WSP11716

• File Number: 8507
• Description: Rio Grande Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Rio Grande
• Date: 7/1/1997
• Title: Water Management Study: Upper Rio Grande Basin part 1
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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Maior Physical, Legal, and Institutional Characteristics

consists of pecans, alfalfa, cotton, onions, and peppers. Silage or ensilage,
oats, wheat, and lettuce are produced in smaller quantities. In 1995, the
gross value per acre for all crops within the District was $249.38 (Elephant
Butte Irrigation District 1995).

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El Paso County Water Improvement District (EPCWID). This district
formed in 1917 as a reorganization of the EI Paso Valley Water Users
Association. It comprises 69,000 irrigable acres in Texas' EI Paso Valley.
Over the past four decades the irrigated acreage has fallen from more than
67,000 acres to about 45,000 acres, and total consumptive use from more
than 210,000 afto less than 125,000 af(U.S. Department of the Interior
1995a). EPCWID's primary crop production consists of cotton and pecans.
Alfalfa, hay, peppers, cereals, and onions are produced in smaller quantities.
In 1990, the gross value per irrigated acre for all crops within the District
was $1,001.40 (El Paso County Water Improvement District 1990).

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The EI Paso Valley Water Users Association and EBID contracted with the
BuRec for the construction of a diversion dam and canal in 1906. In 1920,
EBID and EPCWID expanded the contract to include not just costs of the
irrigation system but also a proportionate share of the construction cost of
Elephant Butte Dam and Reservoir. Over time EPCWID acreage has been
purchased by the EI Paso Water Utility (EPWU). As of 1995, EPWU had
acquired 2,300 acres within EPCWID. EPWU also leases land from farmers
in the district. EPWU and EPCWID farmers have entered into 75 year
contracts where the utility pays a per acre fee, irrigation taxes, and provides
irrigation ditch maintenance and, in return, EPCWID farmers relinquish
11,500 af of water to the utility. EPWU also receives 26,400 af annually
from other contracts with farmers and non-farmers in EPCWID.

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Hudspeth County Conservation and Reclamation District (HCCRD).
This district lies downstream of EI Paso and diverts water to more than
18,000 acres from the Rio Grande below EI Paso. In 1990 the district
provided water to 14,942 acres on 28 full-time and 12 part-time farms. The
district collects primarily drainage and waste water. HCCRD's primary crop
production consists of cotton, with alfalfa hay, wheat and peppers produced
in smaller quantities. In 1990, the gross value per acre for all crops within
the district was $647.65 (Hudspeth County Conservation and Reclamation
District 1990).

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