity of 2.2 million acre feet. Based on 2006 forecast inflows and use, Labor Day storage is on 2006 forecast inflows and use, Labor Day storage is projected to fall to 2.8%. Reservoir releases are now projected to fall to 2.8%. Reservoir releases are now scheduled to stop in late August. scheduled to stop in late August. • Surface water runoff Surface water runoff into Elephant Butte reservoir from into Elephant Butte reservoir from • snowpack runoff and other river flow is projected to be only runoff and other river flow is projected to be only snowpack 9% of the long of the long- -run average or just 54,000 run average or just 54,000 af af. National . National 9% Weather Service 3 month forecasts continue to call for above Weather Service 3 month forecasts continue to call for above normal temperatures and drought to persist. normal temperatures and drought to persist. • Rio Grande Project 2006 season water allocation is Rio Grande Project 2006 season water allocation is • now 50.4% of a full supply. USBR allocations are based on of a full supply. USBR allocations are based on now 50.4% the amount of water actually available in storage. The most the amount of water actually available in storage. The most probable total season allocation forecast was reduced slightly probable total season allocation forecast was reduced slightly to 53% of a full supply. to 53% of a full supply. Drought Watch on the Rio Grande Surface Water Supply Conditions Drought Watch on the Rio Grande Surface Water Supply Conditions May 26, 2006 May 26, 2006 http:// ://elpaso tamu edu elpaso tamu edu/ /Research Research/ /Homepage htm Homepage htm http
New or Additional Users New or Additional Users Need Water Too Need Water Too
Population From 1910 to 2030 MRG Population Past, Present and Future - 1910 to 2030 800,000 700,000 Bernalillo Sandoval 600,000 Valencia 500,000 400,000 300,000 200,000 100,000 0 1910 1930 1950 1970 1990 2005 2015 2025 Source: Bureau of Business and Economic Research, University of New Mexico.
The Regional Water Plan has 43 The Regional Water Plan has 43 recommendations recommendations Increase Supply Restore the Bosque Manage the Watershed Re-Use Pumped Water Reduce Open Water Evaporation Harvest Rainwater Desalinate / Import Brackish Water Modify the Weather Decrease Demand Implement Urban Conservation Plans Implement Rural Conservation Plans Adjust Water Pricing Meter Water Uses Limit New Domestic Wells Moderate Population Growth
wet paper water rights water Straight Talk: Straight Talk: Our Water is Over- -Allocated Allocated Our Water is Over Straight Action: Straight Action: Protect Our Future Protect Our Future
Tom Turney Turney— —Former New Mexico Former New Mexico Tom State Engineer State Engineer “So when did the Middle Rio Grande basin So when did the Middle Rio Grande basin “ become fully appropriated? When I brought become fully appropriated? When I brought suit against Pojoaque Pueblo on their golf suit against Pojoaque Pueblo on their golf course, seeking an injunction for pumping course, seeking an injunction for pumping without a water right, I basically testified without a water right, I basically testified that the Middle Rio Grande was fully that the Middle Rio Grande was fully appropriated at the time of the signing of appropriated at the time of the signing of the Rio Grande Compact.” the Rio Grande Compact.” (Water Assembly, June 2005) (Water Assembly, June 2005)
A Natural Next Step A Natural Next Step With over allocation, we’re always in a water short year, drought or no. Mission: Balance Water Use with Renewable Supply The plan focused on ways to reduce the deficit, cutting out some 15% of our uses unless we can find more water to satisfy that gap. Hard to manage when the ownership is unknown, as well as the seniority and amount.
R2- -1 1— —Adjudication and Water Adjudication and Water R2 Rights Settlement Rights Settlement Identifying, quantifying and prioritizing water rights is Identifying, quantifying and prioritizing water rights is paramount to better water management. Currently, the paramount to better water management. Currently, the State Engineer uses the process of adjudication to State Engineer uses the process of adjudication to accomplish this. It is recommended that this process be accomplish this. It is recommended that this process be utilized in the region unless a more expedient, equitable, utilized in the region unless a more expedient, equitable, and less costly process is created. Alternative dispute and less costly process is created. Alternative dispute resolution should be considered as an option. resolution should be considered as an option. Furthermore, this plan recommends that the legislature Furthermore, this plan recommends that the legislature appropriate and the State Engineer direct sufficient funds appropriate and the State Engineer direct sufficient funds to prepare the necessary information, including to prepare the necessary information, including hydrographic surveys, to identify, quantify and resolve hydrographic surveys, to identify, quantify and resolve priority ownership rights. priority ownership rights.
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