WSPC12741

• File Number: 8064.200.A
• Description: Indian Water Rights - Gallup-Navajo
• Date: 9/3/2004
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Biological Assessment, Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project - Report and Appendices
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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3.0 PROJECT HYDROLOGY

3.1 Water Rights

The San Juan River will supply the water for the entire project from the water rights of the
~avajo Nation and Jicarilla Apache Nation, delivered from Navajo Reservoir and the San Juan
River under contract with the Department of the Interior.

The 1,200 acre-foot demand for the Jicarilla Apache Nation would be met by delivery of a
portion of the Nation's "furore use" depletion rights of 25,500 acre-feet from the Navajo
ReseI\'oir supply or the ~avajo River under its water rights settlement andior a portion of its
unused historic and existing rights. "Future use" rights are those received in water right
settlement that are in addition to historic and existing use rights and now include water
subcontracted to others as well as some unused future use water. Contingent upon successful
negotiation of a contract between the Jicarilla Apache ~ation and the City of Gallup, the 7,500
acre-foot demand for the City of Gallup would be met from the Jicarilla Apache Nation's future
rights and/or a portion of its historic and existing use rights. A contract with the Secretary of
Interior for deliyery of this water from Kavajo Reservoir will be pursued. All Jicarilla Apache
Nation water in the NG\VSP, including that delivered to the City of Gallup, is included in their
water rights settlement.

Presently, the San Juan River Basin water rights for the Jicarilla Apache Nation are allocated to
the following uses (FWS 2004): 16,200 acre-feet to the Public Services Company of New
Mexico (P~I), 770 acre-feet to minor subcontracts, 6,6541 acre-feet proposed for the
JAN~R\VSP, with 1,876 acre-feet of future use water unallocated. In addition, they have 2,195
acre-feet of historic and existing use rights, of which 1,846 acre-feet are allocated by the Nation
to the JA~i\""R\VSp.2 The plans for the JA~"'NR\VSP allow for the delivery of some or all of the
water allocated to that project to other uses, including the :KG\VSP, at a time that it should be
needed. For purposes of this analysis, it is assumed that the JA!'l~TR\VSP would diven no future
use water, 1,900 acre feet of the historical water right would be used either in the JANNRWSP
or for other purposes, and 8,700 acre-feet would be delivered to the NGWSP (6,570 acre-feet
previously allocated to JA.l"'\!\I'R\VSP plus 1,840 acre-feet of additional future use water and 290
acre-feet of unused historical use water that is in the baseline) to meet the full demands
anticipated from the Jicarilla Apache water rights. Both the diversions and return flows
associated with the JA:N~""R\VSP were assumed to be proportionately altered to allow delivery of
the above described water to the ~avajo Reservoir for use by the NGWSP. The associated
reduction in water use by the JA~'NR\VSP would substantially reduce the effects of that project.
The changes in hydrology have been accounted for in this biological assessment, but no change
in local effects is included.

: ~lodel shows a\'erage project depletion of 6,570 acre-reet. All results from this point forward use the modeled
ulue rather than the value reponed in the Biological Opinion.

'" The :\ation has additional San Juan River Basin water rights associated ~ith evaporative and off-stream depletions
accounted for in calculated natural gains in the hydrology model.

BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT
NAVAJO GALLUP WATER SUPPLY PROJECT
September 3. 2004

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