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discharges to the Rio Grande upstream of the Rio Grande near Labatos gage. It is of particular <br />importance in administration of the Compact because the Norton Drain captures return flows <br />originating from lands irrigated with water from both the Conejos River and the Rio Grande. <br />Originally, water users on the Rio Grande were credited with all water returning to the Rio <br />Grande from the Norton Drain because this water is included in the Rio Grande near Lobatos <br />gage. As currently operated, the division of credit is based on actual observed flows at two gages <br />on the Drain. The Conejos system credit is based on flows observed at gaging station ID No. <br />NORDSCCO (South Channel Norton Drain near La Jara), and the Rio Grande system credit is <br />based on flows observed at station ID No. NORDLSCO (Norton Drain Ditch near LaSauces) less <br />flows observed in the south channel. <br />Elephant Butte Reservoir Spills <br />The Rio Grande Compact contains provisions whereby an accrued debit or credit situation may be <br />canceled if storage in the Rio Grande Storage Project exceeds certain defined limits. The <br />principal storage component of the Rio Grande Project is Elephant Butte Reservoir. The <br />Compact provides that in any year in which there is an actual, hypothetical or calculated spill of <br />usable water, all accrued debits at the beginning of the year shall be cancelled. Similar provisions <br />apply to the reduction of any credits that have accrued. <br />Day-To-Day Administration <br />Prior to 1968, pre Compact water rights were not curtailed and Colorado had difficulty meeting <br />its Compact delivery obligations. During the period 1952 through 1968, Colorado accumulated a <br />debit of approximately 944,000 acre-feet. Because of this large debit, a lawsuit was filed against <br />the State of Colorado by New Mexico and Texas which led to more rigorous administration of the <br />Compact by Colorado beginning in 1968. Present day administration includes curtailment of <br />water rights in Colorado to ensure that compact delivery requirements are met each year. <br />Elephant Butte Reservoir spilled in 1985 and in six of the following twelve years. The spill <br />occurring in 1985 resulted in the cancellation of Colorado's 515,000 of of accrued debit <br />(approximately 429,000 of had been paid back between 1968 and 1985). Since that cancellation, <br />Colorado has been very successful in meeting annual delivery commitments, with only minor <br />over or under deliveries on an annual basis. <br />Day-to-day administration of the Rio Grande Compact for inter- and intrastate purposes involves <br />a series of detailed calculations using historical, real-time, and forecasted stream flow information <br />at ten different measuring points in the basin (four index stations and 6 other stations): <br />• Rio Grande near Del Norte (LD. No. 8220000), an index gage <br />• Rio Grande near Lobatos (LD. No. 8251500) <br />• Closed Basin Project Canal (LD. No. CBPALACO) <br />• Conejos River near Mogote (LD. No. 8246500), an index gage <br />• Rio San Antonio near Ortiz (LD. No. SANORTCO), an index gage <br />• Rio Los Pinos near Ortiz (LD. No. LOSORTCO), an index gage <br />• Conejos River near La Sauces -North Branch (LD. No. 8249000) <br />• Conejos River near La Sauces -South branch (LD. No. 8249000) <br />• South Channel Norton Drain near La Jara (LD. No. NORDSCCO) <br />• Norton Drain Ditch near LaSauces (LD. No. NORDLSCO). <br />C:\cdss\Div3_Mem2.doc Division 3 Interview June 28, 1999 -Page 5 of 8 <br />