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<br />0019~3 <br /> <br />irrigation, and is about 26,000 acre-feet less than estimates <br />given at the time of project authorization in 1962. The Bureau <br />of Reclamation has recently completed a detailed reanalysis of the <br />depletions that would result from sprinkler irrigation of the <br />Navajo Indian Irrigation Project. Thisreanaiysis reflects that <br />under the plan of development project'depletions will first <br />exceed 226,0.00 acre-feet annually in' 1986 with a depletion of <br />237,500 acre-feet. The depletion rate will peak in 1987 at <br />258,500 ,acre-feet, declining to 230,000 acre-feet in 2005 and <br />further declining to the ultimate equilibrium rate of 226,000 acre- <br />feet, by 2018. The indicated fluctuation in depletion rate is <br />occasioned by the time required for the deep percolation fro~ <br />irrigation to fill the pore spaces below the irrigated area <br />to the level of the project drains which will then return the <br />deep percolation to the river system. <br />The State of New Mexico has recommended that 7500 acre-feet <br />of the water available for contract from Navajo Reservoir be <br />tentatively reserved for conveyance to Gallup, New Mexico, for <br />municipal purposes. The Bureau of Reclamation is currently <br />engaged in a feasibility study of water supply for Gallup and <br />at this point there appears to be some possibility that the <br />municipal 'needs can be met from local ground water sources. <br />In that event, the proposed depletions listed on Table 2 <br />would be reduced by 8000 acre-feet. <br />In summary, Table 2 reflects that New Mexico is entitled <br />to make depletions of the San Juan River system at sites in <br />New Mexico totaling at least 727,000 acre-feet annually and that <br />of this amount 701,000 acre-feet annually is firmly committed to <br />existing uses, authorized federal projects, industr~alwater <br />-14- <br />