Laserfiche WebLink
<br />" <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />r-, <br />\ ,1 <br /> <br />Since 1984, the City has been able to take full delivery of its annual allotment <br />with the exception of the spill years of 1987 and 1988 when deliveries were reduced <br />to 23,870 ac-ft and 1,420 ac-ft respectively because of a lack of storage space in <br />reservoirs downstream of Heron. Through implementation of various public laws, <br />contracts, and agreements, the remaining unused portion of the City's allotment has <br />been stored in EI Vado Reservoir or, more recently, in Abiquiu Reservoir, where the <br />City has obtained a storage easement to elevation 6,220 feet (est. 185,980 ac-ft in <br />1994). <br /> <br />tit <br /> <br />Until the City fully utilizes its SJ-C water, it will likely continue to keep Abiquiu <br />Reservoir filled to elevation 6,220 feet. As City demand for SJ-C increases in the <br />years to come, storage requirements in Abiquiu may decrease. It is possible that <br />storage of City water would not be needed in Abiquiu as project water is released <br />from Heron each year to either offset depletions or for direct use by the City. The <br />City's relatively large allotment of SJ-C water, and their large storage space in Abiquiu <br />Reservoir (170,900 ac-ft in 19941. significantly increases operational flexibility. In <br />addition, the MRGCD plays a key role with EI Vado, which provides alternative ways <br />of moving water through the system to accomplish the main task of meeting the <br />irrigation needs of the MRGCD. <br /> <br />Reclamation is currently conducting studies as part of an interagency effort to <br />evaluate ground water recharge in the Albuquerque Basin. Reclamation has <br />specifically been looking at the surface water to shallow ground water recharge tit <br />interaction and the potential to preserve or enhance it. This includes natural surface <br />water features as well as MRGCD facilities. Recharge enhancement alternatives may <br />allow the City and other basin contractors to continue using their SJ-C allocations via <br />ground water withdrawals by reducing the rate at which the groundwater aquifer is <br />depleted. If such alternatives are viable, then the need to develop a surface water <br />diversion, treatment and distribution infrastructure may be reduced or eliminated. <br /> <br />Water banking may provide another method of utilizing unused portions of <br />annual SJ-C allocations on a short-term basis, It would allow different contractors to <br />relinquish a portion of their unused allotment for temporary use by others, on an as <br />needed basis and possibly for a price. The customers (SJ-C contractors or other <br />interested water users), would either borrow the water or pay for it. If borrowed, it <br />would be paid back with the borrower's own allocation at a later date. Such <br />procedures may provide a means for contractors to take delivery of their water for <br />storage in the "bank," which would likely be Abiquiu Reservoir. This in turn, would <br />provide a supply for other contractors or water users interested in short-term use. It <br />may also provide a source of water for endangered species or ecosystem <br />enhancement. In either case, any such use would be strictly monitored and must be <br />consistent with the original authorization, established Federal and State laws, and <br />Compact regulations. <br /> <br />tit <br /> <br />7 <br />