Laserfiche WebLink
<br />.. <br />,.. <br /> <br />, <br /> <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />KEN SALAZAR <br />Attorney General <br />BARBARA McDONNELL <br />Chief Deputy Attorney General <br />ALAN J. GILBERT <br />Solicitor General <br /> <br />STATE OF COLORADO <br />DEPARTMENT OF LAW <br /> <br />STATE SERVICES BUILDING <br />1525 Sherman Street - 5th Floor <br />Denvert Colorado 80203 <br />Phone 303) 866-4500 <br />FAX 303) 866-5691 <br /> <br />OFFICE OF THE A TIORNEY GENERAL <br /> <br />May 15,2000 <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />TO: <br /> <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board <br /> <br />FROM: <br /> <br />Sally Hatcher <br />Jennifer Gimbel <br />Assistant Attorneys General <br /> <br />RE: <br /> <br />Issues on the Middle Rio Grande <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />INTRODUCTION <br /> <br />The purpose of this memorandum is to update the Board on various lawsuits in New <br />Mexico regarding the Rio Grande. Since last October, seven lawsuits have been filed concerning <br />the silvery minnow. These have now been consolidated into three cases. Further, approximately <br />twenty collaborative groups have formed to address the silvery minnow, the ecosystem and water <br />shortage issues. This memorandum will describe the background problems, the current lawsuits <br />and collaborative efforts, and the issues that may be of interest to Colorado. <br /> <br />THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE <br /> <br />As you know, the Rio Grande headwaters are in Colorado. There are several dams and <br />reservoirs on the riverl, including Platoro Reservoir, a post-Rio Grande Compact reservoir on the <br />Conejos River. On the middle Rio Grande2, there is only Cochiti Reservoir. The Chama River, <br />a significant tributary of the Rio Grande, delivers San Juan-Chama project water diverted from <br />the Colorado River through Heron, El Vado, and Abiquiu Reservoirs. Elephant Butte Reservoir <br />stores water for treaty deliveries to Mexico and for the Rio Grande Reclamation Project in New <br />Mexico and Texas and plays a significant role in the administration of the Rio Grande Compact. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />I See attached map. <br />2 In this memorandum, the "middle Rio Grande" refers to the area from Cochiti Reservoir to Elephant Butte <br />Reservor. <br />