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<br />.!:> <br />~5 <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />be pointed out also that the Bureau in its report <br />assumed there would be in storage at the beginning <br />of the study period (1925) water in the amount of <br />241,000 acre-feet. Unless a credit were built up <br />prior to the time the reservoir started to operate <br />or unless the operation commenced at a time when <br />Elephant Butte were spilling, the assumption of . <br />this amount of water in storage at the beginning <br />of the operation of the reservoir would be fallacious. <br /> <br />Apparently it is the Bureau's:. <br />position that if it is assumed that the reservoir <br />would be empty at the beginning of the study period <br />the operation of the reservoir would be essentially <br />the same as that given in its report, and that the <br />241,000 acre-feet of water assumed to be in storage <br />at the beginning of the study period would reflect <br />itself as increased depletion at Lobatos. This is <br />indicated by statements on page 41 of the report <br />where it is estimated that the operation of the <br />reservoir as outlined in the report would reduce the <br />flow of the Rio Grande at Lobatos an average of <br />29,400 acre-feet per year. It is then stated, in <br />effect, that if it were assumed that. the reservoir <br />would be empty at the beginning of the study period <br />the reduction in the flow of the Rio Grande at <br />Lobatos resulting from the reservoir operation would <br />be increased to 38,300 acre-feet 'per year. It is <br />questionable whether the reservoir could operate in <br />that fashion for the first few years under the terms <br />of the Compact. If it were so operated, it is certain <br />that on or before the end of the study period the <br />debits would have become prohibitive. On the other <br />hand, if the reservoir were assumed to be empty at <br />the beginning of the study period, and if it were <br />operated in such a manner as not to cause any greater <br />effect on the flow at Lobatos than would be caused by <br />the operation assumed in the Bureau's report, no doubt <br />there would be greater shortages, particularly during <br />the year 1931, than those pointed out in the report. <br /> <br />Although the Bureau of Reclamation was not <br />able to determine the manner in which the operation <br />of the reservoir could be coordinated with the use of <br />ground-water storage, as recommended by the State <br />nevertheless as a part of the presently proposed <br />project there is provided the installation of a pilot <br />pumping plant in the Mosca-Hooper area. <br /> <br />I <br />