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002540 1996 Report to the Rio Grande Compact Commission Bureau of Reclamation Acequia Madre head gates operated by the Republic of Mexico. The water allotment accounting was accomplished by the districts using their own field flow measurements and coordinated data from all water user entities. Utilizing the summarized flow data submitted by the districts for their areas of responsibility,.Reclamation summarized the end-of-year project water supply use for 1996. Reclamation continued working with the districts to analyze and review District efficiencies with the end goals of improving water use and conservation. Drainage waters from Rio Grande Project lands provided a supplemental irrigation water supply for approximately 18,342 acres of the Hudspeth County Conservation and Reclamation District No, 1. Total flows out of the project to Hudspeth County, through the Hudspeth Feeder Canal, Tornillo Canal, and Tornillo Drain were 137,683 af during 1996. Under the Warren Act contracts, Hudspeth County Conservation and Reclamation District No.1 was charged for drainage water from the project between March 1 and September 30 which amounted to 70,057 af, Water flows measured by International Boundary and Water Commission at the Rio Grande at Fort Quitman Station, below the project and Hudspeth County Conservation and Reclamation District No.1 boundaries, amounted to 167,600 af during 1996. ;" / Rio Grande Project Adjudication ',~ , There are currently two distinct legal and administrative processes involving Reclamation with regard to water rights issues on the Rio Grande. One is a stream adjudication within the court system in the State of New Mexico. The other is an administrative process begun by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission in the State of Texas. :;~:' , " New Mexico. At the February 4, 1997, hearing in the Third Judicial District Court, State of New Mexico, Dona Ana County, New Mexico, the Judge ruled from the bench denying motions to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction filed by the United States and EI Paso Water Improvement District No.1; therefore, the adjudication process for water rights from Elephant Butte Dam to the State line (New Mexico-Texas) is proceeding in the New Mexico court system. The New Mexico State Engineer's Office is moving forward in its selection process for a consulting firm to prepare the Lower Rio Grande Hydrographic Survey to be used in the judicial process. While there has been no commitment to be an active player in the hydrographic survey, the capacity of work required from Federal government staff related to the survey could be substantial. Reclamation, as well as the Department of Interior Regional Solicitor's Office in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the Department of Justice Environment and Natural 24 :1