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Appendix A Between 1956 and 1985 the use of Rio Chama water by MRGCD's irrigators was severely restricted by the Rio Grande Compact, since the state of New Mexico had not met its obligations to deliver to Elephant Butte Reservoir. Each year that New Mexico fails to deliver specified amounts, as outlined in the Compact, a debt is accrued. As set forth in Article VI of the Compact, constraints are placed on natural flowing Rio Chama waters held in EI Vado Reservoir when Compact deliveries to Elephant Butte Reservoir fail to be fulfilled. These constraints continue until all debt is repaid. Because the debt accrued by New Mexico during this period far outweighed the storage capacity at El Vado Reservoir, MRGCD's irrigators were forced to look elsewhere to meet their irrigation needs. In 1985 Elephant Butte Reservoir filled and water "spilled" over the dam, an event that erased all of New Mexico's water-delivery debts under the Compact. Also in 1985, control ofEl Vado reservoir reverted back to the MRGCD, which subsequently has stored natural Rio Chama flows at the facility. This practice may continue while storage at Elephant Butte Reservoir remains above 400,000 af. As stated in Article VII of the Compact, post-1929 reservoirs in New Mexico cannot store native flows when Elephant Butte Reservoir drops below 400,000 af. :~ Although control ofEl Vado Reservoir is held by MRGCD, ownership of the facility remains with the BuRec. Ownership will revert back to the MRGCD after the district has completed repayment of the debt it owes the BuRec. The district currently makes annual interest-free payments of $400,000.00. Another restriction, determined and enforced by the State Engineer, exists for EI Vado Reservoir. When flows from the Rio Chama, measured at Abiquiu Dam, fall below 100 cfs during the irrigation season, El Vado Reservoir can store no water and all flows into the facility must continue downstream. This restriction protects downstream irrigators that heavily rely on Rio Chama water to meet their needs. Since regaining control, MRGCD's management ofEl Vado has shifted towards securing San Juan-Chama water, which is not restricted by the Compact. MRGCD has leased storage space at El Vado Reservoir to the City of Albuquerque and other entities with claims to San Juan-Chama flows. This tactic has created additional revenues for the district. Additionally, an operating criterion for EI Vado Reservoir is to deliver water to the six Pueblos it services: Cochiti, Santo Domingo, San Felipe, Santa Ana, Sandia, and Isleta. The reservoir is required to store adequate amounts A.6 r: ,- ., ~ 4 '" , '. ~ .; .... .<:.