|
<br />'~
<br />,.,.
<br />:w
<br />
<br />'I
<br />.'~
<br />
<br />Executive Summary
<br />
<br />Z1
<br />~:'~~
<br />
<br />:;.~:~
<br />
<br />In September, 1996, the Western Water Policy Review Advisory Commission
<br />contracted with ECONorthwest to study the major problems associated with
<br />the growing competition for scarce water and related resources in the Upper
<br />Rio Grande Basin, and to make recommendations for appropriate federal
<br />policies and actions for addressing the problems. This is our final report.
<br />The study covers the area from the headwaters, in Colorado, to Ft. Quitman,
<br />Texas (see map).
<br />
<br />. '.~
<br />ifi
<br />
<br />j..
<br />
<br />>~~
<br />,,',
<br />
<br />An Important Message For The Reader
<br />
<br />~;;,
<br />
<br />~,
<br /><>
<br />
<br />In this report we identify problems and make recommendations
<br />associated with the growing competition for scarce water and related
<br />resources in the Upper Rio Grande Basin. Our definition of problems
<br />has a specific meaning. A problem exists ifthe Basin's water and
<br />related resources are not used in the optimal manner that meets the
<br />three economic criteria described in the text. In identifying the
<br />problems we are not making any evaluation, positive or negative, of
<br />any individuals, laws, institutions, or activities, associated with the
<br />problems. Our recommendations apply solely to federal policies,
<br />agencies, and activities. We make no recommendations whatsoever
<br />regarding the Rio Grande Compact, state and local laws, the
<br />responsibilities and rights of resource owners, the substantive merits
<br />of disputants' claims to resources, or changes in specific resource
<br />uses.
<br />
<br /><!.,.
<br />,....
<br />
<br />,..
<br />
<br />I ~;
<br />~
<br />
<br />)j.'
<br />"',
<br />,",
<br />
<br />A. Background
<br />
<br />,
<br />
<br />Precipitation in the Basin is limited and highly variable. Most of the Basin
<br />receives 7-15 inches annually, on average. Half of the precipitation occurs as
<br />snowfall in the high mountains of Colorado and New Mexico and the other
<br />half as intense, summer thunderstorms. The Colorado portion of the Basin
<br />produces about 975,000 acre-feet (at) of water annually, but, because of
<br />agricultural production and transportation "losses" from evaporation and
<br />seepage, only 325,000 afreach the Colorado-New Mexico border.!
<br />Streamflows in New Mexico add another 650,000 af and about 100,000 af are
<br />imported from the San Juan Basin, a part of the Colorado River Basin.
<br />About two-thirds (on average, 700,000 aflyr) of the water entering the Middle
<br />Rio Grande Valley surrounding Albuquerque reaches Elephant Butte
<br />
<br />r, r." t) q Co ,J
<br />\ '.'... \J t
<br />1 An acre-foot of water is the amount of water that would cover one acre ofland one foot
<br />deep. It is equivalent to 326,000 gallons and 43,560 cubic feet of water.
<br />
|