WSP03532 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

00167fl i~f"!~t ~~t;\ long drawn-out law suits which could well delay further Colorado River development indefinitely" the Department has refrained from m~~ing such interpretations. In two recent actions--the promulgation of the Glen Canyon filling criteria and the issuance of the Pacific Southwest Water Plan--the mut.~er of compact interpretation of controversial points of the Colorado River Compact was carefully avoided. We believe that any determinations made in respect to the subject issues should also avoid such interpretations, Several discussions and conferences with New Mexico interests have been held over the past tvo years, looking toward ways in which acceptable determinations as to water supply for the Animas-La Plata Project and for additional municipal and industrial uses in New Mexico could be made. We believe the following determinations will demonstrate the availability of water for these purposes on a basis acceptable to both the. Department and to New Mexico. Animas-La Plata Project To avoid a critical compact interpretation, it is assumed that the Upper Basin will be obligated to deliver 75 million acre-feet of water every ten years at Lee Ferry plus 750,000 acre-feet annually towards Mexican Treaty deliveries. This results in an average delivery at Lee Ferry of at least 8,250,000 acre-feet annually. If water for the Animas-La Plata Project can be show~ to be available under this assumption, which is considered restrictive as far as the Upper Basin is concerned, then it surely can be demonstrated to be available under more liberal assump- tions as to the Upper Basin's obligation. We emphasize that this assump- tion is not to be considered as an interpretation of the Upper Basin's obligation for water delivery at Lee Ferry under the Colorado River Compact. It represents, rather, a practical approach by assuming possible restrictive circumstances. The most critical water supply of record for Colorado River flows at Lee Ferry covers the period 1930-1963. Detailed hydrologic studies indicate that with regulation and holdover storage in the Colorado River Storage Project reservoirs, an amount of at least 8,250,000 acre-feet could have been released annually to the Lower Basin over this period, with 5,850,000 acre-feet remaining available for normal depletion in the U~er Basin but subject to tolerable shortages in years of extreme low runoff. Of this amount, 50,000 acre-feet is allotted to Arizona under the Upper Basin Compact. N~w Mexico's share under the Upper Basin Compact is 11.25 percent of the remainder, or 650,000 acre-feet. 3