WSP03532

• File Number: 8027
• Description: Section D General Correspondence - Federal Agencies - BOR - Upper Colorado Region - Salt Lake City
• State: CO
• Basin: Statewide
• Date: 11/30/1977
• Author: BOR
• Title: Availability of Water for Contract with El Paso Natural Gas Company Pursuant to Section 11 of the Act of June 13 1962
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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United States Department of the Interior

BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
UPPER COLORADO REGIONAL .oFFICE
P.O. BOX I1568
SALT LAKE CITY. UTAH 84147

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2EC 2- '77
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Governor Richard D. Lamm
State Capitol Euilding
Denver, Colorado 80203

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Dear Governor Lamm:

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On December 5, 1963, the Assistant Secretary of Interior for Water and
Power Development, approved a hydrologic determination of the avail-
ability of 100,000 acre-feet of water per year from Navajo Reservoir for
sale under long-term contracts for municipal and industrial purposes as
provided in Section 11 of the Authorizing Act of June 13, 1962, for the
Navajo and San Juan-Chama Projects (76 Stat. 96). Based on this deter-
mination, the Congress, on March 22, 1968, by Joint Resolution 123
approved contracts for the sale of some of this water, one of which was
with the Public Service Company of New Mexico (PSNM), for use in its San
Juan Powerplant. The contract was executed on April 11, 1968.

In approving an amendment to the PSNM contract on September 26, 1977,
Assistant Secretary Guy Martin expressed concern about the computations
involved in the 1967 determination that provided the basis for the Joint
Resolution that the 100,000 acre-feet of water would still be available
to service the PSNM and other municipal and industrial (M&I) contracts
through 2005. He indicated that in the 10 years since the 1967 deter-
mination was made such things as the 1977 drought, possible expansion of
Indian water rights, current water right litigation, and other expanded
uses may have altered the validity of the 1967 determination of avail-
ability. He also expresses concern as to whether the Upper Basin States
have been adequately informed and consulted as to these water supply
determinations.

The Department has recently approved amendatory contracts for 35,300
acre-feet and 16,200 acre-feet of water from Navajo Reservoir and
tributary rights for Utah International Inc. and PSNM, respectively. We
anticipate that an additional water service contract with the El Paso
Natural Gas Company for 15,000 acre-feet of water for a gasification
plant will be sent to the Secretary shortly for his consideration.

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