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. . . L"~ Rio Grande Basin Domenici Applauds Search For Long-Term Middle Rio Grande Water Management Ideas: On August 24 U.S. Senator Pete Domenici said he expects to receive a review oflong-term water management strategies for the middle Rio Grande, and hopes recommendations to be formulated by an endangered species collaborative program are innovative. Domenici deployed members of his Washington and New Mexico field office staff to take part in a recently completed workshop hosted by the Middle Rio Grande Endangered Species Act Collaborative Program. The workshop brought together a wide varied of parties interested in water management in the middle Rio Grande valley. Domenici helped form this group and has supplied federal appropriations to support it as it tried to meet 2003 Biological Opinion requirements related to the endangered species and maintain the water needs of communities, farmers and other users on the Rio Grande. The Middle Rio Grande Endangered Species Collaborative Program is led by the Bureau of Reclamation, Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. There are 22 signatories to the group including state agencies, local governments and tribal groups. As chairman of the Senate Energy and Water Appropriation Subcommittee, Domenici has secured $39.5 million in the Senate's FY2007 bill for the Bureau's Middle Rio Grande Project. The $24 million appropriation for the Middle Rio Grande Collaborative Program is a substantial increase over the FY2006 funding level. Included within the Collaborative Program funding is $2.0 million to continue development of the off-channel sanctuaries for the endangered silvery minnow. The bill provides $4 million in Army Corps funding to continue restoration of the middle Rio Grande. Additional information may be found at www.fws.gov/mrgesacp Summer Rains Affect San Luis Valley Water Forecasts: Summer rains have changed the water outlook for the San Luis Valley. Above-average rainfall this summer has resulted in both positive and negative consequences for the San Luis Valley. The rainfall has kept rivers higher and the Valley greener, reduced fire danger and provided more water for crops, livestock, lawns and gardens. It has also resulted in increased obligations to downstream states and increased curtailments on water users. Michael Sullivan, Division Engineer for Colorado Division of Water Resources, Division III. Reported figures recorded at the Alamosa airport: 2.94 inches of precipitation in July, or about 2 inches more than normal; and .75 inches, or .16 inches above normal for the first part of August. He reported that it also rained up in the mountains, causing the rivers to stay a little higher, but noted that water levels are still only 75 percent of normal. Before the rains, the Rio Grande was expected to experience a 65-percent-of- normal year. The rains have increased the flow of the river at Del Norte, one of the key gauging stations for the Rio Grande, and on the Conejos River. . Sullivan said the rain has impacted the farmers negatively and positively. The rain has resulted in more water in the irrigation ditches. However, the rain has not been that helpful for alfalfa farmers who have had hay down in the fields when the rains came. Sullivan also had to increase curtailments on water users. On August 10 he had to increase the curtailment from II percent to 16 percent on the Rio Grande. Increased flows on the Rio Grande mean increased obligations to send more of the water downstream, 29