News Release Archive

Reclamation joins state and local entities to stretch limited water supply into the fall on the Rio Grande

Media Contact: Mary Carlson, (505)462-3576, mcarlson@usbr.gov

For Release: September 28, 2020

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – In a year with low spring runoff and lacking normal summer monsoon rains, Reclamation, the state of New Mexico, the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District and the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority coordinated closer than ever and took actions together to stretch the limited supply to keep the Rio Grande flowing through Albuquerque while supporting as many uses as possible, including irrigation.

Most recently, Reclamation partnered with the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District and Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority to supplement Rio Grande flows through a lease of 7,000 acre-feet of water from the Authority.

“Mother nature dealt us a really tough hand on the Rio Grande this year. Again, we experienced a situation where the Rio Grande flow through Albuquerque primarily consisted of imported water from Reclamation’s San Juan-Chama Project,” said Reclamation Albuquerque Area Manager Jennifer Faler. “We are glad that we could rely on our solid partnerships with the State of New Mexico, District and Authority to reach this agreement.”

Reclamation will pay $350,000, which will be matched by $250,000 from the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District and $100,000 from the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, to lease the water made available by the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority.

“Our utility has been working since late June to help keep San Juan-Chama water in the river (Rio Grande) by not diverting it,” said Water Authority Chairperson Klarissa Peña. “We’re very happy to participate in this lease agreement, which will further supplement flows in the Rio Grande and is a great example of interagency partnership at the local, state and federal level.”

“The Board of Directors of the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District unanimously approved the reprogramming of funds dedicated for other ecological commitments to assist Reclamation in leasing the absolute last block of water available to keep the river as stable as possible prior to the winter,” said District’s Board Chair Karen Dunning. Under the 2016 Middle Rio Grande biological opinion, the District committed to operate their extensive irrigation system to optimize leased federal water to maintain habitat and minimize river-drying throughout the irrigation season.

“These efforts assure that irrigation deliveries will continue while helping to preserve the ecological values of the Middle Rio Grande even during challenging water supply conditions,” said District Chief Engineer Mike Hamman.

“The emergency debit water release agreed to by the New Mexico, Texas and Colorado Rio Grande Compact commissioners extended the water supply for 60 days from the middle of July, and this is another example of collaborative water management on the Rio Grande,” said New Mexico State Engineer John D’Antonio.

Earlier this summer, the State of New Mexico asked the Rio Grande Compact States of Colorado and Texas for emergency permission to use stored water in compliance with Article VI of the Rio Grande Compact. The waiver was granted, and the water was released from El Vado Reservoir from July to early September. This allowed irrigation to continue further into the season than it would have otherwise, and it kept the Albuquerque reach of the Rio Grande flowing through a summer where monsoon rains did not significantly materialize.

While stored water in upstream reservoirs allowed irrigation to continue during this low water year, it is important to understand that without that stored water, much of the Rio Grande would have dried in April and would have stayed dry for most of the summer. Although the additional water from the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority should help keep the Rio Grande flowing through Albuquerque through October, if hot, dry conditions persist, there is a possibility of the Albuquerque reach of the Rio Grande drying this fall.

El Vado Reservoir, where irrigation water is stored for the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District and the six Middle Rio Grande Pueblos, will end the season holding approximately 23,000 acre-feet of water. On the Rio Grande Project in southern New Mexico and extending into west Texas, irrigation operations ended on September 25. Due to the additional water released under the waiver by the Rio Grande Compact Commission and some rainstorms in the region, Elephant Butte and Caballo reservoirs will end the season with a combined storage of approximately 109,000 acre-feet. This is about 20,000 acre-feet more than Reclamation models showed in April when the annual operating plan for the Rio Grande was issued by Reclamation.

“There is very little water left in storage as we end the 2020 irrigation season. We will be watching weather forecasts closely for any sign of relief and are already coordinating closely with our partners in preparation for what the next year might hold,” Faler said.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.