Albuquerque Area Office

Water Operations Group

Annual Operations Plan - Calendar Year 2001

El Vado Reservoir: El Vado reservoir began the year with a content 23,700, one of the lowest levels in decades. Releases were held at 100 cfs from January through March 2000. All native flows down the Chama were captured and the releases were all City of Albuquerque water being moved from Heron to Abiquiu. The release of City water ended at the same time irrigation season started. A release of 100 cfs of native water was then made to satisfy the demands of the Rio Chama acequias.

Spring runoff began the middle of March and was interrupted by several cold snaps. El Vado Reservoir is expected to fill by the end of May, based upon a forecasted March through July runoff of approximately 215,000 ac-ft, or 96% of the 30 year average. Of this amount, approximately 160,000 ac-ft will be stored and the rest will be passed downstream. As the reservoir fills towards the end of May, releases will be gradually increased to match the inflow as measured at the La Puente gage. To expedite the filling of the reservoir, flows below the dam will be much below normal in the early part of May.

Rafting releases are planned for mid-July through late August, and for now are intended to be the normal schedule of 800 cfs from Friday afternoon through Sunday afternoon and 300 cfs during weekdays. Rafting releases are dependent upon actual water availability and usage conditions, and impacts to storage in El Vado and Abiquiu. As is normally done, MRGCD irrigation demands will be met mostly through borrowed releases from Abiquiu, paid back from El Vado at later times to assist with environmental and recreational needs. The reservoir is expected to end the year at a total storage of approximately 120,000 ac-ft

[El Vado Reservoir]