WSP10795

• File Number: 8220.105.LJ
• Description: Navajo Reservoir
• State: NM
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Date: 6/22/1982
• Title: San Juan River Water Supply Availability to New Mexico and Existing-Authorized and Prospective Uses
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

'of 508,000 acre-~ of water for the irrig~on of approximately
~10,630 acres of land. The only statutory limitation on consumptive

use is that set by the limit on the number of acres to be irrigated.

The foregoing estimates of consumptive use are based on the judg-

ments of engineers. Consumptive use of less than 226,000 acre-feet

or more than 254,000 acre-feet could result within the limits set

by law. Because the project was redesigned as an all-sprinkler

project the diversion requirement has been estimated at about 330,000

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acre-feet per year rather than 508,000 acre-feet. The contract

between the Navajo Tribe and the Secretary of the Interior for water

"
for NiIP provides that beneficial use shall be the basis, the measure

"...

and the limit of the right to the use of water and that the right of

the Tribe is limited to irri~ation purposes.

The State of New Mexico previously (Minutes, July 17, 1967)
recommended that 7500 acre-feet annually (rounded to 8000) of Navajo

Reservoir water be reserved for the City of Gallup for municipal

purposes, and that amount is shown in the ISC column.

The Bureau of Reclamation has prepared a feasibility study

for the Gallup-Navajo Project which would supply San Juan River water

to the City of Gallup and to 26 Indian communities in New Mexico.

The project would also deliver water to Navajo Indian communities

in Arizona and Utah; those uses would not be chargeable against New

Mexico's share. The Bureau estimates the depletion in New Mexico by

the Gallup-Navajo Project at 24,000 acre-feet annually.* According

to the report, the project appears to be feasible.

*This estimate preSUllEs a depletion requirenent of up to 5300 acre-feet
annually for Shiprock '-Ould be served by the Aninas-La Plata Project. The
Animas-La Plata Project report estimates that 3800 acre-feet '-Ould be used
by Shiprock under that project. Because the Bureau has planned to serve
Shiprock frcm the Anim3.s-La Plata Project, the arrount available to the munici-
palities in New Mexico frcm the project was co=espondingly decreased to their
disadvantage. Furtherrrore, the Navajo Tribe has indicated that it is not
interested in participating :in the Anim3.s-La Plata Project.

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