Albuquerque Area Office Home   |  Environmental Documents 

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission (NMISC) prepared an environmental impact statement (EIS) on Carlsbad Project water operations and water supply conservation to address changes in the operation of Sumner Dam, located on the Pecos River, New Mexico, and implementation of a proposed water acquisition program in the Pecos River Basin. Reclamation is the lead federal agency and the NMISC is a joint lead agency for NEPA compliance for the proposed action. The purpose of Reclamation's proposed federal action is to conserve the Pecos bluntnose shiner, a federally threatened fish species, and to conserve the Carlsbad Project water supply. The underlying need for Reclamation action is compliance with the Endangered Species Act and Reclamation's responsibility to conserve the Carlsbad Project water supply.

This purpose and need statement served as the basis for developing action alternatives. Additional criteria that were used to refine and screen action alternatives include safety of dams, flood control, socioeconomic impacts, and environmental and recreational benefits.

Effects of proposed operational changes on water supply and other affected resources were analyzed and options to mitigate for any adverse impacts were identified. A water acquisition program is proposed to conserve Carlsbad Project water supply. The EIS also identifies potential effects to Texas state line water deliveries and to the state of New Mexico's ability to comply with the Pecos River Compact and the U.S. Supreme Court Amended Decree in Texas v. New Mexico and will include reasonable options to avoid or minimize effects. The proposed operational changes and mitigation options will be within the existing authority of Reclamation, and will comply with state, federal, and other applicable laws and regulations. Some implementation actions may require additional permitting, consultations, congressional authorization, and NEPA analysis.  Other entities may need to lead these actions in cooperation with Reclamation. 

The EIS analyzing the effects of water operations on the shiner, meets the requirements of a lawsuit filed in 2002 by the Forest Guardians.  On September 2, 2004, a Stipulation of Dismissal was filed directing an EIS completion schedule and ending the two-year lawsuit.  The Order stipulated that Reclamation would: (1) issue a draft EIS by September 1, 2005, (2) issue a final EIS by June 1, 2006, and (3) issue a Record of Decision by August 1, 2006.  Reclamation will be held to the completion date of August 2006.

Federal involvement in the Pecos River Basin began in 1905 with authorization of the Carlsbad Project. Reclamation stores and delivers Carlsbad Project water for the benefit of the Carlsbad Irrigation District (CID). Reclamation's Carlsbad Project facilities on the Pecos River now include Sumner Dam, Brantley Dam, and Avalon Dam. Reclamation and CID are also permitted to store Carlsbad Project water in Santa Rosa Lake provided total storage in all four reservoirs does not exceed 176,500 acre-feet. The Fort Sumner Diversion Dam is owned by Reclamation but it is not associated with the Carlsbad Project. The Fort Summer Irrigation District operates the facility and holds title to all water rights diverted at the dam.

Pecos River Supplemental Water Environmental Assessment Info   PDF
2006 Interior Least Tern Monitoring Results Report - December 2006   PDF  (2.5MB)
Carlsbad Project Water Operations & Water Supply Conservation Record of Decision - July 2006  PDF
Carlsbad Project Water Operations & Water Supply Conservation Final EIS - June 2006  PDF
Notice of Availability: Carlsbad Project Water Operations & Water Supply Conservation Final EIS  PDF
Acceptance letter of the Biological Opinion for Reclamation's Proposed Carlsbad Project Water Operations and Water Supply Conservation 2006 - 2016   PDF
10-year Biological Opinion for Reclamation's Proposed Carlsbad Project Water Operations and Water Supply Conservation 2006 - 2016   PDF
Acceptance letter of the Interim Biological Opinion for Reclamation's Proposed Pecos River Dam Operations    PDF  (1.2MB)
Interim Biological Opinion for the Bureau of Reclamation's Proposed Pecos River Dam Operations  PDF
Carlsbad Project Water Operations & Water Supply Conservation DEIS - DRAFT: September 2005
Carlsbad Project Water Operations & Water Supply Conservation DEIS (Appendices) - DRAFT: September 2005
Notice of Availability/Public Meetings - August 2005
River Notes - June 2006
River Notes - September 2005
River Notes - November 2004
River Notes - Carlsbad EIS Alternatives Outlined: April 2004
River Notes - Pecos River Hydrologic Modeling Tools: July 2003
River Notes - Pecos River Hydrologic Modeling Tools: April 2003
River Notes - Environmental Study to be Prepared: October 2002
Carlsbad Project Water Operations & Water Supply Conservation EIS - Project Background Fact Sheet: October 2002
Carlsbad Project Water Operations & Water Supply Conservation EIS - NEPA Process Fact Sheet: October 2002
Carlsbad Project Water Operations & Water Supply Conservation EIS - Resources to be Address: Fact Sheet: October 2002
Carlsbad Project Water Operations & Water Supply Conservation EIS - Final Scoping Report: October 28, 2003
Carlsbad Project Water Operations & Water Supply Conservation EIS - NOI: Federal Register
Carlsbad Project Water Operations & Water Supply Conservation EIS - Complete Package

 Self-extracting File ;    WinZip File;    View-online (PDF)

For more information, contact:
Marsha Carra
Bureau of Reclamation
555 Broadway NE, Ste. 100
Albuquerque, NM 87102-2352
E-mail: Marsha Carra