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<br /> <br />At present most of the surface water suppl ies have been appropriated or allocated <br />primarily for agricultural uses and most of the groundwater supplies developed to <br />date are used for this purpose. Another basic a?sumption is that in areas where <br />water supplies are fully appropriated increased needs for municipal, industrial, <br />mining, and certain other uses will be met by retirement of irrigated agriculture. ~~, <br /> <br />The three projections are used to identify increased urban, rural,and ') <br />manufacturing needs. Increased needs for minerals, fish, wildlife. recreation, and ~ <br />certain other uses were estimated independently of population. ~ <br />~ <br />In much of the area, available water supplies are not adequate to satisfy all <br />future demands and maintain the present level of irrigated agriculture. The economic <br />impact of the probable loss of irrigation must be evaluated. It is possible that <br />some demands such as fish, wildlife, and recreation will not be met because it would <br />result in the transfer of all irrigation water rights in some counties. <br /> <br />As growth and economic development occurs, careful planning will be required <br />to conserve and protect environmental qualities of the basin. The qualities <br />include clear air, open spaces, flowing streams, riparian and other areas of scenic <br />beauty. There are water quality problems, especially in groundwater supplies in some <br />of the rural areas. In the upper reaches and in most tributaries surface water quality <br />is good to fair. In downstream areas quality becomes fair to poor, especially in the <br />Canadian River drainage below Ute Dam. <br /> <br />Wind and water erosion are prevelant throughout the area and add sediment to the <br />streams, denude range and cropland, and in places extensive sand-dune areas have been <br />formed. Continued conservation measures are required to assist in solving these <br />problems and New Mexico supports such programs at the local, state, and federal levels. <br /> <br />Flooding occurs throughout the basin. These problems are common to both large and <br />towns as well as along some of the stream channels. Programs to assist in alleViating <br />flood damage are needed and will require planning and funding at local, state, and <br />federal levels. <br /> <br />KEY WATER PROBLEMS <br /> <br />Both surface and groundwater sources are used for water supply, however. the <br />areas where large amounts of groundwater suppl ies are avai1.able and which can be, <br />produced in sizeable quantities are located in Harding, Union, and part of Quay Counties. <br /> <br />Surface water supplies are available from the Canadian River system and the Dry <br />Cimarron River. the Canadian River and its tributaries drain areas in Colfax, Mora, <br />San Miguel, Harding, and Quay Counties. The Dry Cimarron River drains the northern <br />part of Union County. Two of the larger reservoirs in New Mexico regulate flows of <br />the Canadian River; they are Conchas Reservoir located some 35 miles north of <br />Tucumcari and Ute Reservoir located near the village of Logan. <br /> <br />Surface water supplies available from Conchas Reservoir and the Canadian River <br />system above this reservoir are considered to be fully appropriated and when ,the <br />demands for water by surface-water uses exceed the rights, these demands must be met <br />by acquiring another surface-water right (assumed in this analysis to be irrigation) <br />and transferring this right to meet the demand. <br /> <br />The New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission owns and operates Ute Reservoir and <br />also holds the Notice of Intent for development of the remaining conservation storage <br />30 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />, <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />