WSP01150

• File Number: 8510.100.40
• Description: Rio Grande Compact Commission
• Basin: Rio Grande
• Water Division: 3
• Date: 2/27/1998
• Title: Report of the Engineer Advisers to the Rio Grande Compact Commission - February 27 1998
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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CD railroad bridge will remain as part of the levee project. The Engineer Advisers recommend that the
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Cl Commission support the Corps in their effort to retain the railroad bridge replacement or relocation

in the levee project.

Jeff Whitney (USF&WS) and the Bureau gave a presentation on their activity concerning

the Rio Grande silvery minnow in 1997. He noted that the Draft Silvery Minnow Recovery Plan

has been sent out and comments are due by April I, 1998. Mr. Whitney gave an update on the status

of reauthorization of the Endangered Species Act. It has received bipartisan support from several

groups. Mr. Whitney also updated the Advisers on changes made by the Secretary of the Interior

pertaining to issues involving Native Americans under the Endangered Species Act.

The USF & WS reported that during the 1997 irrigation season, Rio Grande reservoir and river

operations for the Rio Grande valley in New Mexico sought to meet water demands, including

Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD) irrigators and the endangered Rio Grande

silvery minnow. The MRGCD operated its system of irrigation works to allow native Rio Grande

water to remain in the river undiverted for the silvery minnow and various San Juan-Chama Project

contractors made approximately 16,000 acre-feet of San Juan-Chama Project water available to the

MRGCD for use by irrigators at no cost.

Mike Rourke of the USGS gave a presentation on the status of the Upper Rio Grande Water

Operation Model (URGWOM). The expected schedule for full implementation of the model is

summer; 1999.

Marsha Mose (NM) gave a presentation on the New Mexico-Texas Water Commission

modeling effort on the Las CruceslEl Paso Regional Water Supply Study.

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