BOARD00845

• Board Meeting Date: 9/10/2002
• Description: CWCB Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

The final report from the "Storage Use Patterns Investigation" is due in late September. At that time .
CWCB will request letters of support from all water users that participated in the study and the CWCB
will be able to show the Corps that there is genuine interest in the Reallocation Study and potential
project sponsors for Congressional authorization. The next phase will be to keep the Water Users
subcommittee together as an advisory committee and working group for the Recreation ln1pacts Study,
another task required ofthe CWCB that addresses cost: benefit analysis, a park master plan and
mitigating impacts to the state park.

Rio Grande Basin Issues

Rio Grande Project Operations: On July 3 the State Engineer again complained to Reclamation that
the Rio Grande Project was being operated improperly. Approximately 13,000 acres in the Hudspeth
County District are receiving water through the EI Paso No.1 District that they are not entitled to. The
delivery of water to the Hudspeth District will result in about 100,000 acre-feet of drawdown in
Elephant Butte Reservoir. This draw will cause project storage in Elephant Butte to fall below the
400,000 acre-foot level. When Project storage falls below the 400,000 acre-foot level, post compact
reservoirs in Colorado and New Mexico may not incrE)ase the amount of storage they hold unless any
credit water is relinquished. Colorado is also concern$d that the amount of usable project water is so
low the credit water could inadvertently be released.

Upper Rio Grande Water Operations Model Status: The US Army Corps of Engineers held a
technical review committee meeting for the Upper Riq Grande Water Operations Model (URGWOM)
on Aug. 22 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Participants were updated in the status of the development of
a surface water model, a water storage and a delivery \11odel. The Corps is currently using the model in-
hous~ in a dail~ operations mode. Further calibr~tion "'.' ork is b~ing performed !o enable the model. to be .
used m a planmng mode for the EIS on Upper Rio Grimde Basm Water Operatlons; the Draft EIS IS
scheduled for completion by February 2004.

Rio Grande Natural Areas Legislation: On Aug. 81 received a letter transmitting the final version of
the proposed Outstanding Natural Areas Legislation that the Rio Grande Water Conservation District
has been discussing for several years. The following i$ a summary of the bill:

1. The legislation creates a corridor extending .2~ miles on either side of the Rio Grande for the
roughly 33.5 miles of river between the southern end bfthe Alamosa Wildlife Refuge and the State1ine,
2 74% oflands impacted are private and 26% ate BLM. All land along the east side of the river is
private.
3. The are no active water rights in this stretch of the Rio Grande based on our RGDSS review.
The Division Engineer confirmed this. The existing irrigated acres are served by diversions from the
Conejos.
4. The nine-member commission that will overSee the development of the management plan is not
stacked in favor water interests. I would observe that: feds are in the position of being the swing vote.
The positive is that the commission is dissolved in 1 ~.5 years unless extended for an additional 5.
5. While water and land management within theiarea are subject to the management plan and
policies, the legislation also clearly prohibits any resE)rved water rights for the area and prohibits any
wild & scenic designations. It also prohibits any futUre storage. Other than a reservoir to help with
compact deliveries, there is no need or use for any storage in this reach.
6 Private landowners must agree in writing to b~ bound by the management plan developed.
Existing structures and operations are permitted to cdntinue. However, as shown on the map there is .
very little to consider. Most ofthe private lands are used for livestock grazing.

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