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<br />Interior, Indian Affairs, that the productive acreage of the project should be <br />110,630 acres, rather thall the 105,000 acres which had been assumed in the <br />past. Correspondingly, the ~nnual depletion estimate has been revised from <br />254,000 acre-feet to 267,00U acre-feet. <br /> <br />The first block of land (about 9,300 acres) was irrigated in <br />~ 1976. In 1985, Blocks 1 through 5 were in production and some water had been <br />~ delivered to Block 6. Historical net diversion from Navajo Reservoir in 1985 <br />00 was 131,815 acre-feet, rounded to 132,000 acre-feet for the report. Some <br />......1 return flows from the project have been observed; however, it has been assumed <br />that the depletion of river flow is very nearly equal to the water diverted <br />from Navajo Reservoir. Return flow to the river will increase as deep <br />percolation from irrigation charges the aquifer. <br /> <br />If s~tisfactory funding of the project continues, it could be <br />completed in 1995, so the ultimate depletion of 267,000 acre-feet is shown for <br />2000. Half that amount has been arbitrarily assumed for 1990. <br /> <br />g. Hammond Project <br /> <br />In 1987, the Hammond Project <br />water to irrigate 2,972 acres of farmland at <br />acre. The project depletes 10,000 acre-feet <br />lands (3,930 acres) are fully irrigated. <br /> <br />delivered 14,850 acre-feet of <br />an average of 5.0 acre-feet per <br />per year if all of the project <br /> <br />h. Hogback Extension <br /> <br />Minor increases in depletions are expected to occur he tween now <br />and 1990. Studies are underway by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Navajo <br />Tribe to determine additional water requirements in this area. Present \Ises <br />are estimated to be 7,000 acre-feet a year, with a projected ultimate level of <br />10,000 acre-feet a year by 1990. <br /> <br />i. Jicarilla Apache Indian Uses <br /> <br />This depletion is based upon preliminary results of planning <br />studies. Results to date indicate that about 3,000 acre-feet could be <br />depleted under present proposals. Studies are continuing to develop plans for <br />additional depletions, but no more feasible uses have developed. In a letter <br />of July 9, 1976, to Mr. S. E. Reynolds, Secretary, New Mexico Interstate <br />Stream Commission, the Secretary of the Interior indicated that there may be <br />26,000 acre-feet available annually for use on the Jicarilla Apache lndian <br />Reservation, but such an amount cannot be guaranteed unconditionally. This <br />water would have to be contracted for. Such a contract would require <br />certification by the Secretary of the Interior as to the availability of such <br />supplies and receive subsequent approval by Congress. Also, shortages may <br />develop induced by a Lee Ferry call. The July 9, 1976, letter also proposed <br />the necessary engineering, environmental, and economic feasibility studies. <br />Thus, a 3,000-acre-foot development is estimated to take place within 10 <br />years, with any remaining amounts dependent upon results of continued <br />feasibility studies. By letter dated July 10, 1985, the New Mexico Interstate <br />Stream Commission recommended to the Secretary of the Interior that a contract <br />be awarded to the Jicarilla Apache Tribe in the amount of 3,000 acre-feet per <br />year to the year 2025. <br /> <br />VI-10 <br />